Recently, I’ve been streaming episodes of the X-Files. I never really watched it originally back in the 1990s, and so figured I would try the show out now. I find it entertaining and kind of nostalgic. For those who aren’t familiar with this fictional network hit, it follows two FBI agents, Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, as they try to decipher odd, unexplained cases (and yes, aliens make many appearances as part of a massive government coverup!). During the opening credits, there’s a unique slide that comes up which captures the show’s theme of skepticism, conspiracy, and the unknown:

Conspiracy theories run rampant in today’s culture. And I think it has even become more prevalent than in the 1990s. With more access to information, we tend to indulge our skeptical side more often than in previous eras. After all, anyone can publish just about anything on the internet, and conspiratorial rants are literally just a few clicks away! From pesticides to power lines, or alien invaders to assassination coverups, we certainly have a lot of alarmism and distrust in our world today.

On Sunday we talked about how many Christians fall victim to conspiracies about the Nephilim of Genesis 6. In reality, this passage points towards our calling to be righteous people and to follow God… and to not put on a tin foil hat and lose our marbles! This odd, cryptic story is contrasted with a familiar bible character, Noah, and how he was righteous despite his broken surroundings.

But with skeptical conspiracies about the JFK assassination, moon landing, 9/11, and secret one-world governments, is there anything to be learned from how utterly paranoid our culture is?

For starters, a lot of fantastical thinking and distrust leads me to think that we could use a dose of God’s comfort and security. Even if all those wild conspiracy theories turn out to be true, that really shouldn’t change our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. We still have a duty to share God’s love with all people, as well as grow in our knowledge and love of Christ.

In my view, there is only one “conspiracy theory” that makes sense when we think about our lives in God’s kingdom. Consider the following passage from Ephesians 6:10-12:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The one “conspiracy theory” worth anything in our world is this: Our world is broken. Scripture makes it clear that things are not as they should be. Sin affects us all in every area of life.

And likewise, the “solution” to this spiritual conspiracy theory is remarkably simple: We are to strive against the powers of evil by following God. There’s no need to stress out, raise your blood pressure, or rant about your surroundings. Simply follow God and place your trust in him.

Instead of being fearful, we are called to have hope in God. Instead of getting wrapped up in random cultural conspiracies, our only skepticism ought to be a spiritual one. So remember to be strong in God. God has equipped you to conquer evil in your life and the world around you.

“I am struggling with _______________.”

How do you fill in the blank? What is that one sin you struggle with? From callousness to cursing, greed to grouchiness, or pornography to pride, we all have something with which we strive against.

Here’s a grand overview of what we’ve been exploring since Easter for our sermon series:

1. REMEMBER who you are. Scripture for this week was 1 John 3:1-10. You are a child of God. God has given you a new identity. Jesus came to take away your sin. Jesus should make a tangible difference in your life right here and right now. Allow Jesus to take that sin away. And finally, be born again of God. When we develop that relationship with God, God works in our heart and that sin becomes less desirable. By pursuing God’s truth, we are reminded that we can conquer that sin.
2. REFLECT on the consequences. Scripture for this week was Galatians 6:1-10. When you’re facing temptation… Reflect on the consequences. A person reaps what they sow. What are you planting? Are you planting Godliness? Or are you planting sinfulness by giving into the sin in your life. What are you doing with your life? Are your pursuing death and unrighteousness? Or are you pursuing God’s life and righteousness? To resist temptation, we need to reflect on the consequences.
3. RECOMMIT yourself to God. Scripture for this week was Psalm 51–David’s song of repentance. God offers you forgiveness. You can never run too far away from God. God will always welcome you, no matter whats happened in your past. Even when you fall and stumble, even when you fall into temptation, God will be there to pick you back up. You can always recommit yourself to God.
4. REVEAL your struggle to a friend. Scripture for this week was Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. When you are working to resist temptation, it helps to reveal your struggle to a friend. You might be intimidated at first, but in the end, it will be worth it. Find someone you can trust. Find someone who will support you. And lastly, find someone who will encourage you. Friends in Christ help us overcome our temptations!
5. REMOVE yourself from the situation. Scripture for this week was Proverbs 28:9-14. God calls us to holiness, which means to be set apart, a witness for God, and delivered from brokenness. Sometimes the best thing to do when facing that one temptation is to just walk away from what might be leading us astray.

We all struggle with temptation… the question is whether we will use the tools to resist it! Through these five biblically-based practices rooted in the Christian tradition, you’ll be able to use God-given grace to conquer whatever you might face.

Abortion has obviously been a major news item for the past week or two with various new laws in other states. I wrestled with writing on the matter this week, simply because with “hot button” social issues, there is just a lot of noise out there. Additionally, our culture exhibits little to no understanding or compassion on morally complex issues (we sure do love to judge other people, don’t we?). But here are a few thoughts on this emotional issue from the standpoint of United Methodism…

I would say our denomination has a rather moderate approach to abortion. We affirm both the sanctity of unborn life and uphold the sanctity and wellbeing of a pregnant mother. We strongly advocate for options such as adoption. But regardless the “outcome” of a pregnancy, however, pastors are explicitly encouraged to counsel and spread the healing and forgiveness of Christ. You can read more on the UMC’s official stance by clicking here. There are quite a few insightful articles to explore.

Unfortunately, many Christian denominations go to one extreme or another when it comes to abortion. Some see it as no issue whatsoever. Others even speak of abortion as an unforgivable sin, casting judgment upon women. I truly appreciate Methodism’s view just because I think it focuses on Jesus’ healing rather than human condemnation. Jesus rarely fits into neat political categories!

What always saddens me about the pro-life/choice debate is that broadly speaking, our culture doesn’t consider what the church can do. We tend to obsess over laws and legislatures. We pull the lever at the ballot box, and simply feel like we’ve done our duty. What about countless other ways to uphold the sanctity of all life–for instance, funding adoptions, supporting the foster care system, expanding healthcare, and advocating for policies like family leave and a livable wage? If you ask me, terms like “pro-life” can be incredibly misleading.

In his book Myth of a Christian Nation, pastor Greg Boyd offers a revolutionary way to think about abortion. While not a Methodist, Boyd outlines a wonderful alternative to bitter partisan politics. He tells the story of Becky, a young unwed pregnant woman, and how she was rejected by her strict Christian parents. Because of social isolation, Becky resolved to have an abortion. The story continues as follows:

Becky confided in a friend of the family, whom I’ll call Dorothy, a middle-aged, divorced woman who over the years developed a special relationship with Becky. When Becky told Dorothy of her plan, Dorothy didn’t give her a moralistic speech or perform a moral interrogation. She offered to help. If Becky chose to have an abortion, Dorothy offered to help her in the postabortion recovery. But, believing that it was in everyone’s best interest to refrain from a violent solution and to rather go full term with this child, Dorothy lovingly encouraged Becky to think seriously about her planned course of action. Even more importantly, she offered to do whatever it took to make going full term feasible.

If Becky’s parents kicked her out of the house (which they actually did), Dorothy offered her basement as a place to stay. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Whatever financial and emotional support Becky needed throughout her pregnancy, Dorothy would provide as best as she was able. She ended up taking out a second mortgage on her house. If Becky wanted to give up the baby for adoption, Dorothy would help her with this. If Becky wanted to keep the child (which she ended up doing), Dorothy would help her with this as well. She became the godmother. And on top of this, Dorothy promised to work with Becky to help make it financially possible to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. As a result, Becky went through with the pregnancy, moved in with Dorothy, and pursued her dream part-time, while both she and Dorothy raised their adorable daughter…

The price Dorothy paid is much greater than a price of a vote, carrying a picket sign, or signing a petition. But this is why Dorothy’s way of being pro-life is a distinctly kingdom way of being pro-life. It has nothing to do with her opinions about which limited, ambiguous, kingdom-of-the-world option is right, and had everything to do with replicating Jesus’ Calvary-quality love for others. It may be worth noting that, for a variety of complex reasons, Dorothy tended to vote pro-choice. Yet I would suggest that Dorothy was way more pro-life than many who profess to be pro-life on the grounds that they vote a certain way.

I believe Becky opted to have her child because she encountered someone who loved as Jesus loved. Too often people facing abortion are made to feel like they are committing an unforgivable sin. They often feel unwelcomed in church. And we somehow expect them to be “pro-life” while socially rejecting and judging them at the time when they need aid the most! We worship voting as an idol, neglecting alternative courses of action.

I think the church is fully equipped to “solve” the issue of abortion, with a lot more creative options instead of just voting for (or against) a state law. That might sound controversial, but I truly believe it. All we have to do is offer the unconditional love of Christ. That comes by welcoming people in and preaching God’s good news through our actions. It comes by offering financial assistance to women in crisis. It comes through welcoming all children into Christian fellowship in a congregation. It can even come through offering grace and healing to a woman who has terminated a pregnancy. It might even mean making a significant sacrifice to adopt a child or pay the medical bills of an expectant mother.

Our task as the church is to spread God’s love, not delegate out our work to a politician or state legislature. The “Dorothy’s” in our world are tragically rare. But Jesus calls us to follow that example of radical, unconditional love. Laws rarely change human hearts. Only the love of Christ can.