AI or Human?
Technology is here to stay whether we like it or not. This publication is completed on a computer, shared to email and social media, and then uploaded to a website. A cell phone sits on my desk. My cell phone, TV, and computer, all use the Wi-Fi device sitting on my wife’s desk. Even our sweeper is computerized and roams through the house by simply clicking a button on my phone. We grocery shop “online” and Amazon packages frequently arrive at our home. Yes, technology is here to stay!
Technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and certainly one of the richest businesses in the world. Since the introduction of Google and other search engines, information has been more accessible than ever before. Before the internet, “search engines” consisted of encyclopedias and thousands of index cards contained in a card file at the library, combined with a notebook, pen, or pencil and a human mind actively reading and recording notes as we studied. Today, searching is done with a few clicks of a button, and whether right or wrong in its content, the information is accepted, saved, printed, and turned in as a completed assignment of thorough research. The human mind is “relaxed” from the toils of past generations as the internet does the “thinking” for the searcher. Technology is here to stay!
A meme on popular social media recognized a Kiosk as “Wal-Mart’s employee of the month.” Instead of searching for the reason a car isn’t running correctly, mechanics plug in a computerized receiver into the vehicle’s computer, and a few flashing lights give the mechanic a code, informing him of the problem and how to correct it. Again, technology is here to stay! Frankly, technology is endeavoring to replace the labor of the human and replace the ability of thinking and reasoning from the human mind! Granted, it requires an advanced mind to develop artificial intelligence. But when it replaces human labor and especially human thought and reasoning, it is dangerously encroaching upon the replacement of the human soul! THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO, AND YET THE DEVELOPMENT OF AI IS ALREADY AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF SOULS IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST (2 Peter 3:18).
The inspired apostle Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) AI certainly has its place in our world. The medical field has proven the value of AI in diagnosis, treatment, and even surgical realms. Several areas of business have found benefits from AI. No one disputes these realities, and many of us are grateful for the development of these tools. But let’s remember: THEY ARE ONLY TOOLS. These devices cannot THINK, they cannot REASON, and they should not be used to make man lazy and enable that laziness. Man must never think AI can be saved: a machine cannot obey the gospel! A machine cannot express emotion! A machine cannot replace the human being because it cannot be made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26), nor does it possess a soul (Genesis 2:7).
God made man to serve Him! Had God wanted “artificial obedience” He would have made us robots. Instead, God created man with a “computer” capable of gaining intelligence in greater quantity and quality than any machine: and that gained intelligence is never artificial! Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. “(Matthew 11: 28 – 30) The intelligence gained from Jesus is genuine. When the human mind contemplates this genuine truth with seriousness, it affects the mind (conscience – which AI doesn’t have!) in such a way as to urge obedience. The mind reasons on the truth (Romans 1:16-17; Philippians 2:5; 4:8) and believes this truth, confesses this belief that proves Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and died for the remission of our sins. Then the mind causes the human who possesses this mind to repent of sin, for the mind has learned the difference between righteous and sinful living (James 4:17). Understanding the truth learned, and the necessity to obey this truth, the human then obeys the command to be immersed into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-6; Colossians 2:12). Continuing within the study of God’s word, the mind controls its owner to continue in the faith (Romans 10:17) by adding to it (2 Peter 1:1 – 10) and remaining in it throughout life (Revelation 2:10; 14:13). No machine can do this: only the soul within human flesh can accomplish this obedience to gain and enjoy eternal salvation! God designed us this way!
When man surrenders his ability to work and his ability to think, reason, and obey, man surrenders his soul to the perishable elements of this world, including AI. God has no design on judging machines. But He will judge the world (our souls – 2 Corinthians 5:10) in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained (which is Jesus Christ – Acts 17:31). Again, technology has its place, and is here to stay, and undoubtedly its existence will increase. But it cannot take the place of the soul of man, nor of God’s word given to guide and save the soul within man! 2 Timothy 2:15 – 26 should be the constitution of every soul, but especially those of us who have used our God-given computers, i.e., our minds, to learn what we must do to be saved eternally. We are NOT robots, but “free moral agents” – free to ignore the foolishness of the world and those who refuse to hear God, and instead, hear and obey Him (Matthew 17:5).