Editor’s note: This column is a counterpoint to the articles that ran in the March 5 issue of the Baptist and Reflector regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Mosser
Does a church managed by AI improve the soil for the growth of souls? This is the pressing question with which we pastors must wrestle. In the previous Baptist and Reflector, the general perception encouraged churches to move forward utilizing AI.
Often the counter argument sounds something like “It’s going to take over the world,” but this is not the concern as I see it. My initial concern centers around the ambiguity of our AI ethics. The speed that AI is developing puts us pastors in a very difficult position.
We would all like to have clear guidelines for using this tech in the church, but because it’s changing so quickly, the ethics we develop today are likely out of step with what is coming tomorrow. Most agree that the sacred work of the sermon is off limits while the secular aspects of church work don’t have to be.
However, the divide between the sacred and secular is ignored in Scripture. As Abraham Kuyper said, “Over every square inch Christ claims, ‘Mine!’ ” That includes our sermon but also our social media presence. It includes my prayer life as well as publicizing the next VBS. So, every aspect of life needs to be governed by Christ-glorifying ethics, and at this stage in AI development it seems we simply aren’t ready.
My next concern is for our worship. Since AI is so invasive, we need to ask how it will affect our worship. AI seems to promise efficiency, but does that mean it is going to help us glorify Christ better? Is a church with limited human touches really God honoring?
Will there not be consequences upon our sanctification when we’ve reassigned all our unwanted tasks to an AI bot? Could this not create a church of spectators afraid to use their skills to serve because they can’t compete with the efficiency of AI? And even if the AI influence helps to bring large crowds, will a church heavily dependent on AI be capable of caring for them?
A church that is efficient but run by AI bots will not display the glory of redemption and the equipping work of the Spirit. Pastors, our churches need more involvement from our people, not less. Isn’t God more glorified when more of His people are engaged in loving Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength…and their neighbor as themselves?
This can’t be accomplished when their roles have been outsourced to AI.
Finally, many of us have struggled to exercise restraint in our use of technology. Pastors, how many counseling sessions have we sat through where technology led to a growth in sin? How often have we gone to a restaurant where tables full of people are sitting in silence staring at their screens?
I think we all can agree that it should not be this way. Maybe before AI makes another leap forward, we should slow down and evaluate if we are ready to see this same technology become even more relied upon in the church.
It’s too early to determine whether AI will truly improve the soil for the growth of souls, but this I know: Satan often shows the bait and hides the hook. AI in the church promises to make us more efficient. My concerns have been that the lure of efficiency is hiding a hook. So, before we bite down hard, I am asking that we look a bit longer and see if we should take the bait. B&R
