The A.I. Jesus
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm???
If A.I. Jesus prays for you, God the Father will not hear that prayer!
This is Dave Scherrer and this is also Backyard Conversations. Here, you and I have conversations about things that matter. Things you might chat about in an afternoon conversation on the back deck. I want to take some time today looking at a current phenomenon – Artificial Intelligence. Maybe you've heard of it?
Remember, there was a comedian that used a hook to get into his comic sketch... "Things that make you go hmmmm?" From there he would go into unusual events of the day that were curious at best and usually outrageous and then he would spin them in a very funny manner. It was a good hook!
So, today I want to talk about something that makes me go "Hmmmmm?" Apparently there is an A.I. Jesus (and Moses and others I guess). You can access this Jesus on the web and have a conversation with him (not Him!). I have concerns!
In some ways I think this is pretty brilliant. Haven't we all wished that we could have a sit down conversation with Jesus? Maybe a backyard conversation – I mean, that would be so amazing!
The interesting thing is we can have that conversation!
God, for the first 6000 years of Judeo-Christian faith, used prayer and the scriptures to "chat with us." Until 500 years ago, most of the world didn't have a printed copy of the scriptures to look at, so the Word of God was shared out loud in Church and in conversation around the table.
Here is what I think I have against the A.I. Jesus thing:
A.I. makes mistakes.
I am maybe the last guy on earth to experiment with A.I. I have only just started. And it is pretty incredible what A.I. can generate in 6 seconds with just a few promptings. This tool will, no doubt, revolutionize our businesses, education and most likely our culture. I don't think we can put this genie back in the bottle. It is learning all the time, I am told, from a huge bank of data.
Still, be careful. A.I. only knows what it knows from accessing a data bank that humans created. With all our soft facts, bias and false assumptions included, A.I. makes mistakes. I do not trust an A.I. Jesus to give me the real Jesus' opinion.
A.I. does not have the Holy Spirit.
When you access the A.I., the Jesus you are accessing is someone's opinion of what Jesus would say in a backyard conversation. Even if it is an astoundingly well-crafted opinion crunched out in mere seconds based on a survey of Bible verses it electronically pulled from, the A.I. Jesus is quite obviously not the real Jesus.
The real King of kings and Lord of lords is available in every moment to chat with in prayer. His scripture gives us Jesus' opinion without error. And His Holy Spirit living in us calls to the King on His throne and Jesus hears our groanings!
Do not settle for an imitation cardboard cutout of Jesus, no matter how well-crafted that cutout is!
I can say with great confidence, that if A.I. Jesus prays for you, that God the Father will not hear that prayer.
Finally, an artificial A.I. Jesus cannot give you a hug!
When you go to your local Sunday worship service you will meet up with other Jesus followers who will love you and support you and love you. They can give you a hug. You will perhaps hear a sermon straight from the Bible, sing wonderful songs of worship – perhaps you will partake of the Lord's Table.
Your A.I. Jesus cannot do all this. The A.I. Jesus cannot love you.
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This is Dave Scherrer and I am hoping you will have a backyard conversation with Jesus this week by engaging Him directly. Accept no substitutes!
And the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your Heart and your Mind in Christ Jesus – Not in A.I. Jesus! Peace!
