Editor’s Notice: Our January 2025 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog addresses life in an AI-driven world. On this first article, Rush Witt considers how AI can function a priceless instrument within the Christian life. In different contributions to the sequence, Joe Keller gives issues for parenting nicely in an age of AI, and Keith Evans discusses using AI in lecturers.
Transient Overview of AI
You have got most likely heard of synthetic intelligence by now. However like many individuals, you would possibly marvel what position AI can play in your life, and you may also really feel just a little worry in regards to the potentialities. On this BCC miniseries, we’ll discover among the key methods through which AI applies to Christian life and ministry. For the less-informed readers, let’s set the desk for this sequence with a short overview of AI.
Synthetic intelligence (AI) represents a broad discipline of computerized science that goals to carry out duties sometimes executed by human intelligence. AI instruments might help us with issues like studying, problem-solving, decision-making, and understanding language. As a becoming instance, I used AI to assist me develop the define of this text.
It might appear that AI has come on the scene not too long ago. In reality, AI has empowered lots of the instruments we’ve been utilizing for a while.
Our smartphones use AI to strengthen voice assistants like Siri, Face ID packages for accessing accounts and gadgets, and making suggestions for apps and content material we’ll get pleasure from. AI algorithms curate our information feeds, recommend buddies we must always observe on social media, and even filter undesirable content material. Our healthcare suppliers use AI to investigate medical exams, make diagnoses, develop medicines, and write remedy plans. Even our vehicles are utilizing AI to make us safer and to navigate extra effectively.
As with every thing in life, AI presents distinctive advantages and risks. Whereas AI has assumed an vital position in our secular lives, this weblog explores the methods AI can function a priceless instrument within the Christian life. We start by contemplating 4 makes use of of AI within the Christian life, after which I supply a short phrase about discernment.
Enhancing Prayer Life
AI might help arrange and improve your prayer life. I not too long ago requested a preferred AI platform known as ChatGPT to assist me enhance my 5 Means Prayer Card strategy to my prayer life. The wanting it’s that I’ve discovered extra success in writing simply 5 prayer objects on a notecard and praying for these issues for one week. Then I replace a brand new card for the following week. You may learn an extended weblog publish about it right here.
AI was capable of recommend themes and classes so as to add to my prayer methodology in 2025. I believe it’ll show a giant assist. This use of AI within the Christian life supplies a typical instance of the way it can help us with fundamental brainstorming. In fact, AI doesn’t really assume. It takes our requests and appears at an enormous cloud of phrases. It searches the cloud to seek out the phrases that go collectively mostly after which types a response. On this method, AI might help us arrange higher ideas.
It might sound creepy, however AI may write out long-form prayers. Whenever you’re at a loss for find out how to pray, it could kind widespread prayers to get your phrases going.
Bible Examine and Devotionals
I’ve discovered AI useful in Bible research, creating devotional materials, and even in sermon prep. As a pastor, I’ve used AI as a scholarly assistant, much like how I may think an interactive commentary. With good accuracy, AI has usually supplied me with useful historic context to the Scripture, cross-references, and small group dialogue questions based mostly on a Bible research lesson or sermon.
In these methods, AI can operate like a glorified Google search. It infuses the insights with extra context and element than fundamental web searches. And it does all this in much less time. No shock right here: packages like Logos Bible Software program now embrace an AI part of their instruments.
For those who put together Bible research or devotions, AI might help you:
- Consider potential subjects and find out how to develop them into classes.
- Arrange your ideas into a transparent define.
- Type clear and sensible dialogue questions.
- Be taught instructing methods to enhance your communication.
Outreach and Neighborhood Engagement
Leaders of a outstanding chemical firm known as BASF used a intelligent motto: “We don’t make lots of the belongings you purchase. We make lots of the belongings you purchase higher.” The extra AI develops in accountable methods, the extra this could possibly be stated of AI. So lots of the web and information applied sciences of the secular world are made higher by AI. And it’s making the Christian world higher, too.
I do know it sounds unusual to assume a software program instrument might assist us be extra “private,” but it surely’s true. AI helps church buildings interact with their congregations and communities in simpler and private methods. AI instruments make it simpler for church buildings to summarize their message and talk it clearly on-line. Articles like this one clarify extra.
Additional, we see methods AI might help us attain folks with key assets. Some AI fashions get pleasure from higher web entry than others, making them adept at curating beneficial literature, articles, and assets that talk extra on to the wants of the second. Definitely, we should concentrate on the potential issues. However when used with biblical knowledge and management, AI will grow to be much more helpful to the Church in fulfilling our mission.
Ideas for Good Discernment
We should hold a discerning eye on our use of AI. As we all know, good issues can grow to be dangerous issues, particularly once they grow to be final issues. Could we not overstep the biblical knowledge and conscience in our efforts to stay and serve faithfully (Prov. 3:5-6). It is smart, then, to shut this entry within the sequence with a number of key ideas to information our discernment of AI. We should always:
- Have interaction critically with AI instruments as we assess our use of AI in gentle of biblical faithfulness and ethics (1 Thess. 5:21-22). Our consciences should stay delicate and uncrossed in our rising use of AI.
- Make AI and any associated instruments a matter of prayer and considerate dialogue collectively as Christians (Col. 4:2). We want the Lord, and we’d like each other in each pursuit of fine within the Christian life and the Church.
- Search methods to make use of AI as a supplementary instrument with out absolving ourselves of the accountable stewardship of God’s good presents (1 Cor. 4:2).
- Preserve our dedication to the promotion of non-public ministry by gatherings, discipleship, mentorship, and so on. (Heb. 10:25). The affect and position of AI mustn’t steal away the important privileges and obligations now we have collectively as a household of believers (1 Cor. 12:27).
- Improve our consciousness and literacy of digital instruments like AI. We are able to think about a myriad of fine presents related to rising AI. The blessings are vivid and helpful, and we are able to steward them nicely.
Conclusion
Because the AI realm grows, allow us to interact with the sphere prayerfully and deliberately. Consider the various technological developments which have grow to be commonplace and customary grace blessings to our Christian lives, among the many church gathered and scattered (James 1:17). The advantages of AI are rising in related methods, making for an thrilling time to think about how we’d use it to enlarge God’s glory and our gladness in Him (Ps. 115:1).
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of your life do you see the potential for AI to help you, and the way would possibly you strategy utilizing it in a method that honors your religion in Christ?
- How does the thought of utilizing AI in prayer, Bible research, or outreach problem or encourage you in your private stroll?
- Reflecting on the ideas for good discernment, what steps can you’re taking to make sure your use of expertise strengthens relatively than distracts out of your non secular progress and relationships?
