The rise of Artificial Intelligence has raised the question of whether it will ultimately replace platforms such as Wikipedia as the primary source of information.
As we know, AI is here to stay and will only continue to grow in its place in society. At the same time, however, some have worried whether it will replace human workers and live in a society dominated by machines.
It is no surprise to hear these types of concerns regarding the future of Wikipedia, as it functions primarily through human editors when it comes to everything displayed on its pages. According to an article by the Digital School of Delhi, the possibility of AI replacing Wikipedia is unlikely because it requires human assistance to learn and provide information systematically. This is true given that AIs are manmade databases, so they can only function as they are programmed to do, which goes to their limitations despite their capacity.
As Christians, we recognize that our source of information primarily comes from the Word of God. In the Scriptures, we understand who God is, what He has done for us in Christ, how we live a godly life, and more. Overall, we must learn to interpret what is happening in the world through a biblical lens. So Christians need to ask: How can we train ourselves to measure all information—human or AI-generated—against the truth of Scripture?
Truth Vs. Falsehood
Believers recognize the necessity of truth because that is how we can distinguish it from what is false. To begin, we are to consider the truthfulness of Scripture. The Psalmist David writes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:10). God has given us His Word because it provides us guidance and direction. In navigating our world today, we need Scripture to help us discern what aligns with the Word of God. Overall, we need the Word of God to help us understand what it means to live a godly life.
As both a “lamp” and a light”, Scripture is meant to illuminate our hearts, which is something the Holy Spirit does in us, who brings everything Christ has said in remembrance (John 14:26). Therefore, it is essential to ground ourselves in God’s Word in knowing what it says and filtering out truth from falsehood. This is known as discernment, which every Christian should develop; otherwise, they will easily be deceived by the data output these platforms are spewing. The danger behind AI is that it can portray something that looks real or sounds powerful but is deceptive. And because it is manmade, AI can be programmed deceptively.
The preacher must encourage the congregation to develop discernment. I think of the words of the 16th-century theologian John Calvin, a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation, who says, “the pastor has two voices: one, for gathering the sheep ; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means for doing both.” Sound leaders teaching sound doctrine can also help believers cultivate discernment. Although we are to read the Scriptures in our own time with God, seeking counsel from a pastor or an elder is beneficial in helping one understand the text. This is especially good for new believers with a minimal understanding of the biblical text or nonbelievers with questions about the Christian faith.
A Biblical Worldview
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). There is both a command and an exhortation in this text 1) do not conform to this world 2) be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Christians should not follow the world because they are living before the Lord.
As a follow-up to discernment, Christians must cultivate a biblical worldview through their growing relationship with God and His Word. Our worldview should not be on this world, for it is hostile to God. It is understanding His Word that we can truly understand the world around us because it is His world. It is easy not to find it necessary because this world is not ultimately our home, but at the same time, we are still here dealing with life, and we can’t expect to live in isolation from the rest of the world. We must know what it entails and how we can address it biblically.
Critical Thinking Matters
Another reason for developing a biblical worldview is that it is important to develop critical thinking. With AI in the mix, there is a significant risk of little to no critical thinking. It’s natural to desire instant gratification at the expense of delayed gratification and hard work. And because there’s no critical thinking, how do you know if what you hear is true, just because he heard it from a database? Remember that a database can only provide what has been programmed to do. It is not an absolute source of absolute truth if we are not thinking clearly for ourselves; then we will let others, including artificial intelligence, think for us.
Just as Christians are to discern between false teaching and sound doctrine, it is also important to discern what is going on in this world through the lens of scripture. Additionally, having a biblical worldview helps fellow believers understand what’s going on in this world and why it’s important for Christians to understand that, as the Bible says of God, His ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. Therefore, we need to be thinking, "I got things; we interpret biblical ones."
Critical thinking also requires asking questions that address the matter at hand. For instance, we may ask, what evidence supports this? Is what an AI database says factual and accurate? Or is it mere speculation or incorrect information?
Another thing to ask is if it’s consistent with God’s Word. Just as renewing our minds in Scripture is important, we must utilize the Scriptures as the litmus test for truth. They are the filter we need to precede whether we believe it to be true.
Praise God, He has given us His Word so that we would live for Him in this world. There is so much deception, so we need the truth as much as possible. In a world where truth is rendered subjective, we must rest in the objective truth presented by the Scriptures. Moreover, we must preach the Gospel to those who don’t know God so that the truth will set them free (John 8:32). God is truth, for there is no falsehood in Him; therefore, we must be people of the truth. Ultimately, we realize that everything in this world will pass away, AI included, but God’s Word will endure forever (Matthew 24:35). Therefore, we must embrace it all the more.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Solen Feyissa
