On Wed, 6 Dec 1995 16:41:39 -0800 (PST) you wrote:
[...]
>First of all, how is it "bad theology" to believe in a conspiracy? I don't
>know which translation of the Bible Denis uses, but my Bible talks a great
>deal about a "Father of Lies" who is the "god of this world" and seeks to
> "devour" unwary believers. If this is true, then no amount of mortal
>paranoia would be sufficient to uncover the machinations of the REAL spiritual
>conspirator.
[...]
In fact it is good theology, since the Bible affirms it:
"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings
of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against
the LORD and against his Anointed One (LXX Christ]. "Let us break
their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Ps 2:1-3).
In fact the early Church interpreted its situation according to Ps 2:
"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to
God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth
and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the
nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth
take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and
against his Anointed One. ' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met
together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to
conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed."
(Acts 4:24-27. See also Acts 13:33, etc.)
This is not to say that it is a conscious, organised conspiracy (at
least at a human level). But ultimately all men who have rebelled
against God are (whether they realise it or not) are joined in a
conspiracy to "break the chains" and "throw off the fetters" of
God.
God bless.
Stephen
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