By Catherine N. Karnbo
The debate over artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most pressing conversations of our time. Some argue that AI is inherently dangerous, while others celebrate it as a force for good. What is undeniable is its rapid and largely unrestrained expansion into everyday life. AI is now widely applied across education, healthcare, businesses and institutions.
As Christians, we may not be quick to take sides, but we must remember that we are in this world and not of it. This means that whatever we engage with or embrace must be viewed through a grounded spiritual lens. The guiding question should always be: What would Jesus do? or, What does the Word of God say? Scripture remains our light along this path of life.
The cost
Like the rise of social media, technological innovations do not simply appear and disappear. They arrive, shape behaviour and influence nearly every sphere of our lives. We cannot afford to ignore them. Instead, we must seek a clear understanding of what we are engaging with, its advantages and disadvantages, and how it can best be used for the glory of God.
Today’s digital environment is especially draining. The upfront cost is often our time and attention, commodities that are quietly but steadily consumed.
As Christians, we must be able to distinguish between the genuine promise of AI as a tool and the deceptive ambition of artificial super-intelligence (ASI). Scripture warns us that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, often in subtle and disguised forms. Perspective, therefore, is critical. AI is a powerful tool created by human beings, who themselves are created in the image of God.
There is a vital difference between good AI and bad AI. Good AI aligns with the biblical mandate of stewardship, enhancing human capacity for the benefit of society. For example, it can support medical research and improve disease treatment. By contrast, the pursuit of supremacy, where AI is left to decide everything and to surpass human authority, echoes the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. ASI seeks superiority over humanity and disregards the sanctity of human life. This is deception.
Using AI for God’s glory
When managed as a tool under the authority of people committed to Christ, AI offers significant potential for good.
• Solving complex problems: AI can analyse vast amounts of data to help address global challenges, including healthcare optimisation and educational advancement.
• Life-saving correlation: AI excels at identifying patterns, such as matching a patient’s genetic profile with the most effective cancer treatment, saving both time and lives.
• Human enhancement, not replacement: Good AI can help individuals improve productivity and decision-making without replacing human responsibility.
• Providence: When used wisely, AI’s predictive models and timely assistance can reflect God’s providence through tools that promote order and productivity.
Watch out for spiritual and ethical pitfalls
The greatest dangers of AI are not primarily technical, but spiritual. They arise when human beings surrender responsibility and attempt to assume the place of God.
The threat to human identity
• Devaluation of the soul: The pursuit of ASI is built on the false assumption that the human brain is equivalent to a computer. This ignores the biblical truth that human beings are spiritual beings with a soul comprising mind, will and emotions. The human spirit, which connects with God, cannot be replicated.
• The missing elements: AI can calculate and reason, but it cannot truly empathise or spiritually discern. This distinction is essential for preserving human dignity.
The trap of abdication
• Loss of control: The greatest risk emerges when we hand control over to AI rather than using it as a tool under human authority.
• Intellectual laziness: Over-reliance on machines can weaken our God-given responsibility to think, judge and act wisely. This is evident in ethical debates surrounding AI-driven systems, such as autonomous vehicles.
The digital currency of darkness
• Attention demands: In the digital realm, attention is currency. The business models of big technology companies often exploit this, distracting individuals from their identity and God-given purpose.
What can you do as a Christian?
- Guard the truth: Defend the biblical truth that humanity is created in God’s image against ideologies that seek to diminish it.
- Call out deception: Identify and challenge destructive trends, including the pursuit of artificial super-intelligence.
- Build alternatives: Create and support digital solutions that promote human flourishing rather than attention exploitation.
The challenge before Christians is to take their place and co-create with God, ensuring that technology serves God’s Kingdom rather than human pride. As Joanna Ng observes, divine wisdom is greater than artificial intelligence, because the divine surpasses the artificial, and wisdom surpasses intelligence. This conviction should guide every Christian navigating the AI-driven digital age.
