The Ubiquity of AI, a Pastoral Response.
I would like to think that I am fairly tech-savvy. Some of my spare time is spent learning cybersecurity and programming languages. Internet infrastructure also captivates my mind, which allows me to build out the one we currently use at the church. I drive my wife crazy by turning my house into a smart home with smart lights, locks, and anything else I can program into our smart hub. However, I am well aware of the drawbacks associated with technology. Nearly thirty years ago, the world witnessed the advent of the .com era, which aimed to interconnect all computers worldwide and consequently unite the world. And indeed, it succeeded. In the last two decades, social media emerged as the latest online trend, gaining immense popularity as it became accessible on our smartphones. While there were advantages to these technological advancements, the majority now acknowledges the adverse impacts they have had on our society. Introducing the latest addition to the scene: Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you haven’t heard of AI yet, you might as well be living in oblivion. It’s practically omnipresent. Thanks to AI, people can now effortlessly compose an entire academic paper or even a song in the style of a renowned artist without lifting a finger. With a mere stroke on a keyboard, AI can conjure up a lifelike image from scratch (like the one featured in this blog). And now, armed with advanced intelligence and computing power, AI has the ability to generate any realistic video you instruct it to, fooling even the most discerning eye. You may have already come across doctored images or videos without realizing that they were the work of AI. It’s everywhere. Most individuals haven’t shown much interest in delving into AI research or comprehension. This is because AI has gradually become a part of our lives over the past decade, causing us to become desensitized. We have encountered Large Language Models (LLM) in our phones through Siri, and in our rooms with Alexa. These models capture our online data and sell it back to us through curated algorithms. As AI continues to dominate our world and influence our way of living and experiencing things, we need to exercise caution as it infiltrates our homes and churches. My intention is not to condemn AI, but to remind you that humanity still aspires to be like God. Remember what Satan said in the garden (Gen 3:5)? His agenda remains unchanged to this day. In essence, AI is a competitor to God.
How does AI impact my Christian journey? Is it even significant? To some extent, it may not be. However, similar to the internet of three decades ago or Zuckerberg’s initial aim to connect college friends, things can quickly spiral out of control. One looming concern is humanity’s inclination toward dependence. Although you may not realize it presently, many of us cannot venture beyond a three-mile radius from our homes without our phones due to fear of getting lost. Initially, the advent of smartphones was exciting and harmless, much like AI. However, we now witness its co-dependent effects on most individuals, particularly teenagers. Phones have not only consumed our time and money but also distanced us from our immediate community. How often have you observed people sitting “together” for a meal, their attention solely focused on their phones? I would venture to say, quite frequently.
AI has the potential to create a dependency among people. Some articles have discussed individuals who engage in relationships with robots equipped with AI. In addition, some people have avoided social gatherings in favor of an artificial world in the metaverse, substituting genuine conversations with chats on platforms like ChatGPT. Even in the church community, we must exercise caution as pastors may become reliant on AI to write their sermons, which can be seen as a form of advanced plagiarism (some have already experienced this). Although these examples may appear innocuous or insignificant, the reality is that as we become accustomed to AI governing our lives, our dependence on God can be affected. This may sound like an exaggeration to some, but consider the amount of time spent on our phones compared to studying God’s word or engaging in prayer. We are even on our phones during church services. Recently, I was informed that someone was scrolling through Tinder while I was delivering my sermon. Technology has desensitized us in ways that we do not associate with our spiritual journey. It may seem like just a phone, just the internet, or just TikTok, but they have waged war against our souls. They have made us reliant on them for entertainment and joy. Friends, it may be premature to raise the alarm about the AI phenomenon. Still, we must remember that anything that diverts our attention, trust, faith, and dependence away from God is an adversary. Can you utilize AI? Certainly. However, I would advise exercising the same caution as you would with the internet and social media. They are not inherently evil, but they possess the potential to capture our loyalty. Here is a compilation of passages from the Psalter that remind us where our trust should truly lie.
Psalms on Trust and Dependence on YHWH:
1. Psalm 9:10
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
2. Psalm 16:1-2
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”
3. Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
4. Psalm 23:1-4
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
5. Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
6. Psalm 31:14-15
“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors.”
7. Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”
8. Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.”
9. Psalm 62:5-8
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
10. Psalm 91:1-2
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”
11. Psalm 118:8-9
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”
12. Psalm 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
13. Psalm 125:1
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”
These Psalms beautifully express the themes of trusting, relying on, and finding refuge in YHWH.
How does AI impact my Christian journey? Is it even significant? To some extent, it may not be. However, similar to the internet of three decades ago or Zuckerberg’s initial aim to connect college friends, things can quickly spiral out of control. One looming concern is humanity’s inclination toward dependence. Although you may not realize it presently, many of us cannot venture beyond a three-mile radius from our homes without our phones due to fear of getting lost. Initially, the advent of smartphones was exciting and harmless, much like AI. However, we now witness its co-dependent effects on most individuals, particularly teenagers. Phones have not only consumed our time and money but also distanced us from our immediate community. How often have you observed people sitting “together” for a meal, their attention solely focused on their phones? I would venture to say, quite frequently.
AI has the potential to create a dependency among people. Some articles have discussed individuals who engage in relationships with robots equipped with AI. In addition, some people have avoided social gatherings in favor of an artificial world in the metaverse, substituting genuine conversations with chats on platforms like ChatGPT. Even in the church community, we must exercise caution as pastors may become reliant on AI to write their sermons, which can be seen as a form of advanced plagiarism (some have already experienced this). Although these examples may appear innocuous or insignificant, the reality is that as we become accustomed to AI governing our lives, our dependence on God can be affected. This may sound like an exaggeration to some, but consider the amount of time spent on our phones compared to studying God’s word or engaging in prayer. We are even on our phones during church services. Recently, I was informed that someone was scrolling through Tinder while I was delivering my sermon. Technology has desensitized us in ways that we do not associate with our spiritual journey. It may seem like just a phone, just the internet, or just TikTok, but they have waged war against our souls. They have made us reliant on them for entertainment and joy. Friends, it may be premature to raise the alarm about the AI phenomenon. Still, we must remember that anything that diverts our attention, trust, faith, and dependence away from God is an adversary. Can you utilize AI? Certainly. However, I would advise exercising the same caution as you would with the internet and social media. They are not inherently evil, but they possess the potential to capture our loyalty. Here is a compilation of passages from the Psalter that remind us where our trust should truly lie.
Psalms on Trust and Dependence on YHWH:
1. Psalm 9:10
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
2. Psalm 16:1-2
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”
3. Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
4. Psalm 23:1-4
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
5. Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
6. Psalm 31:14-15
“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors.”
7. Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”
8. Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.”
9. Psalm 62:5-8
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
10. Psalm 91:1-2
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”
11. Psalm 118:8-9
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”
12. Psalm 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
13. Psalm 125:1
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”
These Psalms beautifully express the themes of trusting, relying on, and finding refuge in YHWH.
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