For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)]
Because the literacy rate in the 1st century was around 10 to 15%, only a few people could read the Hebrew Scriptures or Apostolic letters. By necessity, the new faith came about through public reading and preaching. In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul warned of a time when sound doctrine would no longer be tolerated. Rather than reproof, rebuke, exhortation, and instruction, people would want to have their itching ears knéthó (meaning tickled or scratched). Rather than knowledge and doctrine, they’d be more interested in myths, sensationalism, and viewpoints suiting their desires. I fear that time has come!
We no longer need to consult our Bibles because we have AI Bible apps and video channels. I recently watched a 10-minute AI video claiming to be the “full story of Job’s faith;” it isn’t. Beginning with God and Satan making a wager as to whether Job will curse God, more than half the video is from the first chapter of the book. After plenty of impressive AI visuals, the next 40 chapters are summarized with one sentence not found in Scripture. While we see people speaking to Job, we never hear what’s said nor do we hear God’s words that cause Job to recognize and submit to God’s sovereignty and power. The video’s sole take-away seems to be that you’ll be rewarded richly in this world if you don’t curse God when bad things happen.
Although the Nephilim warrant a brief mention only twice in Scripture with no clear explanation of their identity, these fantastic creatures are extremely popular in AI. Relying heavily on the apocryphal book of Enoch, one video blamed the flood on these evil giants who ruled the world. It called the flood a “cosmic reset against chaos induced by fallen angels” and an “act of defense for the souls of men.” Usually portrayed the size of King Kong, other Nephilim videos are even more bizarre and far-fetched. Let’s remember that it is subscribers (not necessarily believers) these sites want. Unfortunately, content faithful to Scripture that is historically accurate and theologically correct doesn’t necessarily make a video attention-grabbing or exciting to a viewer. Unless one is Bible literate, there’s no way to know where fact and truth end and fiction and fantasy begin. Nevertheless, like baby food, videos like these are easy to digest!
AI has even moved into the prayer business. When we want to “chat with God,” artificial intelligence can step in and answer for the Lord Almighty. On one site, we can get the god of our choice by choosing our religious affiliation such as Agnostic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, or Mormon along with the topic to discuss. We can tell God whether we desire inspiration, comfort, or something else but correction or reproof are not an option. On another site, we can “embark on a spiritual journey and engage in enlightening conversations” by texting with Jesus, the Apostles, or “a multitude of other revered figures from the Bible.” The premium option even allows us to text with Satan! In theory, the responses from these chatbots or “godbots” are said to be “in line with the teachings of the Bible.” But, since AI is putting words in their mouths, are they? If we’re not Bible literate, how will we know when they aren’t?
One New York Post writer posited that AI might be “a beacon lighting the way for a new kind of spiritual exploration” and, perhaps it can be. Nevertheless, there is no substitute for the Bible! We can’t test what we see and hear on our screens against the Word of God if we don’t know what God’s word says! We must never forget that Satan will do anything to lead us astray. He has been perverting God’s words since speaking with Eve and his false teachers and prophets have attacked the church since it began. Jesus warned us: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” [Mat 7:15] I suspect they may come to us dressed as AI, as well. Let us beware.
Devotions of the Heart 