Joshua, my nephew, started college a week ago and has chosen to major in AI. With this, I now want to learn more about what AI is, what it might be able to do in the future, how it might be abused, and how it might be useful.

AI has a lot of potential, but I’ve been thinking about how, as Christians, our character is still the most important thing, and AI will never be able to copy or replace it.

This begs the question, “What should real Christians look like in the era of artificial intelligence?”

Comprehending Artificial Intelligence #

Computers used to only do what people told them to do. Today, we showed them how to figure out what to do on their own. They used to follow written directions from us, but now they can make their own.

One thing that Google taught a computer was how to read anything on the internet in English. Later, it surprised them that other languages could be learned on their own, without any help from a person. Some people find this amazing, while others find it scary, which is understandable.

Real Prayer for Real Christians #

The apostle Paul asks the Philippians in his letter for prayers during a hostile period. His petition speaks to our day of artificial intelligence rather powerfully. His goals for the church then are as important now, even in an environment controlled by artificial intelligence.

Philippians 1:9-11 — And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Boosting Knowledge and Love #

“And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge…”

The Philippians had problems both inside and outside the church. When people face more and more resistance, they tend to feel more alone. Paul thought that the only way to get past this was for his love to grow.

Getting more and more lonely #

A lot of people think of faith as a way to direct your mind, but these days technology is the real tool used for that. The more we use technology, the less freedom and power it takes away.

Tech has made us spend more time in front of screens and less time with real people. It leads to more comparison, mistrust, loneliness, doubt, conflict, and anger. The world demands our validation of its activities or rejection of them.

By contrast, the gospel is God’s tool for teaching us self-control. By gathering more data about us, artificial intelligence firms want to expand our understanding of us. But God wants us to develop in a sense toward all things using knowledge about him.

Developing Knowledge and Love #

Paul stresses two things that are usually kept separate: love and knowledge. He often tells churches how great they are for loving each other and trusting in Jesus.

Ephesians 1:15 — For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Colossians 1:4 — since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 — because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Most of the time, the church loses its power because people don’t love or understand it, or both. India needs real Christians who are becoming less dependent on technology and more loving toward each other in Christ. India is getting farther away from them.

Perfect Clarity and Godly Nature #

“…thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ”

Paul tells Christians to accept what is still unfinished, which is a tough task for the modern church. We have to choose whether to accept or reject what the world does. But if you love what God loves, you will often be turned down.

John 15:18-19 — “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.

1 Peter 3:15-17 — But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

Acceptance is at the heart of how we use technology, especially social media. Every share or like shows what we think is great. The tech we use learns what we like and then changes it. After looking into what we like, it tells us what to enjoy.

Jesus is the epitome of love who has ever lived. Still, he faced the worst hatred in human history because his love goes against the love of power in society.

So how can you love everyone if you don’t agree with everything? You can love someone like Jesus did even if you don’t agree with how they act. Jesus helps us and moves us at the same time.

John 8:10-11 — Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]]

In this synthetic world, we need actual Character #

Paul complains about being innocent and pure. Only people who are truly pure on the inside and innocent on the outside can manage a made-up future.

Artificial intelligence is now making deep-fake movies that are all around us. These can change the way someone looks to says anything. Imagine if a preacher’s audience got a deep-fake video of him giving up his faith. Would the church believe something like that? If they knew what kind of person he was, would they dismiss it as a lie?

People can discern true from false when they know your faith and character.

Unshakeable Faith in Jesus Christ #

“…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

We can only be sure in a world that isn’t stable because of Jesus Christ. Paul’s prayer is not a command, but a confident request for what God freely gives to Christians.

The New Testament was not put together by a computer program that used artificial intelligence. It is the story of God’s love for humanity, revealed through Jesus Christ – His Son.

Hebrews 1:3 — The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

No one who knows about AI is sure about what the future holds. It’s not a new thing, though. Every age has something that makes people feel unsafe. But because of Jesus Christ, real Christians have always had real peace of mind.

Romans 5:8 — But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Through Jesus Christ, God showed us his love before we could love anyone else. Before we can approve of anything good, God has to approve of us through Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:1 — (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One,

While we are still pure and faultless, God shows us how pure, blameless, and good he is through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

As the head of all power and authority, Paul says that all the riches of knowledge and understanding are hidden in Christ.

Ephesians 1:21 — far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Colossians 2:3 — in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

He’s great and deserves all of our honour, praise, adoration and worship. Jesus Christ is the only way for us to praise and thank God.

Blessings,

Shaliach.