By Brent Lacy | Part 3 of 3 in our series on AI for Gospel Impact

There is a conversation happening in churches right now that matters more than most church leaders realize. It is not about worship style. It is not about church growth strategies. It is about artificial intelligence and whether the church has anything meaningful to say about it.

The answer is yes. But it requires more than proof-texting. It requires a biblical framework for thinking about technology, truth, and the human soul.

The Church Has Been Here Before

Every major technological shift has forced the church to think carefully about its relationship to new tools. The printing press put Scripture in the hands of ordinary people. Radio and television created the televangelist. The internet changed how people find and experience church.

Each technology brought opportunity and danger. The printing press fueled both the Reformation and the spread of heresy. Television created global ministries and prosperity gospel empires. The internet connected isolated believers and created echo chambers of false teaching.

AI is the next chapter in this story. The church that ignores it will be shaped by it. The church that engages it thoughtfully can use it for extraordinary good.

What AI Actually Is (and Is Not)

AI is not sentient. It is not conscious. It does not have a soul, intentions, or moral agency. It is a pattern-matching system trained on enormous amounts of human-generated text, images, and data.

This matters because it means AI reflects the biases, assumptions, and values of the data it was trained on. If the training data is predominantly secular, the outputs will lean secular. If the training data contains theological errors, the outputs will contain theological errors.

AI is a mirror. A very sophisticated mirror. But a mirror nonetheless.

These findings from the AllFaith Benchmark study should concern every church leader. The AI tools your members are using every day have a measurable bias against religious perspectives. Not because the companies are anti-religious, but because the training data underrepresents religious voices.

A Biblical Framework for AI Ethics

Scripture does not mention artificial intelligence. But it provides clear principles for evaluating any tool or technology.

1. The Stewardship Principle

Genesis 1:28 calls humanity to steward creation. This includes the tools we create. AI is a human creation. We are responsible for how it is developed, deployed, and used. Stewardship means using AI intentionally, not carelessly.

2. The Truth Principle

John 14:6 records Jesus saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." AI can generate false information confidently. It can create convincing but entirely fabricated quotes, statistics, and historical accounts. The church must be a community that values truth above convenience.

3. The Image of God Principle

Genesis 1:27 teaches that every human is made in the image of God. AI is not. This means AI can assist with tasks, but it cannot replace the human relationships that are central to ministry. Pastoral care, counseling, discipleship, and preaching require the presence of an image-bearer.

4. The Wisdom Principle

Proverbs 4:7 says, "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Wisdom is not the same as knowledge. AI has vast knowledge. It has no wisdom. The church must bring wisdom to how AI is used.

5. The Love Principle

Matthew 22:37-39 calls us to love God and love our neighbor. Any use of AI that harms people, spreads falsehood, or replaces genuine human love fails this test. Technology should serve love, not replace it.

Practical Ethical Guidelines

Based on these principles, here are practical guidelines for churches using AI.

• Transparency: Tell your congregation when AI is being used. Do not pass off AI-generated content as entirely human-written.
• Verification: Always fact-check AI outputs. Verify statistics, quotes, and theological claims against trusted sources.
• Human oversight: Never publish AI-generated content without human review. A pastor, elder, or qualified leader should approve all public-facing content.
• Privacy: Do not input confidential information (counseling notes, financial records, membership data) into AI tools.
• Theological review: Have AI-generated Bible study materials reviewed by a theologian or trained pastor before distribution.
• Equity: Be aware that AI tools may reflect biases against minority perspectives, including religious ones. Do not assume AI outputs are neutral.

The Danger of Uncritical Adoption

Some church leaders will adopt AI without thinking critically about its limitations. This is dangerous for three reasons.

First, theological drift. If your sermon illustrations, Bible study materials, and devotionals are generated by AI trained on secular data, over time your church's teaching will subtly shift away from biblical orthodoxy. Not because anyone intends it, but because the tool has a bias.

Second, relational atrophy. If AI handles all your communication, your congregation may feel like they are interacting with a machine instead of a pastor. The personal touch that defines pastoral ministry cannot be automated.

Third, accountability gaps. If AI generates content that contains errors or heresy, who is responsible? The pastor who published it. The church that distributed it. You cannot outsource accountability to an algorithm.

The Opportunity

Despite these dangers, the opportunity is enormous. Churches that learn to use AI wisely will be able to:

• Create more content for outreach and discipleship
• Serve their communities more effectively
• Free pastors to spend more time in prayer and pastoral care
• Reach people who would never walk through a church door
• Multiply the impact of every volunteer hour

The question is not whether the church will engage AI. The question is whether we will do so with biblical wisdom or worldly carelessness.

A Call to Lead

Church leaders, this is your moment. Your congregation is already using AI. Your members are asking ChatGPT for marriage advice, parenting help, and answers to spiritual questions. The church needs to be in that conversation.

Develop an AI policy for your church. Train your staff and volunteers. Create guidelines that protect your people and honor God. And do not be afraid of the tool. Be afraid of ignoring it.

The fields are white for harvest. Let us bring every tool, every gift, and every ounce of wisdom to the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AI a spiritual threat?

AI is a tool, not a spiritual entity. It has no consciousness, will, or moral agency. The spiritual danger comes from how humans use it, not from the tool itself. Like any powerful technology, it can be used for good or harm.

Should churches have an AI policy?

Yes. Every church that uses AI tools should have clear guidelines covering transparency, verification, privacy, and theological review. This protects the church and builds trust with the congregation.

Can AI-generated content be used in sermons?

AI can be used for research, illustration ideas, and drafting. But the sermon itself should reflect the pastor's own study, prayer, and anointing. Always disclose AI assistance if asked.

How do we address AI bias against religion?

Be aware that AI tools may underrepresent or misrepresent religious perspectives. Always review AI outputs through the lens of Scripture. Supplement AI research with trusted theological sources.

Sources

1. The AllFaith Benchmark: Testing AI Models on Religious Questions - Brigham Young University, Baylor University, University of Notre Dame, Yeshiva University, 2026.
2. AI and Religion: Public Perspectives - Pew Research Center, March 2024.
3. Technology and the Image of God - Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2025.
4. AI and Faith Resources - AIandFaith.org, 2025.