Artificial Intelligence’s impacts on End Times Christianity
Would AI lead to techno-idolatry or ‘technolatry’? Will it culminate at the feet of an “AI god” who will elevate the Beast of Revelation? This trajectory is unveiled here.
Image Source: Gemini AI
A few days back, I had published an essay on the rise of an ‘AI god’ and quite a number of readers (outside Substack) were surprised that the article, with the exception of the concluding section, was wholly written by ChatGPT. This is the level of “sentience” AI has acquired.
AI’s ability to mimic preachers, pastors, theological discussion points, Christian educational material and pulpit messages is already a fait accompli. As the days grow darker, AI will be in a position to supplant these traditional sources of biblical knowledge and fellowship. The organised church, steeped in worldly wisdom, will naturally resort to worldly tools in order to widen its customer audience base.
In certain circumstances, the use of AI in theological research can be both welcome and innocuous. When I was looking for the Old Testament origins of Romans 11:8, it was ChatGPT which sourced it to Isaiah 29:10 along with several other similar verses. As a cross-referential and educational aid, I see nothing wrong with the use of AI. It can be used to draw up theological discussion points when one is pressed for time. In a nutshell, AI in the Christian walk should be limited to academic exercises. In this context, it would be conceptually no different from the manual compilation of relevant material from a sprawling theological library.
I would however draw the line when AI is used for active ministry or in sermons. The words emanating from the pulpit should breathe life into someone in the congregation. As Christ Himself said: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Trusting an algorithm to impart these words is akin to techno-idolatry. The Holy Spirit operates inside human agencies; not machines.
God’s purposed words for the day should naturally be independent of AI mediation. This is why believers are enjoined to trust the Spirit-led walk as the words needed for ministry will be given at the particular hour of need (Matthew 10:19). Why is this important? For starters, the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law knew scriptures by heart and yet they could not see its fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ. This is what separates academic epiphanies from Spirit-led revelations.