The world is being changed, very rapidly, by a technology called AI - Artificial Intelligence. It is an amazing development that increasingly is being used by people to create ‘better’ images of themselves. Need a great letter written? Enter a few prompts into ChatGPT and in a few seconds you will have what you requested. Want your resume’ polished? AI will do it for you. Do you need a headshot photo that makes you appear a few pounds slimmer and a decade younger? And so it goes.
As the technology improves the task of sorting out what is generated by AI is becoming more difficult, if not impossible. We can support the careful edits on social media that burnish our public image in ways that make being a ‘fake’ easier and more common. That is a real problem, especially for those who are committed to an authentic life of following Christ. Are we truly ‘becomers,’ growing in faith and commitment or are we just AI productions, without reality and substance?
Paul wrote about people who would come into the church who are posers! He tells us that they will learn the language of Christianity and be able, from time to time, to appear to be the ‘real’ thing, while lacking a genuine experience of the Holy Spirit.
Paul uses this telling line about their ‘spirituality.’ "They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (2 Timothy 3:5, NLT) Those pseudo-Christians were not changed by the Power of the Holy Spirit from the inside out and therefore they were, in the candid moments, still "heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. … They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure." (2 Timothy 3:3-4 CEV)
The apostle’s next lines were not AI generated. They are inspired words of truth. "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." (2 Timothy 3:10-12, NIV)
Paul says, in so many words, “Tim, look at who I really am. Observe my day-to-day life. I have been through some rough times, but Jesus has held onto me as I held onto Him.”
Friend, does your claim to discipleship hold up in the candid moments? When you are disappointed, frustrated, under pressure, short on cash, uncertain – does your faith shine brightly still? Is Jesus Lord of all? Are you a Christian, through and through? I am not writing about perfection! That is the goal of AI. Our aim is growth and authenticity.
In another letter Paul speaks of his own growth in the life to which Christ called him. “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3) He confesses, as all Christians should, that he is a work in process!
Our aim should be to ‘keep step with the Spirit,’ to learn to be responsive to His call to surrender Self and embrace the way of Christ. Here is what I know – if we present ourselves to Him in honest humility He will transform us, from the inside out, creating an authentic faith that shows up in the best of times and the worst days.
Don’t slip into the trap of being a poser, a
pseudo-Christian.
Pray to be real.
Invite others, not pridefully, but because you are authentic, to follow you as
you follow Christ Jesus.
Here is a word from the Word.
“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. Then you will learn to
know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. …
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.
Hate what is wrong.
Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and
take delight in honoring each other.
Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rejoice in our confident hope.
Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.”
(Romans 12)
God, keep us from fakery, pretense, and polished images.
Rather, may we be authentic followers of Jesus, growing in grace each day.
Help us to know the Way and to invite others to walk it with us.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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