AI is advancing by leaps and bounds. It can be used for great good, but it also can be used for great evil. Relying on these new technologies to write a better book is certainly not necessarily evil. But is it a good thing?

It is with fear and trepidation that I write this piece. The backlash could be intense—the resistance could be full bore. This could be the end of CultureWatch. So what is my topic? A hot-potato issue like abortion or transgendersim, or simply religion and politics that gets so many folks so fully worked up?

No, something that might well cause more angst, heat and fury! I want to discuss things like AI and ChatGPT and so on, especially in terms of believers using such devices for the work of the Christian ministry. And my cards must be laid on the table at the outset: I am old, and I am old school!

So before you are ready to deliver me to the firing squad, hear me out. I will make my case, while fully admitting I have not used any of these devices for my own ministry—that of writing, or preparing talks, and so on. Some of you might quickly respond, ‘Try it, you’ll like it.’ Perhaps I will. But let me explain my concerns, starting with a brief biblical discussion.

I was just reading in the book of Ezra again today. The captives were released to go back to Israel to rebuild the temple. We read about the various ‘experts’ who pitched in, such as the “masons and the carpenters” (Ezra 3:7). Of course we read about similar things when the first temple was built.

Indeed, the construction of the tabernacle before that can also be mentioned. In all of them, those especially skilled in the work were made use of—not just any old average Joe. Consider Exodus 35 and the tabernacle for example. Yes, ordinary folks could freely contribute financially to the work.

But as we read in verse 10, the ones actually working on the project were not ordinary folks: “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded.” Women with skill were also used: “And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair” (vv. 25-26).

And consider what we read in verses 30-35:

Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

Ministry and Machines Today

My point of saying all this should be clear: for the Lord’s work on these important projects, God made use of those with talents, abilities and skills. They were gifted for the work, and of course it was God who had gifted them. ‘But what does all that have to do with me and my ministry today?’ some might ask.

Well, whether we are preparing a sermon or a worship song, or writing an article or a book—all for the glory of God, presumably a major prerequisite—in addition to having some skills in these areas, we need to have the Holy Spirit helping us every step of the way.

It seems to me that there is a temptation to more and more rely on things like AI and other new devices to craft great sermons or write great books. This might become a replacement not just for God-given gifts to his people, but reliance on the Holy Spirit.

As one case in point, I recently had a great and godly woman call me, and we spoke about these very issues. She said she felt God wants her to write a book, but she is not a writer, does not like writing, and finds writing to be a very laborious and long drawn-out affair. She said she would rely quite a bit on some of these new programs.

Now because I know she is so close to the Lord, I could have said no more. But I did nonetheless raise some general concerns. I admitted that I know very little about these things, and have never used something like ChatGPT or other programs meant to help you write better or whatever. But I did have in mind the sorts of passages I just shared above.

I said the reason I write so many articles and books is because I am more or less good at it, that God had given me this gifting long ago—even when I was a pagan—and that I was using those talents that he gave me for the Kingdom. But I said other things I have zippo ability in, be it fixing your car or tending your garden.

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