AI is Here. Will the Church Show Up This Time?
TL;DR: Instead of fearing or worshiping AI, Christians should follow the biblical call to stewardship, actively engaging with new technology to shape it for God's glory.
The Church has a bad habit of showing up late to the party. We did it with the internet, we did it with social media, and if we're not careful, we'll do it again with artificial intelligence. A thoughtful piece I read this week titled "Should Christians Fear the AI Revolution? A Conservative Perspective" crystallized this concern perfectly. It highlights a conversation happening among prominent Christian leaders right now about a strategic crossroads for the church.
As a software developer who builds FaithGPT , a husband and dad, and a small group leader, I live at this intersection. The debate isn't abstract for me. It’s about the tools my kids will use, the culture my church engages, and the technologies I build for believers. And the article rightly identifies the two ditches we must avoid.
The Two Ditches: Idolatry and Irrelevance
On one side is tech-utopianism . This is the subtle, often unspoken belief that technology can solve our deepest human problems. It’s the temptation to see AI as a shortcut to wisdom, community, or even spiritual experience. We've seen this with the rise of so-called AI Jesus chatbots , which offer a hollow imitation of communion with Christ. This is a form of idolatry, plain and simple, and we must reject it.
On the other side is fearful Luddism . This is the reactionary impulse to unplug, to declare all of it corrupt, and to retreat into a digital monastery. It feels safe, but it's an abdication of our responsibility. As the source article notes, commentators like Jeremy Boreing have warned that conservatives and believers risk repeating past cultural mistakes. By ceding the ground on social media, we allowed others to set the terms of the conversation for a decade. We cannot make that mistake again with AI. Fear is a poor counselor and an even worse theologian.
The Forgotten Mandate
Neither of these paths reflects the biblical call on our lives. From the very first chapter of the Bible, God gives humanity a job description. It’s not a call to hide from the world or to worship its creations. It's a call to steward it.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
To "subdue" the earth is to cultivate it, to bring order from chaos, to unlock its potential for the flourishing of humanity and the glory of God. This is the root of all technology. The farmer who invented the plow was subduing the earth. The inventor of the printing press was subduing the earth. And yes, the engineer who writes an algorithm is participating in that same creation mandate. Our job isn't to fear the tools but to exercise wise and righteous dominion over them. This is the very core of stewardship in the age of AI .
But What About the Dangers?
Now, the strongest counter-argument is a valid one: AI presents real and serious dangers . I see it every day. The potential for job displacement, mass-produced misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the creation of deceptive deepfakes is not science fiction. It is a clear and present challenge.
To acknowledge this is not to give in to fear. It is to practice discernment. Our calling is not to a risk-free existence, but a faithful one. The same printing press that allowed for the mass distribution of the Bible also enabled the spread of heresy. The same internet that connects missionaries with supporters also hosts the darkest corners of human depravity. The tool itself is not the problem; the heart of the person wielding it is.
Our task, then, is not to run from the tool but to run to the forge, shaping it with a biblical worldview and a robust Christian ethics framework . We must be the ones building guardrails, demanding accountability, and creating positive alternatives.
A Checklist for Faithful Engagement
So how do we move forward? Instead of a sweeping judgment, we need a practical approach. Here’s a simple checklist my wife and I are trying to use in our own family and that I bring to my work.
Principle · Action · Why It Matters
1. Pray First · Before you post, prompt, or pontificate, pray. · Submits our efforts to God's wisdom, not our own tech-savvy or fear.
2. Learn Diligently · Read beyond the headlines. Understand what AI is and isn't. · Prevents us from reacting to caricatures instead of reality.
3. Test Wisely · Experiment in low-stakes environments, like using an AI to brainstorm sermon illustrations or summarize a book. · Builds practical wisdom and demystifies the technology.
4. Create Redemptively · Ask: How can this tool help me create things that are true, good, and beautiful? · Shifts our posture from passive consumption to active, redemptive creation.
5. Disciple Actively · Talk with your kids, your small group, and your church about a biblical view of technology. · Prepares the next generation to be faithful stewards, not fearful consumers.
This is ultimately why Christians should care about Artificial Intelligence . It’s not just about a new gadget; it’s about the future of communication, creativity, and community—arenas where the Gospel must be present.
Our first response to a world in flux should not be a hot take, but a humble prayer. It's one reason I built the Prayer Journal into FaithGPT—to have a quiet, dedicated space to bring my concerns, my hopes, and my questions about technology and culture before the Lord. When we start there, we're better equipped to step out in wisdom.
I encourage you to explore how AI can be a tool in your own spiritual life, always pointing you back to the authority of Scripture and the fellowship of your local church. You can start with our AI Bible Assistant and see for yourself.
The future isn’t something that happens to us; it's a field we are called to plow.
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