The Lies We Love To Believe (And Spread)
““You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”(Exodus 20:16 NLT-SE)
“A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.” (Proverbs 19:5 NLT-SE)
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day while on endless hold with a government agency.
A post from a pastor of a large Calvary Chapel caught my eye…he was excitedly exhorting his folks to go watch a documentary on the Rumble platform.
I evidently had time to kill so i made the mistake of clicking the link.
The purported documentary was about how Covid 19 was actually snake venom …and that our water supplies had been envenomated to kill us all.
Of course, the Covid vaccines (and our blood pressure meds) are envenomated as well.
Those of you familiar with Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy will recognize the plot line from the first movie, except in the movie the drug was meant to produce fear.
I have always been fascinated by the insane,so I watched most of it.
It was an amazing smashburger of misinterpreted data and linguistic nonsense offered as solemn proofs.
It was…utterly false in every way.
The questions start crashing around my brain.
Why would a pastor recommend such to his flock?
Why would anyone with the least bit of critical thinking ability believe such mental swill?
The hardest question…what would I do if one of those God has trusted me with bought into the lies?
We can’t answer the first two questions definitively, but we can make some educated guesses.
The obvious answer to the first question is that the pastor in question believes what is presented because it fits in with his world view.
This is also the answer to the second question.
If your inner narrative is that all governments are corrupt and are scheming together in a massive end times conspiracy…this works.
It is also a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy, as no society can function without institutions and without the people having at least a modicum of trust in them.
In the “Batman” movie the villain knew he could destroy the city by making everyone full of fear…a prescient commentary on where we find ourselves now.
While the pastor in question knows there really isn’t a “Batman” to save us, he is fitting a cape for Trump…
The third question is more difficult.
After watching this “documentary” I set about refuting it point by point.
I estimated it would take most of two days to round up actual facts to do so.
Then I realized that all that work would be for naught…because facts can rarely overcome feelings…and the only evidence that matters to many is that which affirms what they want to believe.
I would simply tell that person they would be happier under another pastors guidance…I’ve done the same with flat earth proponents.
I don’t have time to argue the obvious.
A cursory reading of Scripture will show you that in the Bible, truth is a major theme.
Speaking it, standing for it, and believing it.
On Facebook…and sadly, in many churches…not so much.
“Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.”(Proverbs 23:23 NLT-SE)
David French has a piece where he thinks there are 3 reasons fundamentalists like Trump: certainty, ferocity and solidarity.
The ferocity kills me. Someone was on here writing about “The
Light and the Glory.” When it came out, reputable historians
panned it. Today books and stances like there are treated like
they’re the greatest discovery since gold. I could cite other
examples, too.
like that
bob1,
We live in strange times…I was raised and educated to believe that truth mattered above all else…
Pastor of a large Calvary Chapel huh?
Why am I not surprised?
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.”
— Proverbs 26:4 —-
I think our society has reached a point where people choose what they want to believe, and then set out to find the “proof” that confirms their suspicions. It was just too hard to believe that the COVID virus resulted from a wild animal market in Wuhan…so we will believe it came from a lab, space aliens, etc. All black/brown men in hoodies are criminals…that justifies the killings of innocent people of color by police officers. Tump’s loss of the 2020 election was actually a “stolen” election…let’s storm the Capitol with presidential approval. It’s very easy to find the “facts” you want for the opinion (lie)) you want to support. If you can get an internet or other media outlet to spread your lies, you can find followers and create your own reality.
https://theconversation.com/disinformation-is-rampant-on-social-media-a-social-psychologist-explains-the-tactics-used-against-you-216598?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20newsletter%20December%207%202023&utm_content=Daily%20newsletter%20December%207%202023+CID_beca7d3fbc5625e80ffceebf1d70f58e&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=Disinformation%20is%20rampant%20on%20social%20media%2520%20a%20social%20psychologist%20explains%20the%20tacti
This is a short, very interesting article on how disinformation is spread.
Linn,
I think you succinctly and correctly wrote the truth.
It’s sad and so very dangerous…
Michael,
I continue to pray that I don’t become part of it. There is so much trouble in the world already, and we have to add to it to prove something (whatever that something is). It reminds me of a relative that I have that likes to stir the pot. It doesn’t matter if the situation has been resolved or apologized for, she will go out, look for another ingredient and throw it in, turn up the fire, and then enjoy the explosion. I have never understood her.
I think the big idea from this post is not that there are charlatans, quacks and false teachers in positions of leadership, but rather that there are millions and millions of stupid sheep who blindly follow their blind guides. But even this should not be a surprise to the Christian who is catechized in God’s word.
Some will find my words harsh, but Jesus and Paul warn about false teachers and how Christians are to avoid them, so please don’t condemn my remarks.
Jean,
I don’t think it’s helpful or accurate to call people stupid.
The man posting this had a doctorate…we have to look deeper…
I am all For looking deeper. The man promoting the lie that covid is snake venom is not stupid. He is Satan masquerading as an angel of light (or as a servant of righteousness).
But what do we make of those who believe him? Are they responsible for believing this man?
You have often written in other contexts that nothing changes in these churches because the flock never holds their false prophets to account. At some point their lack of something has to be admitted. Don’t you think?
Jean,
It’s not necessarily a lack of intelligence.
I know professional people who believe things like this.
I believe it’s mostly people seeking to make sense of a world that doesn’t make sense anymore.
I have found the writings of Iain McGilchrist to offer, what is to me, the most plausible root explanation of why we humans tend to think as we do. It’s another instance of a good thing, our brain structure, getting out of balance.
AA,
Your comment is in moderation…this is not an anti-vax site.
I understand that the Covid vaccines are controversial and we do not fully understand the risks from them.
I also understand that there is much empirical data that shows they saved millions of people.
How they were marketed, the mandates for them, and the lack of accurate info are all issues I affirm.
I personally had a “vaccine injury” from my last shot.
I also know lots of people who had no issues at all.
I’m not going to allow this to be a one sided , furious debate here.
Thanks for your consideration.
I did get a flu shot as well as the RSV vaccine.
I will probably get the Novavax Covid shot when I get the time.
I have had people I love try to dissuade me from getting all three as well as the shingles shots I’ve already had.
I take a number of prescription meds as well as oxycontin every six hours to function.
Everything I take has a risk associated with it as well as a reward.
I cannot and will not discard all the medical advances available to keep me alive because I choose to distrust both government and Pharma.
This does not mean I fully trust either…but I’ve not run into anybody that has recently contracted polio…and I’m still here.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4162874-a-third-of-adults-believe-covid-19-vaccines-caused-thousands-of-sudden-deaths-poll/
I attended Calvary Chapels for 30 plus years and that is probably part of the reason I am so interested in everything posted here. My father was a mathematical genius who worked for Norad and NASA and M.I.T. All of his children were intellectually ‘gifted’ and both of my children were classified as intellectually gifted by their public schools. Many very intelligent people attend Calvary Chapel. My closest friends there all had college degrees. But when Calvary Chapel started falling down the ” rabbit hole ” of crazy thinking along the lines we’re discussing here, my husband and I got spooked. It was obvious to us that something was seriously wrong at Calvary, and yet most of our other college educated Calvary friends didn’t seem to see it. To this day I can’t help wonder why. My allegiance was to Jesus, not Calvary Chapel. I clearly remember one day looking around Calvary Chapel and saying to myself, “I don’t see Jesus here anymore.” That’s when we left. I wonder why other Christians at these churches haven’t come to the same conclusion? It keeps me up at night wondering. Keep posting, Michael. So many good people are being deceived in these churches. Maybe you can help them.
JanetLinn,BrideofChrist,
Thank you!
People rarely leave these churches until staying has more consequences than leaving.
Sometimes the rabbit hole is where people want to stay…
An interesting observation on my part is that I taught in the public schools of San Diego for 30 years ( At the same time I taught Sunday School at Calvary). I once had a pastor at Calvary Chapel tell me that “No good can come from my having a “foot in two different worlds”( referring to my employment with our local school district). But aren’t all Christians “Of this world, but not in it” as the Bible says? I never understood why that Pastor said this to me. It may be why I ultimately was able to keep from going down the Calvary Chapel rabbit hole, because I had one foot in the real world . How I loved my students, Christian or not! They were God’s children still!
Janet,
I always enjoy your musings and observations here
Re why people stay in the CC rabbit hole: the CC pastor’s comment about “two different worlds”: to me, that exhibits a bunker mentality — don’t be involved in other “worldly” pursuits. They’re suspect! Better to stay “safe” and unfettered –with all kind of church activities, for example. I’m just speculating.
I know when my wife and I homeschooled, we always made a point to avoid that Christian bubble mentality — unless you’re gonna have a future in just church work, it’s a trap. Life is a lot more fun and interesting when you and your kids are involved in different “spheres,” not just the church world.
Plus, the wider world out there needs believers living out their faith in all spheres of life, quietly and faithfully.
This year I got the flu and the new Moderna covid vaccines.