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.
Those four verses are some of the most confusing ones in Scripture. Who are the sons of God, the daughters of men, the Nephilim, and how did they come to be mighty men (or as some translations say giants)? The Nephilim appear to be a race of formidable beings associated with extraordinary physical stature and fearful reputation. Mentioned briefly twice in Scripture, we find them in Genesis, just before the flood, and again in Numbers (post flood). Nephilim comes from naphal, meaning to fall. One school of thought holds that the “sons of God” were fallen angels who mated with human women (the daughters of man) and produced a hybrid race of giants called Nephilim. The apocryphal book of Enoch claims these offspring were giants standing thee hundred cubits (450 feet) tall. They had such insatiable hunger that they ate humans as well as one another. Having taught humans medicinal magic, astrology, divination, and other sinful practices, it was their evil ways that caused the flood! Written around 300-100 BC, the book of Enoch never was accepted as part the Hebrew Scriptures and never has been in the Christian canon.
Today’s socks tell me, “I am perfectly made” and remind me of Psalm 139’s affirmation that, “I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” All of my low-cut athletic socks have pithy affirmations woven into the toes. Depending on what pair I choose, I’m reminded that I have hope or that I’m loved, brave, strong, grateful, kind, powerful, blessed, or thankful. My favorite pair, however, tell me, “I am with you always!” It may seem silly, but there are times, especially during difficult days, when I recall the day’s affirmation on my feet and I stand a little more assuredly.
As much as I enjoy reading the works of authors like C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and N.T. Wright, I admit to not always understanding exactly what they’re saying. Nevertheless, thinking me an expert, a friend sent me an article written by a well-known Christian theologian and asked for my thoughts. Unfortunately, I had none because I couldn’t make sense of it. When I reluctantly admitted my bewilderment, my friend admitted the same. Although we both tried to understand the author, neither of us could discern his point. He appeared to have used a great many fancy words to say very little. While another scholar might make sense of his words, we two reasonably intelligent believers couldn’t. Unfortunately, some pastors, theologians, Christian writers, and fellow believers unnecessarily complicate faith and our relationship with God.
Monday’s devotion (“No Words of Comfort”) originally was published back in 2018. It came to mind because my son-in-law recently died. His death was sudden and unexpected and, when my daughter told me, I was sure I’d misunderstood her words. Not Mike! Still a young man in the prime of his life; it couldn’t be, but it was! Just as we all know we’re going to die someday, we know the people we love will die. It’s just that we expect those deaths to be on our timeline. But they’re not—they’re on God’s. The only guarantee that comes with life on earth is that it will end!
The next day would have been Sally’s wedding anniversary but, because it marked the six-month anniversary of her husband’s death, there would be no celebration. Instead of flowers, dinner, and romance, there would be tears. That morning, Sally called her step-mother, Sue, to share her dread of the following day. When telling us this, Sue admitted to being at a loss for words of consolation. A woman of faith and an ordained pastor, Sue’s difficulty in finding comforting words was because her step-daughter is Jewish. When Sue married Sally’s Jewish father, she respected her new family’s faith just as they respected hers. They knew her beliefs and what she did for a living and Sue gladly answers their questions. Nevertheless, she chooses her words carefully when speaking of the Lord and neither evangelizes nor condemns. Although her words that morning were as reassuring as they could be without speaking of Jesus, Sue knew they were nowhere near as comforting as they could have been.
Devotions of the Heart 