INFODEMIC A Christian response to the "Plandemic" film, and other conspiracy

INFODEMIC
    A Christian response to the “Plandemic” film, and other conspiracy
                                   theories
By Mike Burnard

Few words describe COVID-19 as accurately as the words of Ghanaian writer Ernest Agyemang
Yeboah: “While some people inspire, others conspire!” It seems like the pandemic has brought out the
best in many, as well as the worst in others.
                                                A well-produced short film, “Plandemic”, has
                                                exploded on social media since its release on 4 May.
                                                It claims to present a view of COVID-19 that differs
                                                from the "official" narrative. The 26-minute video
                                                was produced by a little-known film producer Mikki
                                                Willis, head of the California-based production
                                                company, Elevate. In the video, Willis conducts an
                                                interview with Judy Mikovits, who he says has been
                                                called "one of the most accomplished scientists of
                                                her generation."

“Plandemic” is a documentary that aims, according to its creators, to “expose the scientific and
political elite who run the scam to take control of our lives, liberty, health and freedom.” The New
York Times – in its article, “How the ‘Plandemic’ Movie and Its Falsehoods Spread Widely Online” –
explains the explosive reach of this film: “Just over a week after ‘Plandemic’ was released, it had been
viewed more than eight million times on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and had
generated countless other posts.” The film has spread across social media like wildfire, particularly on
conservative, and “conspiracy” platforms. After BuzzFeed published an article on 7 May about
“Plandemic” and its falsehoods, more people began to fact-check and debunk the film.

But “Plandemic” is not the first film alleging a global agenda that threatens our freedom and safety,
and it will not be the last. “We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic”, said
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at the Munich Security Conference on 15
February, referring to the flood of misinformation surrounding the uncertainties of COVID-19. It has
been particularly alarming to see how many Christians readily believe these conspiracy theories and
pass them on without any critical analysis.

Here is a list of just a few conspiracy theories that have recently flooded social media, particularly
among Christians.
• CORONA – 5G AND THE BIGGEST COVER-UP IN HISTORY – An audio-clip by a nameless pastor
  who claims to have previously worked for Vodafone.
    (Debunked at https://www.incontextinternational.org/2020/04/02/covid-19-and-5g-biggest-cover-up-in-history-true-
    or-false/)
•   RASHID BUTTAR BLASTING BILL GATES exposed false COVID-19 numbers and attempted to
    place the entire medical science profession under suspicion – A video hosted by Next News
    Network claims that Dr Buttar is “one of the top ten doctors on the USA”.
    (Debunked at https://thethirdway.org/evaluating-dr-rashid-buttars-claims-on-the-covid-19-virus/)

• A VIDEO BY PASTOR RICK WILES CLAIMING THAT BILL GATES IS BEHIND A NEW
  QUANTUM DOT TATTOO MICROCHIP aimed at controlling humanity under the guise of a
  vaccine for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
   (Debunked at: www.incontextinternational.org/2020/04/22/bill-gates-coronavirus-end-times-conspiracy/)
• And the latest video: “PLANDEMIC” – which claims: "Humanity is imprisoned by a killer pandemic.
  Nations are collapsing. The media has generated so much confusion and fear that people are
  begging for salvation in a syringe. Billionaire patent owners are pushing for globally mandated
  vaccines. Anyone who refuses to be injected with experimental poisons will be prohibited from
  travel, education and work. This is our current reality.”
   (To view two videos debunking this film: https://thethirdway.org/plandemic-the-truth-behind-the-video/)

As a media-ministry, INcontext International has always endeavoured to present information from
those who have the relevant expertise in their respective fields, seeking to separate the ‘noise’ from
the news in a factual, non-emotional manner, and to provide a Christian perspective on the specific
topic. We have no agenda other than providing well-researched guidance in finding the truth and a
perspective on its relevance to the Church.

With all the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 and the multitude of opinions being expressed by
anybody with access to the internet, there is no doubt that “Plandemic” will not be the last film
produced by “experts” predicting a bleak and dark future. It, therefore, becomes futile to address
every video on its own merits, and thus get caught up in the time-consuming exercise of jumping from
one conspiracy to another.

It, therefore, becomes important that Christians approach these types of videos with “the mind of
Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) and not simply an emotional response. Since it is often difficult to
determine whether the content of a “conspiracy theory” is true or false, the question then remains,
how we should respond. This is a key question that often seems to be unanswered simply because
there is no consensus as to what truth is and therefore how one should proceed.

So, how do we as Christians respond? The Bible might not address “conspiracy theories” per se, but
it does provide clear and uncompromising principles on how believers should respond to what is often
the motivation behind a “conspiracy theory” – sowing fear and hatred.

The purpose of this article is therefore not to address the specific conspiracy in question, but to
provide guidelines on a Biblical response to the many “conspiracy theories” out there.

    1. “SOWING DISCORD”: the “seventh sin”
                                              A ‘footprint’ that COVID-19 is currently leaving behind,
                                              apart from the destruction in healthcare and the global
                                              economy,        is SUSPICION.      This      is    sadly
                                              disproportionately evident in the Christian community
                                              than anywhere else. This includes videos discrediting
                                              Bill Gates, China, the WHO, our politicians,
                                              humanitarians, healthcare workers and global
                                              leaders. There is no doubt that there might be people
                                              with evil intent among those currently making
                                              decisions of global concern, but when Christians
                                              become more intent on “exposing evil” than doing
good, our “good intentions” can make us instruments in the hands of the enemy, who seeks to devour
us, our testimony and the Lord’s work.

How serious about Scripture are we really when we attempt to interpret the messages we receive? In
seeking “to expose evil powers”, we might fall into the trap of becoming “detestable” to the One we
aim to please.

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we find a catalogue of attitudes that are “detestable” to God. This Scripture
should be a foundational guide in the life of all who seek to please God. The “detestables” listed in
God’s catalogue (Proverbs 6:16-19) are ARROGANCE (haughty eyes), DECEIT – (a lying tongue),
MURDER (hands that shed innocent blood), MALICIOUSNESS (a heart that devises wicked schemes),
EVIL (feet that are quick to rush into evil) and LYING (a false witness who pours out lies).

Then comes detestable #7, which was added to the original six, not as an afterthought but as an
embodiment of the previous six: SOWING DISCORD (a person who stirs up dissension in the
community).

Sowing discord (dissension, conflict, quarrels, strife, trouble) is detestable to God. We find an example
in Numbers 13 where ten of the twelve spies sowed fear and suspicion in the hearts of a nation, and
consequently, a whole generation died in the desert. The issue was never whether they shared the
truth or not – they actually shared the truth - there were giants in the ‘promised land’. But the ten
‘conspiracy theorists’ lead a whole nation on a journey of fear and suspicion. This is a matter of life
and death.

An area which often leads to discord within the Church is when one tries to expose the sin of others.
What we often don’t realise is that by trying to expose one particular sin, we might fall into the trap
of committing a different sin. For example, by exposing “a heart that devises wicked schemes”, we
might “stir up dissension in the community”. We then become equally guilty of sin. The end does not
justify the means. In Matthew 18:15-17 we are instructed in the proper way of going about addressing
sin in a brother and sister’s life, and these are practical warnings to avoid committing sin ourselves.

Suspicion – which often leads to discord – creates a looming darkness and expectation of evil, where
the Lord would prefer there to be goodness. When suspicion and discord become a stronghold, it can
be debilitating – preventing one from seeing the good, the light, the blessings, and the potential. In
this time of global significance, can the Church afford to become overly obsessed with ‘end time’
prophesies and conspiracies, when there are so many incredible opportunities to reach those who are
‘lost’ and without hope?

    2. REVEALING OR REFLECTING? The attribute of light
The ‘infodemic’ of misinformation, conspiracy
theories, hoaxes, and media manipulation, that has
accompanied COVID-19, has developed at an
exponential rate. Opinions have been formed, and
changed, at the same speed as uncertainties have
increased. Every day, new theories – and solutions
– are presented, and leaders are criticised and
placed under suspicion by well-meaning but ill-
informed ‘experts’. Sadly, Christians are not
exempt from falling into the trap of spreading well-
intentioned misinformation, often using the
scripture in Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world ...” to justify their actions. “Shining in the
Darkness” is often equated to “revealing the schemes of the enemy and exposing evil plans”.

However, Jesus used this analogy in His Sermon on the Mount, directly after teaching the beatitudes,
and it has a far deeper meaning. In the context of His teaching, it becomes clear that the importance
of “BEING LIGHT” lies firstly in reflecting beauty, and thus evil becomes exposed as being in contrast
to this “beauty”. In this season of uncertainty and fear, Christians have a mandate to firstly reflect the
beauty of Christ, and refrain from seeking out all the evil of the pandemic.

Consider the following: light is not something that you can touch or see. Scientists describe it as
electromagnetic radiation – something that collides with an object before being reflected towards our
eyes. When the reflected part collides with your retina, you see the object. Light exists for the purpose
of reflecting the object the onlooker should see, not to reveal the darkness that it hides.

Jeremy Statton, in his blog, “Living better stories”, beautifully explains the purpose of light:
   “Light reflects beauty. My experience is that most preachers emphasize the intensity of that light.
   They want your light to shine brightly. To be a high wattage light bulb so that the light will fill the
   darkness. But maybe brightness is not the right emphasis. If all we do is give others images in black
   and grey and white, we have not done enough. Light reflects beauty. Light finds what is good and
   brings it out for others to enjoy.”

The Message translates this well-known passage as follows: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the
God-colours in the world.”

God’s ‘fingerprints’, His beauty, can be found everywhere – including in this pandemic, in the midst of
the fear and uncertainty. We can choose whether we want to make ‘revealing the darkness’ our focus,
or whether we want to focus on reflecting His beauty and thereby expose the darkness. Statton
summarises as follows: “When we seek to be the light of the world, we must shine brightly. But we
must also find beauty in what we shine on. We need to bring out the best in others. We need to see
their intrinsic value and beauty.”

    3. FATAL ATTRACTION: What attracts me?
                                               The message that Christianity offers is not only to be
                                               holy but to be attracted to holiness. Christ was
                                               attracted to the good in people while the religious
                                               leaders of His day pointed to the bad in people. Jesus
                                               befriended prostitutes, He sat with the tax collectors,
                                               He interacted with Roman soldiers, and He assisted
                                               Samaritans. The Lord embraced the outcasts, delivered
                                               the possessed, touched the ‘untouchables’, sat with the
                                               unwanted and dined with the despised. And yes, He
                                               even put up with stubborn, self-righteous, politically
                                               motivated disciples. Christ was attracted to liberty –
not bondage, restoration – not suspicion. (Luke 4:18). Our redeemer never felt compelled to speak
out against the evil Roman Empire or the wickedness of the time. He rather focused on proclaiming
the GOOD news of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:19). Even at the point of death, Jesus never lost His
‘attraction’ to goodness – He did not seek scapegoats, or try to expose the evil plans of His enemies,
he never called His crucifiers the ‘Antichrist’, or labelled the corrupt Roman Empire and religious
leaders, a ‘New World Order’. He was attracted to the good in those that sought to harm Him: “They
know not what they do”; and He interceded on their behalf: “Father forgive them…”
In short, “when the Word became flesh”, He was attracted to goodness because God is good. The
Bible is uncompromising in this regard. As Christians, we are not instructed to seek out evil and expose

it, we will expose it by being good. We are instructed to think about “Whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - anything that is
excellent or praiseworthy. Think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

The focus of the epistle here is not a call to holiness, but a call to be attracted to the virtues that will
lead to holiness, and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its followers to have the mind that
was in Christ. Our attractions will ultimately reveal our thoughts, and our thoughts will guide our
hearts.

Related to this, is the question, of what kind of person do I attract? My ‘vibe’ will not only ‘attract my
tribe’ (as the saying goes), but it will also be a public display of my values – it holds as much a blessing
as it presents a danger. It means that we attract people who share the same values, priorities, likes,
and dislikes as we do. However, if one is always the dumping ground of conspiracy theories, then one
needs to ask oneself what it is that attracts negative people to confide in one. It is good to do some
introspection by identifying the people you feel comfortable with. It exemplifies the saying that we
“become like the people we associate with”. Negative people seldom find the ‘positive tribe’ a place
of natural dwelling, and vice versa.

So, if you find yourself constantly surrounded by negative people who only find their joy in conspiracy
theories, criticising everything and everyone, the chances are high that you have become negative
too, even though you might not recognise it.

Colin Powell (the 65th United States Secretary of State and a retired four-star general in the United
States Army) wrote the following on the company we keep: “The less you associate with some people,
the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your
mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and
negative acting people. With some people, you spend an evening, with others you invest. Be careful
where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life
with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with
eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.”

Contemplate this deep spiritual principle for a moment and ask yourself these two questions: what
am I attracted to, and whom do I attract?

CONCLUSION
After watching these conspiracy-laden films, what feelings are you left with suspicion, distrust, fear,
anger or even possibly hatred? None of these attitudes are conducive to spiritual wellbeing. On the
contrary, they are tools in the hand of the devil to make people distrust one another and fuel evil
thoughts, hatred and fear.

When you receive the next similar video, simply respond with a kind, “Not for me, thank you. In this
time of uncertainty, I choose to reflect the beauty of Christ, not the evil of man.”

SOURCES
http://elevate.us/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/technology/plandemic-movie-youtube-facebook-
coronavirus.html
http://www.jeremystatton.com/purpose-light

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