What Would God Say About ChatGPT? A Pastor Explains the Theology of AI

AI is everywhere right now. We’re watching technological history unfold at breakneck speed—and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering what it all means for your work, your life, and maybe even what it means to be human. As more and more people realize how AI is reshaping society, some pretty bold predictions are getting thrown around. But the real questions aren’t always just technological or even philosophical—they’re deeper, more human concerns about our own identity and purpose.

The Personhood Question: Is AI More Than Just a Tool?

I’ll be honest—there’ve been moments when I’m staring at a chatbot, half convinced it’s going to wink at me and ask how my day’s going, and I wonder, “Could AI ever really be considered a person?” It’s not just a random thought; there are real court cases happening where lawyers are arguing for AI to have legal rights, even the same as actual people. Wild, right?

So here’s what I find helpful: **Personhood is not about how convincing or human-like a machine can appear, but about something deeper—what it means to truly “be.”** Across both classic philosophy and religious perspectives, “personhood” is reserved for beings that:

• Are members of a living species, capable of intuitive, intrinsic action
• Possess unique attributes like consciousness and a will of their own
• (From a theological view) Are created in the image of God, with something special set apart from all other creations

That last point is worth emphasizing: **Machines, no matter how clever or lifelike, are still the result of programming.** Their “smarts” come from human ingenuity—not from some spark inside them. So, for now, AI is still a tool, an amazing one, but not a new member of the family.

Looking Like Us—but Not Us

Even when AI gets shockingly close to acting and sounding like us, at the end of the day, it doesn’t feel or create in the way a person does. You might be able to build a hilarious chatbot character (like the “404” glitch-bot I once cooked up for fun), and it might banter with you just right. Still, **its personality is just an echo of your programming.** It may reflect what we’re capable of as humans, but it isn’t a new life—it’s a product, like your house, favorite sneakers, or that Lego set you built. Cool, but not kin.

The New Frontier: What Happens When AI Builds AI?

Now, here’s where things get seriously sci-fi. What if AI starts creating new AI, inventions, and even offspring-like entities? Honestly, there isn’t much of a roadmap here—either from philosophical tradition or ancient texts. We’re in uncharted territory, and **that should excite more than it scares you.** All new breakthroughs started as mysteries. We’ll find new frameworks for understanding as this tech evolves.

Work, Creativity, and the Role of Humans in an AI World

One of the biggest worries flying around right now is the future of jobs. Will AI take 80-90% of them? Or is this yet another shift—like the internet—that ends up creating even more opportunities?

If you ask me, the next few years might get bumpy, as new industries rise and old ones transform. But I lean toward **optimism:** every major tech leap has created more work, not less, because it empowers us to imagine and do new things.

Humans Were Wired for Work

I truly believe, deep down, that people aren’t built for aimless leisure. Sure, sometimes you dream of a life full of hobbies and endless Saturdays, but think about it: **does endless free time really make people happy?** Most of us get a sense of satisfaction from building, producing, and contributing.

• Pride in creating a garden, launching a business, or just finishing a satisfying project
• The “good day’s work” feeling that nothing else can replace
• The persistent drive to improve and create—something no robot will ever “feel”

Even the most successful folks out there, the ones who could retire tomorrow, keep working—not for money, but for the joy of building things. That’s hard-coded into our DNA.

Looking Forward: Thriving Alongside AI

Here’s my take: **AI is going to speed up the pace of change and create tools we haven’t even begun to imagine.** That’s not something to fear, but something to prepare for. The secret? Embrace learning. Get curious. Leverage these new tools to do your best work instead of resisting them out of worry.

• Experiment with AI tools in your daily workflows
• Think about which skills will always be uniquely human—creativity, empathy, leadership
• Plan and prepare for new industries and niches that didn’t exist five years ago

**Human ingenuity, creativity, and drive aren’t going anywhere.** If anything, AI gives us the chance to double down on what makes us truly human. The future might be unknown, but if history tells us anything, we’ll rise to the challenge—and probably have a few good stories to share along the way.