For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken." (Isaiah 8:11-15)
People tend to love a conspiracy. The conspiracy theme sells books, movies and newspapers. There are many conspiracy theorists on both the right and left sides of the political spectrum. Whether you think the Council on Foreign Relations, The Illuminati, The Tea Party, Freemasonry or President Obama's "secret Muslim agenda" is really what is working behind the scenes to bring down this nation, you are allowing fear to control your thinking.
Much of what is put forth as journalism and news gathering today would only have been fit to be in the pages of the National Enquirer or the Weekly World News thirty years ago. We allow the biased reporting of our favorite news outlet whether it be ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. to tell us how to think and what to feel about the issues. Whether its the rantings of Chris Matthews or Glenn Beck we told to be drawn to one side or the other.
God tells the prophet Isaiah not to call conspiracy what the world calls conspiracy. The nation of Judah was driven by rumors and fear-mongering much like the church in America is today. It doesn't matter what the government may or may not do. God has not given his children a "spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control." (2 Tim. 1:7) The Lord is the one whom we should fear. "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29) and He is worthy of proper worship and dread. Jesus told His followers not to fear the one who could destroy the body, but to fear him who could destroy both body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28).
The great conspiracy is not a conspiracy at all, but Good News! God's rescue plan is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But this Gospel is a rock of offense and a stumbling block to the world. The message of the cross is foolishness and offensive to the unregenerate for they are dead in their trespasses and sins. And without the aid of the Holy Spirit opening their blind eyes and unstopping their deaf ears, they will continue in their stubborn rebellion against the Holy One of Israel and the wrath of God remains upon them (John 3:36)
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