AI
When my daughter asked what I think about AI Christian music, I wasn’t entirely sure. William Booth, who said, “Why should the devil have all the good music?” took pub tunes and gave them Christian words, so perhaps the source of the melody matters less than the truth of the message. God has used even signs at the local gym to encourage me, so I’m sure He can use words written by AI to bless, especially when they’re rooted in Scripture. And when a Spirit-filled believer sings those words, the ministry comes from the Spirit within, not the software behind the song.
Preaching may be similar, but I think there is a catch! Preachers are called first to be with Jesus, to hear from God, and to speak for God. The direction of a message must come from Him. Once we know what God wants to accomplish, then research tools—including AI—may help us dig deeper. AI can tell you what Bernard of Clairvaux or Augustine thought about Colossians 3. But there are dangers. Even after giving restrictive or directive prompts to avoid things like dispensationism etc, it cannot discern truth from error.
Christians receive illumination from the Holy Spirit on the revelation given by inspiration (Bible). When the Spirit illuminates something to a man or woman of God, He can use their explanation to bring growth and impartation. If the Word feeds you, it will feed them. AI cannot receive illumination. It can only provide information. If the Spirit didn’t illuminate it, the Spirit is not obligated to use it.
AI doesn’t know the congregation, so it is unable to be prophetic or hear the word of the Lord. We may preach what we have learned, not what is on God’s heart. The flock come hungry to be transformed, not informed. AI results are spiritless, but every word from Jesus is spirit and life.
AI can deceive us into thinking we’ve saved time, when in reality it robbed us of the hours of quiet listening, meditation, and walking with God. It offers knowledge but has no knowledge of God, like the Pharisees who knew the Scriptures but not the Author. AI can provide true words without the Spirit of truth, like the girl with the spirit of divination in Acts 16. It has no experience of God, unlike Christian authors and cannot operate faith, which alone pleases God.
Friend, AI gives artificial inspiration. God has built His church for 2,000 years through gifted men and women. Trust His gift within. Use AI as a concordance, dictionary and access to the ancients—but let’s hear from God. He began the Church by the power of the Spirit, and He is not going to complete it with AI.