A Christian Perspective on AI and Faithful Technology Use

How Do we develop a Christian Perspective on AI? Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world—how we work, think, create, and even pray. Some see it as a looming threat to humanity, warning of lost jobs, distorted truths, and unchecked power. Others hail it as a new dawn of progress, a means to cure disease, solve global crises, and make life unimaginably easier. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to a different posture—one that neither runs in fear nor rushes in blind excitement. How do we walk faithfully when the tools in our hands are learning to think?

We must remember that AI, no matter how advanced, is not alive. It does not bear the breath of God, nor does it possess a soul. It cannot love, repent, or worship. Yet those who design these systems, those who wield them for influence, and those whose lives are shaped by them—they all do. And because they do, every interaction we have with this technology carries profound spiritual weight.

When we engage with AI, we are not simply pressing buttons or typing prompts; we are leaving fingerprints of our intent, our ethics, and ultimately, our faith. With every decision—whether developing algorithms, responding to automated systems, or consuming AI-generated content—we have a choice: to reflect the light and character of Christ, or to distort His image in ways that harm truth, justice, and human dignity.

Faithful engagement with AI means seeing beyond the code and circuitry to the eternal value of the souls it touches. It means asking not just What can we build? but Should we build it—and will it serve love, mercy, and righteousness?

Paul wrote to believers in a world where ideas clashed and powers competed for allegiance. The early church lived at the crossroads of Greek philosophy, Roman law, and deeply ingrained cultural traditions. Followers of Jesus faced pressure to conform to the latest schools of thought, to pledge loyalty to Caesar, and to participate in systems of power that promised safety and advancement.

Into that whirlwind, Paul reminded them of something timeless: their lives were not defined by the surrounding philosophies or political powers, but by Christ Himself. Whether they were speaking in marketplaces, working with their hands, or gathering in small homes for worship, their calling was to live as ambassadors of a different Kingdom.

This same reminder cuts through every age, including our own. Today, our culture is shaped not only by human rulers and ideologies but increasingly by complex digital systems and artificial intelligence. These technologies promise efficiency, control, and even wisdom—but they also carry the risk of shaping how we see truth, people, and God Himself.

Paul’s words reach across centuries to speak into this very moment: “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). It’s not just our speech or our actions that matter—it’s every tool we touch, every system we help build, every algorithm we interact with. AI is not outside the scope of discipleship. It belongs under the same lordship that governs our families, our work, and our worship.

To honor Christ in this emerging digital frontier means resisting the pull to use AI for manipulation or self-glory. It means choosing transparency over deception, justice over exploitation, and compassion over cold efficiency. Paul’s voice echoes here: even in an age of thinking machines, our highest purpose remains unchanged—to glorify Christ in all we do.

When Technology Becomes a Mirror

AI amplifies human intent. If our hearts chase pride, greed, or control, AI will magnify those sins. We see it in misinformation, exploitative algorithms, and manipulative power structures. But if we abide in Christ, even machines can echo mercy and justice.

Technology doesn’t change who we are; it reveals who we’ve become. “Whatever you do or say” includes coding a chatbot, training a model, or simply choosing how to engage online.

Then and Now—Drawing Parallels

The early church faced powerful systems—Rome’s machinery of conquest, Athens’ philosophical pride. These tools shaped society but couldn’t define the Kingdom of God. Similarly, AI may dominate headlines, but it cannot dethrone Christ.

Where Caesar’s roads spread empire, Paul’s letters spread the Gospel. Today, neural networks and digital platforms can either extend human arrogance or, in God’s hands, spread grace and truth.

Ethics Through a Christian Lens

Christian theologians increasingly emphasize that artificial intelligence must be approached through the lens of the Imago Dei—the biblical truth that all humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This doctrine calls for responsible stewardship of creation, ensuring that every technological advance, including AI, serves to protect and uplift human dignity rather than diminish it. As one faith-based AI ethics framework notes, “AI should be developed and deployed in ways that recognize human beings as image bearers, deserving of respect and care.”1 Tools are never morally neutral—they echo the hearts and values of those who build them.

Theological Cautions

Leaders in Christian ethics caution that AI, while powerful, carries profound risks when used without spiritual discernment. It can lead to dehumanization, treating people as data points rather than souls, and it may distort spiritual life by automating pastoral care or sermon writing, stripping away the relational depth of Christian ministry. Moreover, AI has the potential to magnify injustice—entrenching societal biases in algorithms, enabling oppressive surveillance, and fueling military technologies. Christian ethicists warn that these dangers echo biblical admonitions against idolatry and misplaced trust in human creations (Isaiah 44:9-20). As Firebrand Magazine notes, “Artificial intelligence, when misused in Christian settings, risks undermining authentic faith and the person-to-person ministry that is essential to the Gospel.”2

Church & Institutional Responses

The Catholic Church has been a global leader in addressing AI ethics. Pope Leo and Vatican initiatives have issued principles insisting that technology must never replace human judgment or deepen inequality. Documents such as the Rome Call for AI Ethics outline commitments to transparency, fairness, and accountability, urging governments and tech companies to use AI for the common good. As reported by The Washington Post, “Pope Leo has made AI a priority, warning of its potential for harm while calling for guidelines that uphold human dignity and justice.”3
Similarly, The Financial Times highlights the Vatican’s emphasis that AI must be used responsibly in warfare, healthcare, and economics, grounded in Catholic social teaching on human dignity.4

Practical Christian Perspectives

Many Christian ministries and thought leaders encourage believers to see AI as a supportive tool for advancing God’s work, rather than a replacement for it. AI can help with Bible translations, global missions, and church administration. However, it must never substitute for Scripture, prayer, or Spirit-led wisdom. As Life.Church’s ministry guidance explains, “AI can support pastors and believers in practical tasks, but the foundation of ministry remains spiritual discernment, prayer, and authentic community—not machine-driven shortcuts.”5

AI Is Not Neutral

Artificial intelligence is not a blank slate—it carries the fingerprints of human hearts. Every algorithm is trained on data chosen by human hands; every system reflects the assumptions and priorities of its creators. As Jesus taught, “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17). The output of AI mirrors the moral and spiritual condition of those who design and deploy it.

Called to Be Light

Into this complex world of machine learning and automation, the call of Jesus remains unshaken: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light has no off switch—it shines whether in a synagogue, on a factory floor, or in the digital codespace of artificial intelligence. To follow Christ in an age of AI is to let our light shine in every interaction, marked not by fear or dominance but by honesty, justice, humility, and love for neighbor.

Christian theologian Oliver O’Donovan reminds us that technology is never just about function: “All human acts are moral acts. Our tools are not morally blank; they carry our purposes and shape our possibilities.”[8] AI, therefore, cannot be morally detached from discipleship.

Sacred vs. Secular: The True Divide

A.W. Tozer captures this truth when he writes, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.”[9] This applies as much to coding a neural network as it does to preaching a sermon. Whether designing algorithms, conversing with an AI, or deciding how to ethically use it, our why must remain rooted in Christ’s mission—the redemption of humanity and the glorification of God.

Charles Spurgeon echoes this principle: “Every act of business, every effort of life, should be holiness to the Lord.”[10] In other words, Christian engagement with AI should not aim to escape technology, nor idolize it, but to consecrate it—to bring even this modern tool under the reign of Christ. As Paul wrote, “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

Examine Your Intentions

Before writing a line of code, training a model, or simply using AI tools, pause and ask: Does this serve truth and neighborly love, or does it exploit, deceive, or glorify self? Jesus warned that actions flow from the heart (Luke 6:45), meaning every technological decision carries moral weight. Christian ethicist John Wyatt notes, “Technology always embodies a vision of human flourishing—our task is to discern whether that vision aligns with the Kingdom of God.”[11]

Practical Step: Before engaging with AI, write down your reason for using it. Does it aim to build up others or merely serve convenience or control? Surrender that motive to Christ in prayer.

Speak with Integrity

Even casual interactions with AI systems—chatbots, social algorithms, or language models—train not just machines but our own speech patterns. James 3:9 reminds us that “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” When we type or talk to AI, we are rehearsing habits of heart and mind.

Oliver O’Donovan observes, “Moral formation is not reserved for great acts; it is woven through every word and gesture.”[8] This includes digital ones. To speak truthfully, to refrain from slander or manipulation, even toward non-human systems, cultivates a Christlike integrity that shapes how we treat actual human beings.

Practical Step: Commit to honesty and grace in all your digital communications. Let the same Spirit that governs your face-to-face words guide your keystrokes and prompts.

Advocate for Justice

AI has shown the capacity to harm vulnerable populations—through algorithmic bias in hiring, oppressive surveillance in marginalized communities, and systemic economic displacement. Scripture calls believers to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed” (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Christian leaders stress that loving our neighbor requires more than personal virtue—it demands questioning and reforming unjust systems. Pope Francis has warned, “Technological progress must be accompanied by an ethics of solidarity, otherwise it will deepen injustice rather than heal it.”[12]

Practical Step: Learn how AI impacts privacy, employment, and equity in your community. Use your voice—through advocacy, voting, or public witness—to promote policies that protect human dignity and justice in the digital sphere.

Pray for Wisdom

No algorithm can substitute for divine guidance. James 1:5 promises that “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” In a rapidly changing technological landscape, wisdom is not optional—it is essential.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “The man who would know God must give time to Him.”[9] The same is true for navigating AI ethically. Without prayer, we risk reacting in fear or acting in pride; with prayer, we find courage and humility to use every tool for the glory of God.

Practical Step: Begin each day with a simple prayer: “Lord, teach me to use every tool—including AI—for Your purposes. Keep my hands clean, my heart pure, and my mind aligned with Your truth.”

• James 1:5 (NLT) — “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” — God offers wisdom freely when we face complex choices, including how we engage with technology.

• Micah 6:8 (NLT) — “...this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” — True guidance is found not in innovation alone but in righteousness, mercy, and humility before God.

• Romans 12:2 (NLT) — “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think...” — Our approach to AI should be shaped by spiritual transformation, not worldly patterns.

• Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) — “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” — Surrendering every technological decision to God aligns our plans with His purposes.

AI will only continue to grow in influence—but the Kingdom of God remains unshakable. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to fear innovation or worship it. Instead, we are called to redeem it—to let the Spirit of Christ guide every choice, every interaction, and every word spoken in a world increasingly shaped by machine intelligence.

Faithful discipleship means stepping into this frontier not with panic or passivity, but with courage, wisdom, and clarity rooted in Jesus. Every line of code, every click, every conversation with AI can become an act of worship when surrendered to God’s purposes.

Share your thoughts or stories below or on social media using #KingdomOverCode. Let’s navigate this new era together, bearing light that no algorithm can dim.

Journaling Prompt: Faith in the Digital Frontier

• Where am I tempted to use technology for self over service?

• What would it look like for Christ’s love to guide how I build, use, or even talk to AI tools?

Footnote

1. AI Ethics Framework: A Christian Perspective
2. Noreen Herzfeld, In Our Image: Artificial Intelligence and the Human Spirit (Fortress Press, 2002).
3. John Wyatt, Matters of Life and Death: Human Dilemmas in the Light of the Christian Faith (IVP, 2009).
4. Theological & Ethical Dangers of AI in Christian Settings
5. Pope Leo on AI: Catholic Church’s Response
6. How the Catholic Church views AI
7. Vatican AI Guidelines
8. Oliver O’Donovan, Resurrection and Moral Order: An Outline for Evangelical Ethics (Eerdmans, 1986).
9. A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Christian Publications, 1948).
10. Charles Spurgeon, Sermon No. 1559, All the Lord’s (Metropolitan Tabernacle, 1881).
11. John Wyatt, Matters of Life and Death (IVP, 2009), p. 212.
12. Pope Francis, Address to the World Economic Forum on Ethics in Technology (2024).