In just six weeks, the unleashing of Artificial Intelligence to the general public through ChatGPT has launched multiple competitors, applications, and enhancements. The prospects are both exciting and frightening at the same time. Artificial Intelligence is simply mining collective human intelligence, super-computing and compressing the discovery through the ages. It’s like a speed reader of all the libraries in the world. But I’m sure the “ask me anything” mode will eventually morph.
If this is new to you — don’t feel bad. ChatGPT was only released in November, and the latest, “stable” release was on March 13, 2023.
It’s a chatbot that interacts conversationally with you. It’s way better than those “virtual assistants” you get when you have a problem with a product or a government agency. It’s incredibly intuitive and conversational. Beyond mere answers to questions, it can write poems, songs, short stories and even software code. It is now possible to find an AI tool for almost any creative task online.
Many everyday tasks can be automated, especially those requiring manual research and sorting. Microsoft is integrating its technology in its products, Bing, Word, Powerpoint and Excel. Microsoft recently demonstrated how it could put together a slide show for a birthday, pulling together photos, quotes, and designs in a matter of seconds. Creatives are toying with concept to generate ideas for art, music and writing projects.
No doubt, companies are salivating at the idea of a virtual artificial intelligence that will replace white-collar jobs. I actually asked the software AI, “what jobs will ChatGPT be replacing, “and here’s the surprisingly frank response:
- Customer service representatives: ChatGPT can be used to answer common custome
Artificial Intelligence created image via Dall-e r questions and provide support, reducing the need for human customer service representatives.
- Content writers: ChatGPT can be used to generate articles, blogs, and other forms of written content, potentially reducing the need for human content writers.
- Translators: ChatGPT can be used to provide translations between languages, potentially reducing the need for human translators.
- Data entry clerks: ChatGPT can be used to automatically enter data into databases and other systems, reducing the need for human data entry clerks.
- Researchers: ChatGPT can be used to assist with research by providing information and insights, potentially reducing the need for human researchers.
The AI assistant added a footnote to my inquiry:
“However, it is important to note that while ChatGPT can automate certain tasks, it cannot replace human creativity, empathy, and critical thinking skills. Therefore, jobs that require these skills are unlikely to be replaced by ChatGPT in the near future. Instead, ChatGPT can be used to augment and support human workers in these roles.”
Does ChatGPT believe in God?
But beyond the advances to humanity Artificial Intelligence purports, I was curious how it would handle the transcendent. I asked the program a simple question, “Is there a God?”
The answer was strangely comforting to me, knowing the computer wasn’t going to tackle that question, and actually leaving room for faith.
“As an AI language model, I don’t have personal beliefs or opinions. The existence of God is a matter of faith and belief, and people hold different beliefs on this matter. Some people believe in the existence of a divine being or beings that created the universe and govern the world, while others do not believe in the existence of any deity or supernatural power. Ultimately, the question of whether there is a God or not is a deeply personal and subjective matter, and each individual has the right to hold their own beliefs and opinions on this topic.”
Can Artificial Intelligence replace the Pastor?
Journalists, radio DJs, writers, illustrators, and programmers are wondering what their future holds. I was thinking what technology will mean for pastors and clergy. Can AI replace the Rev?
I hope not. Christianity is a relational faith, with a functioning church, the living, breathing continuation of the Gospel message. And leaders who can express biblical truths, relate them to daily living, and encourage the flock date back to mere days after Christ’s departure from this earth.
None of us want a C3PO delivering a Sunday sermon. None of us want a virtual assistant showing us the depths of eternity in our daily lives.
Church leadership has embraced innovations throughout time like the Concordance, the IBM Selectric 3, Microsoft Word, Sound Systems the Internet, iPads, and Projection. Will AI find a way to enhance ministry?
Still, I was curious. What would an artificial intelligence sermon be? I asked.
A ChatGPT Easter Message
I asked ChatGPT to see how it would handle the holiest of days for the Christian Church. For many pastors, this week will be spent in deep study and prayer, preparing for the pinnacle of their preaching calendar, given the number of nonregulars who attend and the importance of the day.
I asked the AI engine to produce an Easter sermon, providing it with some parameters and guidance. Here’s my input.
“Write a sermon for an evangelical church about the significance of Easter. It needs to include the need for the atonement and what the resurrection means to the Christian. It should include two quotes from ancient church fathers, two from modern-day leaders, and one illustration from the reformation and one illustration from modern-day writers.”
And here is the result, produced in 20 seconds. I’m interested in what you think (add your comment below.)
(CHAT GPT SERMON FOLLOWS)
“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“As we gather together to celebrate Easter, we are reminded of the profound significance of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a time to reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross and the hope that we have through his resurrection.
“The need for atonement is at the heart of the Easter story. As Christians, we believe that we are all sinners, separated from God by our disobedience and rebellion. But Jesus, who was without sin, took our place on the cross, bearing the punishment that we deserved. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“The early church fathers understood the importance of this sacrifice. As St. Augustine wrote, “He died not for his own sins, but for ours, in order to set us free from the power of sin and death.” And St. Cyril of Alexandria wrote, “He endured the cross for our sake, and thereby he abolished death and destroyed the power of the devil.”
“But Easter is not just about the atonement. It is also about the resurrection. As Christians, we believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, conquering sin and death once and for all. This is the foundation of our faith, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
“The resurrection means that we have the hope of eternal life. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
“The resurrection gives us hope that even in the midst of our pain and struggles, we have a God who is with us and who is working all things for our good. As the modern-day author Max Lucado wrote, “Because of the resurrection, we can walk through anything, face anything, and endure anything.”
“The early church fathers also recognized the importance of the resurrection. As St. John Chrysostom wrote, “Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.” And St. Athanasius wrote, “He rose again to make us rise again.”
“But what does the resurrection mean for us today? It means that we can have hope in the midst of our trials and tribulations. As the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
“The resurrection also means that we have the power to live a new life. As Paul writes in Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
“The modern-day church has also recognized the importance of Easter. As pastor and author Timothy Keller writes, “The resurrection was not only a victory over sin and death, it was also a vindication of Jesus’ life and teaching. It was God’s ‘Amen’ to all that Jesus had said and done.” And theologian N.T. Wright writes, “Easter was not the invention of the church, but the explosion of joy in response to the resurrection.”
“I would like to close with two illustrations. The first is from the Reformation, when Martin Luther wrote, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” This reminds us that the resurrection is not just a theological concept, but a reality that we can see all around us in the new life that comes with spring.
“The second illustration is from modern times. The Christian author Philip Yancey once wrote, “If Easter says anything to us today, it says this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.” This is a powerful reminder that the truth of the Gospel cannot be silenced, even by death itself.
“As we celebrate Easter today, let us remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the hope that we have through his resurrection. Let us give thanks for the atonement that has reconciled us to God, and let us rejoice in the new life that we have been given.
What do you think?
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