Theoretically Conspiratorial

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.”

This phrase, uttered by Captain John Yossarian in Joseph Heller’s classic novel Catch-22, highlights the tension between irrational fear and genuine danger. Paranoia isn’t generally a helpful or healthy way to approach life. But neither is pretending the world isn’t a dangerous place.

Here’s a related idea: “Just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean they aren’t conspiring against you.”

In our age of the 24-hour news cycle and instant connection through social media and the constant threat of fake news and unending hysterical hand-wringing from all sides, it’s easy to fall into conspiratorial ways of thinking. When your friends or the media or the podcasts you listen to or the influencers you pay attention to are all talking about the same threats to democracy or culture or faith or your way of life, it’s understandable, even if not particularly helpful, to react in fear, dismay, or outrage.

Of course, one of the reasons conspiracy theories abound is that conspiracies actually do exist. Governments really do put people in prison for made-up crimes. People really are targeted and even killed for their political or religious beliefs. Prominent corporations or networks or even nations really do cover up crimes or downplay facts in order to get people to stop paying attention to what’s going on. Conspiracies are real.

Conspiracy theories, on the other hand, generally aren’t. Yes, people really can and do plot together or conspire to commit unlawful or deceitful acts (the definition of a conspiracy). But absent any real evidence that a conspiracy is taking place, speculation about such acts is just that—speculation. That’s why they’re called theories.

We should be careful not to label every concern or fear as a conspiracy theory. When people experience real injustice or abuses of power—whether in government, business, or daily life—their fears deserve compassion and attention, not dismissal.

So how do we hold these things in balance? How can we guard against falling for conspiracy theories while maintaining appropriate vigilance against the genuine conspiracies in the world?

Scripture is clear that evil is real. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, we are told, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” Yet Scripture is also clear that conspiratorial thinking is not for believers. Isaiah 8:11-13 says, “The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, ‘Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear.’”

What do these passages have in common? They emphasize the positive rather than the negative. Yes, evil exists. So do conspiracies. But faith, not fear, is the best weapon against evil, and the Lord’s power, not human plans, is the true solution to conspiracies.

It’s important not to bury our heads in the sand and pretend like everything is fine when it isn’t. It’s also important not to automatically believe every frantic clickbait headline we come across. We need careful discernment to tell what is true and what isn’t. As Proverbs 14:15 says, “Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.” Part of wisdom is testing what you hear.

This applies to things we hear even from people we trust, including leaders. As 1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” We need to test what we’re told before acting on it—or retweeting it. As Ephesians 5:11 indicates, we need to expose real evil, not imagined plots.

Just because it’s a conspiracy theory may not mean they aren’t conspiring against you. There certainly are real conspiracies out there. But followers of Christ are to be discerning, not distrustful; alert, not alarmed. We are to seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), be attentive to what’s going on around us (Luke 12:56), and reject unfounded rumors while holding fast to what is good (1 Thess. 5:21). Above all, we are to fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) and live in a way that brings ultimate honor to him.

Here’s what’s happening.

THF October Grant Cycle
Last week, the Tyndale House Foundation board gathered for an extended October grantmaking meeting. Over the course of four full days, the board studied principles of generosity with partner organization Generosity Path, discussed more than a dozen strategic initiatives, thoroughly reviewed the status of THF’s five active programs, and allocated nearly $2.4 million in grants to more than 100 organizations serving around the world. Regular readers of the THF Weekly Briefing will know that the grantmaking meeting is the culmination of months of hard work, as THF staff members thoroughly review hundreds of proposals, pray for applying organizations, meet with organizational leaders, and assess potential global impact of grants. Organizations receiving grants this cycle are working in countries like Pakistan, Kenya, the Czech Republic, Rwanda, Cambodia, Ukraine, Ghana, the DRC, Thailand, Cuba, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Venezuela, India, China, Lebanon, Iran, and more. THF grants will support a broad spectrum of ministry efforts, including evangelistic outreach, radio and TV programming, solar-powered audio Bibles, theological education, Bible printing, internet-based evangelism, youth camps, pastor training, and children’s publishing, among many others. We thank God for his provision of resources and for the impact these grants will make. Please continue to pray for our hundreds of active partners who are working to meet people’s physical and spiritual needs across the globe.

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Affirmations of Movemental Ecclesiology
Ever since Acts 2, the natural state of the church has been one of growth. In Acts 2:47, rapid church growth was already a daily phenomenon. Less than 30 years later, the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians that the gospel was “going out all over the world” and “bearing fruit everywhere” (Col. 1:6). Today, church growth continues, but according to the Joshua Project, more than 3.4 billion people still have never heard the gospel. Motus Dei (the name is Latin for “movement of God”), a THF partner, is a network of church planters and movement catalysts who “long to see all God’s people making disciples and bringing lost people to saving knowledge of Christ.” In a recently published document titled “Reactivating the Church as Movement,” Motus Dei authors present 12 scriptural and theological affirmations intended to “deepen the global Church’s understanding and practice of motus Dei through movemental ecclesiology.” All 12 affirmations are worth looking at and thinking about deeply, but two stand out to me as particularly relevant to THF’s approach to supporting church growth. One is “Healthy Multiplication.” Movements based on incorrect theology or improper methodology can lead to unhealthy churches, so emphasizing health in practice and approach is critical. The other is “Holistic Mission.” At Tyndale, we pursue holistic ministry partnerships in every area of gospel engagement, including Christian publishing, humanitarian relief, theological education, evangelistic outreach, leadership development, and more. Holistic growth across multiple ministry areas can help promote churches that meet people’s physical, emotional, and social needs in addition to focusing on spiritual health.

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Combatting Trafficking at Home
If you’re like me, when someone mentions human trafficking, you might assume they’re talking about a brothel in Amsterdam’s red-light district or the sex trade in some place like Thailand. Chances are you’re not thinking about commercial exploitation taking place within a few miles of your house. But that’s exactly the situation THF partner Naomi’s House exists to combat. The organization began in 2016 when cofounder Simone Halpin witnessed the reality of trafficking in the Chicago suburbs and felt God calling her to provide a means for women to escape their situation and then a safe place to heal and recover. Over the past nine years, Naomi’s House has helped hundreds of women transition out of exploitation and into freedom and healing. According to a report sent last week, Naomi’s House has served 377 women just so far in 2025 alone. Through residential facilities providing 24-hour care, counseling services, education, “bags of hope” containing essential supplies, and other ministry services, Naomi’s House is working to provide victims of human trafficking in the Chicago area with a means of genuine escape and a fresh start through the hope of the gospel. Please pray that the women and girls receiving care will find true freedom and ultimate comfort in Christ.

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Reaching Children in France
A recurring responsibility in foundation work is following up with partners to see how grant funds have been used. For Christian foundations like THF, assessing impact very often means giving thanks for what God is doing through our partners, so this is a privilege as much as it is a responsibility. One recent example of impact assessment leading to gratitude is found in a report we received last week from Parfums de Vie, an organization serving at-risk children in France. The report describes various ministry efforts that have been enabled or extended through THF funds given this April, including homework clubs, after-school activities, evangelistic outreach among immigrant families, and Bible studies. The report from Parfums de Vie says that while the organization’s work “produced immediate outcomes in literacy, behavior, and spiritual engagement, the greatest impact is witnessed over time as children mature into young adults of faith, character, and vision.” In France, where immigration and economic pressures have combined to create significant social pressures, ministry needs often exceed the capability of Christian organizations to respond, and Parfums de Vie is no exception, with a long waiting list of children who hope to join their programs. Please join us in thanking God for the impact this partner has seen, and please pray for increased capacity so that Parfums de Vie and other THF partners in the region can meet the needs of even more children.

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That’s it for this week’s briefing. Please send any questions, comments, and conspiracy theories to [email protected]. Do you enjoy reading the THF Weekly Briefing? Make sure you’re subscribed to the email distribution list to get access to this resource the same day it’s published each week, and feel free to share it with others who may be interested, inside or outside of Tyndale. Thanks for continuing to pray for and support our partners around the world.

Jeremy Taylor
President | Tyndale House Foundation

The THF Weekly Briefing provides information about significant events happening in the wide universe of Tyndale House Foundation partner organizations as well as an occasional peek behind the scenes of THF’s operations. It is available to anyone who’s interested in learning more about Tyndale’s philanthropic commitments, partners, and operations. Was this email forwarded to you? Contact [email protected] to be added to (or removed from) the distribution list.