“Once and for all I will not only shake the systems of the world,but also the unseen powers in the heavenly realm!”. . .Now this phrase “once and for all” clearly indicates the final removal of things that are shaking; that is, the old order, so only what is unshakable will remain. Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.(Hebrews 12:26-28 TPT)
We are in a kairos moment where shakings are happening all over. Thankfully, we’re told that the tremors around us only give way to the emergence of the Kingdom of God on earth. In this series, we’re looking at how technology will play a significant part in this kingdom shift. Just as the newly constructed Roman road system forged the way for the Gospel’s first penetration into the world, and the printing press 1500 years later expanded it further, the digital age is making way for what many believe will be the final stages of the Gospel’s advance.
In the next decade or so, there will be an advancement in technology that so radically reshapes the world that it will draw a clear line in the sand between the early 2000s and post 2020s. In the midst of this, the church will be entering into an unprecedented level of spiritual awakening. So. whether it’s pavement, ink, or chatbots, the use of technology will be instrumental.
Defining A.I.
We’re looking at five of the key technologies that will revolutionize the world. We’ll dive in and look more closely now at the budding area of artificial intelligence and how it intersects with the ever-expanding Kingdom of Christ.
This particular technology brings up all manner of hype and hysteria, a lot of which is due to the influence of Hollywood. Like people’s views on sex, our perspective of AI and the future has been quite tainted by the media. Films like The Terminator and The Matrix have painted a bleak view of the days ahead, showing us a world where artificial intelligence takes over everything either by exterminating humanity (the Arnold way) or enslaving us (the Keanu way). But this view is incredibly out of sync with what many of the top people involved in AI actually understand about the technology.
First, we have to know the difference between “artificial intelligence” and “artificial general intelligence.” AGI is what most people think of whenever this topic is brought up. This is the idea of a computer system that literally has a mind of its own; a rational intelligence that is on par or superior to a human’s. AI, on the other hand, is more about systems that intelligently output data. AI systems are given specific coded tasks and carry out those tasks very well. This is the area where major breakthroughs are happening, as with the newly launched ChaptGPT language-learning model we mentioned in Part One.
There are many resources out there that can help show why AGI will remain in the realm of  science fiction (key word being “fiction”) for a while. There’s not enough space here to get into the argument; I would encourage you to read this recent article from Christianity Today where a Christian working in the field of AI discusses the matter more soberly.
A.I. & the Singularity
Now, be forewarned, if you do want to argue this point, there are many who will get very defensive about it. To question the possibility of AGI is to challenge a sacred cow in our society. People are very passionate about this concept, and they talk about it with a type of religious fervor, especially amongst those with atheistic and naturalistic worldviews. AGI is looked at as a type of coming savior (or destroyer) that will change the landscape of society. With this comes a kind of secular “rapture” theory called the singularity that centers around the belief that a time is coming when computers will become so independently intelligent that they will inaugurate a new dimension of evolution, leaving the human species either transformed into a type of superhuman cyborg (“transhumanism” is the umbrella term for this subject) or crushed under their quantum feet as they go on to  conquer the universe. The irony with this belief is that its proponents end up looking much like the religious fanatics they make fun of who keep giving out new dates for the rapture. In a similar way, the idea of the singularity keeps changing and this will continue to happen as the goal posts keep moving forward. This will happen as people discover there is a truly a difference between human consciousness and informational processing power.
Now this brings us to the first bout of positive news about where this is all headed. As AI technology hits more and more barriers in sparking true consciousness, it will lead many to reconsider their understanding of the human soul. In this way, AI may end up producing a spiritual awakening as people wake up to the fact that the brain is not an evolved machine, but rather a divine piece of hardware custom-designed to support a supernatural software called the soul, something that cannot be created in a lab or from behind a screen.
A.I. & the Image-BearersÂ
All that said, computers are certainly growing in their ability to mirror humans in mind-boggling ways. And that should not surprise us, especially when we consider the fact that we are image-bearers who carry the essence of our Creator. We too have the capability of making things in our own image. AI is one of the most remarkable demonstrations of this and it should cause us to honor and worship the One who has given us these miraculous capabilities.
Now to reiterate the previous point, this does not mean we will create an independent being with a soul. But it might look like we’re getting remarkably close. (And this closeness will provide a sudden need for the church to operate in the spiritual gift of discernment.) But this brings us to the topic of “digital assistants,” one of the premier things that will overtake the world in the next decade or so. We’re talking about Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT, but on a whole other level. These programs are all in their infancy. To compare them to what they will be in perhaps just five to ten years is like comparing a black and white television that plays three stations at certain hours of the day with a 3D LED internet-connected curved flatscreen.
These digital assistants will come into an extreme complexity where they will be able to draw instantly from all the information on the internet, and simultaneously use all the different digital tools available to us. Right now, Siri or Alexa cannot access or utilize most of the apps on your phone, but the day is coming where that will change and there will be a greater fluidity in their use of the tools and data at our disposal. This will dramatically alter the world and put many jobs out of business. But here we remind the reader of what was discussed in the last part in looking at the transition from horse and buggy to the automobile. While it seems intense in the moment, societal changes like this have happened many times over. Some say we won’t be able to handle the speed of this next change, but I don’t think that perspective keeps in mind the amazing capabilities God has placed into his image-bearers. By his grace, we can handle a lot more than we realize.
What optimistic proponents of AI believe is that this takeover of menial jobs will unlock a new dimension of creativity in humanity and even cause us to tap more deeply into things that truly arise from the human spirit. Like the shift into the Industrial Age, there will be entire new fields of work and productivity that come out of this transition.
AI & the Dangers
But fear not doomsayers! There is plenty of bad news to go around. Everything we’re discussing obviously comes with a great word of caution. These digital assistants will give people access to unimaginable levels of knowledge. We already recognize that the knowledge of the world is at our fingertips through Google….but these programs will be able to do a lot of the “thinking” part for us in retrieving and outputting this knowledge. Even in its infancy, these programs are starting to generate complete answers to college-level essays (in a matter of seconds).
But here is where we also call to mind the invention of the printing press. That world-changing device also flooded the world with knowledge and the gatekeepers of society at the time worried it would be too much for the average person to handle. Thankfully, we’ve managed to survive with the printing press, and God still uses the technology of the printed page for his glory.
And here’s something powerful that can come out of this dilemma. In a world where people are full of knowledge like never before, there will be a desperate thirst after wisdom . . . true wisdom, such that grows slowly in the life of one who follows the way of Christ and embraces trust, hope, and love. Such wisdom will shine with a unique light in a world filled with the artificial light from screens. With this, people will hunger like never before for authentic experiences as they drown in a sea of information. Because of this, church communities that hold to the ancient practices of contemplation and Spirit-led worship will be an oasis in the digital desert.
The Printing Press on Steroids
In the meantime, digital assistants can and will be used for spreading the Gospel like never before, just as it was with the printing press. In fact, this is at the heart of the message behind this whole series. Today, historians recognize that Martin Luther’s “protest” would have been a failed experiment if it were not for this particular technological breakthrough. In fact, there were many other protesters before him who had a similar vision, but they died out quickly because they were not able to disseminate their ideas more virally.
We’re entering into a whole new realm of spreading messages. These digital assistants will able to help in the swift creation of articulate videos and powerful songs that will carry the truth of the gospel to this media-driven generation. Even though a billion other people may use digital assistants to disseminate evil, the truth will resound and shine brighter than ever. People are hungry for the truth and it will reach their eyes and ears faster than ever before.
Digital assistants will also be able to help with virtually all administrative tasks in churches, leaving true fivefold ministry to be the premier focus where saints are being equipped to express the fullness of their calling and to tap into things that no computer can replicate, such a true communion and fellowship.
Of course, there are other dangers we can’t ignore out in these digital waters. Many are worried this technology that near-perfectly “mirrors” mankind in his current unbelieving and corrupt state will lead to tyrannical and corrupt versions of AI. This is where doomsday scenarios come into play as we think of AI being used to manipulate and control people’s minds. But such is the danger of sin throughout any age with any of the tools people create. This dynamic is something we will explore in much more depth as we get into more controversial topics like brain implants and gene-editing.
For now, we’ll just acknowledge that there is always danger with any breakthrough of technology on this side of eternity. Some dangers are more intense and deserve more caution, but the reality is, the cat is out of the bag. Whether we like it or not, this thing is moving forward. And as it does, there will indeed be a spiritual awakening that will counterbalance the corrupt use of this technology. As true revival sweeps the nations, it will be harder for these technologies to be harnessed solely by malevolent forces. We’ll talk about this a lot more as we get into the other subjects. For now, let’s pray God gives us the wisdom and grace to navigate this particular form of technology and truly use it for his glory.