Several prominent Christian leaders came together and denounced the popular conspiracy theory movement known as QAnon that has recently gained steam in some conservative groups.<\/p>\n
QAnon refers to a set of internet conspiracy theories that allege that the world is run by a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who are plotting against President Trump while operating a global child sex-trafficking ring.<\/p>\n
It was once a fringe phenomenon but became mainstream in recent months. QAnon gained national attention when Marjorie Taylor Greene, an admitted QAnon supporter from Georgia, won a Republican primary in a heavily conservative district, setting her up for a near-certain election to Congress in November, the New York Times reports. Following Greene\u2019s win, President Trump called her a \u201cfuture Republican star.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the fringe group has gained the support of a Georgia congressional candidate and some evangelicalism, it has also garnered criticism from multiple Christian leaders.<\/p>\n
Joe Carter, author, and pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, VA, denounced QAnon in a column published by the Gospel Coalition in May. He referred to QAnon as a \u201csatanic movement\u201d and a \u201cpolitical cult\u201d that \u201cposes [a threat] to the global church.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe QAnon movement frequently engages in slander, which James calls demonic behavior (James 3:15\u201316). The QAnon movement often traffics in lies, which Jesus says are associated with Satan. The QAnon movement repeatedly sides with demonically inspired falsehoods that divide professed Christians from faithful believers,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the QAnon movement has a tendency to call evil that which is good, and good that which is evil, and to put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isa. 5:20). As a movement of Satan, QAnon is incompatible with Christianity,\u201d Carter added.<\/p>\n
Carter petitioned Christians to \u201cwork to guard those who would fall for such deceptions.\u201d He also pleaded with supporters of the fringe movement to \u201creturn to the faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tyler Huckabee, who serves as the senior editor at Relevant Magazine, wrote that QAnon\u2019s claims are both \u201cfarfetched\u201d and pushed by \u201cconfirmation bias.\u201d<\/p>\n
Huckabee also referred to QAnon \u201ca logical extension of the culture war, providing real plot and vocabulary to the \u2018us vs. them\u2019 model that became popular with the rise of the Moral Majority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no easy answers about what can be done about QAnon,\u201d Huckabee wrote. \u201cBut the fact that Christians seem extra open to conspiracies does reveal that something is deeply broken in how people of faith are spreading their worldview.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Christianity is set up as a cultural battle instead of an opportunity to serve, others are seen not as people in need of love but enemies who need to be feared and mistrusted,\u201d Huckabee added.<\/p>\n
When Trump was asked about the QAnon conspiracy theory during a recent press conference, he said he didn\u2019t know much about them, but he did understand that the movement\u2019s supporters like him and \u201clove America.\u201d<\/p>\n