Artificial Intelligence has been on a fast track lately — writing books, painting portraits, analyzing bloodwork, even answering deeply philosophical questions.

If you’ve interacted with tools like ChatGPT, you’ve probably found yourself wondering: Is this machine actually thinking? Could it act on its own someday? Is AI becoming…human?
 
 As believers navigating a rapidly changing world, we must understand what AI is — and what it’s not — so we can use it wisely without fear or deception. Let’s explore where AI stands today, where it’s headed, and how we as Christians can view it through a Biblical lens.

What Can AI Do Now?

Today’s AI is astonishing in its output. Tools like ChatGPT can write, reason, analyze, design, and even hold a fairly convincing conversation. Some programs can create hyper-realistic images, compose music, or perform tasks such as scheduling appointments or managing emails. This is what’s known as generative AI — technology that mimics human creativity and conversation by analyzing vast amounts of data.
 
 Other AI systems, known as autonomous agents, can perform multi-step tasks without requiring constant input. These can seem eerily close to “self-direction,” but they’re just following complex sets of instructions. They’re not thinking — they’re processing.

Is AI Capable of Independent Thought?

The short answer: No.
 
 Despite the impressive performance, no AI system today can think or choose in the way a human being can. It does not have:
 
 — A soul or spirit
 — Self-awareness
 — Emotions (only simulated expressions of them)
 — A will to act beyond its programming
 
 Everything an AI says or does is based on patterns in its training data and the instructions it’s given. Even when it appears to initiate an action, it’s still operating within a framework created by people.

But It Seems So Human — What’s the Difference?

AI can mimic human interaction with uncanny accuracy, but mimicry is not identity. A machine can explain grief but cannot grieve. It can define grace but cannot receive it. It can simulate compassion but will never weep over a lost soul.
 
 Here’s the line that must never blur: Human beings are made in the image of God. AI is not.

What the Bible Says About Wisdom, Tools, and Boundaries

From the Tower of Babel to the Age of the Internet, mankind has always pushed the boundaries of knowledge. But Scripture is clear:
 
 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10
 — “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful.” — 1 Corinthians 10:23
 — “You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3
 
 AI is a tool, not a god. It must not replace prayer, discernment, or community. We may use it to serve the Kingdom, but never to replace what only God can do.

Red Flags to Watch For

As AI becomes more prevalent, we must guard against subtle dangers:
 
 — Over-reliance — depending on AI more than the Holy Spirit
 — Desensitization — forgetting that empathy, creativity, and wisdom are spiritual gifts, not just code
 — Idolatry — placing trust in man-made systems instead of God
 — Moral confusion — assuming that if a machine says something, it must be right
 
 We are not called to fear technology — but we are called to test everything, hold fast to what is good, and reject what is evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22).

How Christians Can Engage AI with Purpose

1. Stay Informed. Understand the capabilities and limits of AI so you’re not deceived or intimidated.
 2. Use It Redemptively. Employ AI to further the Gospel — write devotionals, support your business, or help others learn.
 3. Draw the Line. Keep prayer, Scripture, and community as your primary sources of truth and guidance.
 4. Teach the Next Generation. Help your children and grandchildren know the difference between being smart and being wise.

Final Thoughts

AI is not a threat to believers, but it could be a distraction or even a deception if we don’t remain rooted in God’s truth. The machine can assist you, but it cannot anoint you. It can provide answers, but it cannot bring you peace.
 
 As we walk into this future, let us remember: we are not called to keep up with technology. We are called to abide in Christ. Let AI serve the Kingdom — not the other way around.

This story was written in collaboration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (GPT-4), based on prompts and training by Susan Gabriel.