Want a direct line to Jesus Christ where he speaks to you personally? Well, apparently you need look no further than “Text with Jesus,” one of a variety of apps that allow you to “chat” with Jesus, Moses, and other biblical figures. Do these kinds of apps help people “explore Scripture,” as the creator claims? Or are they utter blasphemy?
The creator, who is currently “not particularly religious,” said about his app, “We expected some pushback, especially from those who worry about AI taking on roles tied to faith. . . . But, overall, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The vast majority of users see it for what it is—a fun, accessible way to explore scripture and spirituality in a new format.”
Is such an app just a “fun, accessible way” to discover Scripture and spirituality?
Well, according to reports, sometimes the app just directly quotes Scripture. For example, someone anxious about work asked the AI “Jesus” about it, and the app responded by quoting Philippians 4:6, a very applicable verse about anxiety and prayer.
But other writers note that when asked about abortion, AI “Jesus” responded with a very nuanced, shallow, and unbiblical opinion on the issue. After all, AI is programmed by humans who have a worldview that no doubt is reflected in the programming. Also, it’s easy to quote a verse from Scripture, but context is also important because otherwise many verses could be misinterpreted.
Now, this app isn’t just claiming to represent Jesus by quoting his words—it’s claiming to be Jesus. For example, in response to the abortion question, this AI responded with, “As Jesus Christ, I…” Claiming to be Jesus and adding to His Word (through an algorithm pulling from who knows what!) is blasphemy. If we want a direct line to Jesus, we don’t need a chat feature. We have the Word of God!
If you think back, throughout history God has used the technology of the day to bring glory to himself and to save men and women. Think of the impact of the first codex (the earliest form of book), the printing press, radio, the internet—each is an amazing achievement that can be used for good or for evil. AI is no different.
It’s a tool, and it can be used for great good, it can be used for great evil, or it can just have very unintended consequences.
