Genuine Relationships
Hello.
This Thought for the Week was not written by AI (Artificial Intelligence) although some feel in a few years it could be. In a recent list, the Department for Education ranked the clergy as the 13th most exposed profession to AI tools such as ChatGPT.
But it’s not only the clergy who are at risk by the advancement of AI, apparently so too is God. Artificial intelligence apps have increased and so have chatbots with a religious bent. People facing a moral or ethical dilemma can submit their questions to these ‘godbots’, which then provide an answer based on the religious texts fed to them.
No need for a clergy or God – or is there?
When a bereaved family needs a pastor to come alongside and offer pastoral support and encouragement, a cold impassive robot will not do. When a person wants to discover the meaning of life a set of pre-programmed glib answers won’t do either.
If there is one thing people need today that AI cannot supply, it is a loving relationship. We can love AI, but it cannot love us. We all need the warmth of a loving relationship and to know someone cares about us.
Thankfully, in Jesus, God is with us (Immanuel – Matthew 1:23) and will be with us always (Matthew 28:20), loving us with unconditional love, and the clergy can personally share the love of Jesus as they care for those in need.
I would rather have the genuine article than an artificial version – How about you?
In Christian love.
Barry Robinson
About the Writer:
Barry Robinson is a Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands and Wales