As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“I was reminded of theologian Jonathan Tran’s reflections on why college matters: it is a sacred time, set apart for learning, a time suspended from ‘real life’ in a meaningful way. Or, at least, it should be. When done well, it forms hearts, minds, and souls for a lifetime of service and meaningful work. This is what AI now threatens.” - Providence
Read the series.
In our previous installment, we saw that human culture and technology are a necessary part of the creation mandate and as such should not be viewed as necessary or intrinsic evils. Moreover, we argued that religion is part of human culture, and it will, therefore, employ some of the tools of culture.
“In my last post, I covered the foundational biblical principles for thinking about AI. Today, I want to make a more practical point: Artificial intelligence can help Christians be better stewards in their vocations.” - IFWE
“AI systems, for all their sophistication, remain tools created by humans to extend human capabilities. They process information, recognize patterns, and automate tasks, but they lack consciousness, moral agency, and the creative spark that comes from being made in God’s image.” - IFWE
“Ultimately, it’s not enough to say yes to a smartphone and no to social media. An internet-connected device in your son’s or daughter’s pocket allows too much, too soon.” - TGC
“as much as AI’s potential can cause harm, blaming it alone misses the point and likely makes these problems worse. Humans are the fallen ones, and that fallenness manifests in all kinds of destructive ways. Machines, strictly speaking, don’t have morals or intentions. They can only reflect ours.” - Breakpoint
Read the series.
What biblical reality do we need to add to creation and the fall in order to cultivate a more balanced view of human culture? What part of the biblical picture do the “counter-cultural” only Christians often miss?
The simple answer is “grace.” According to the Bible, God does not completely abandon mankind in his sinful state, but he shows kindness or grace. To be more specific, God bestows two kinds of grace: common grace and saving grace.
“In the logic of the story, Amanda should have died just after her coma. Rivermind’s power rests in extending life, but in so doing they offered her a product she could never cease using. And herein lies the possibility of modern technology.
All churches employ forms of modern technology to assist them in the tasks of outreach, discipleship, community, and worship. This raises the question as to whether the Bible provides the church with any guidelines or principles for choosing and using appropriate forms of technology in carrying out her Great Commission. I believe it does. One key text in this regard actually comes from the Old Testament. I’m thinking of Ecclesiastes 10:10, where we read, “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade.
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