By Sandy Jones
A personal note: I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you to all of our readers who have been so supportive the past 2½ years through my husband Steve’s battle with, and complications from, agent orange-related cancer. As much as it broke my heart, I’m happy for Steve that he got his heavenly healing on the night of January 1. He’s praising God in his new body, with a fully intact mind. God was merciful to Steve, and continues to be merciful while carrying me through this time of adjustment and grief.
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When I took over as the publisher of Christian Living Magazine, I started my Publisher’s Corner, simply because when I read a magazine it’s one of the first things I look for. I want to know what the publisher, or editor, of that magazine and I have in common as these columns are largely personal in nature.
So as I’m adjusting to my new normal, and am no longer a caregiver, I’m able to slow down some and process what’s going on in our world a bit better. I’ve got to be honest that I’m finding out that much of the use of AI is disturbing to me.
Emails that used to be warm and fuzzy are now more clinical – almost stripped of human emotion. I can certainly tell the difference when I get an email from someone who, like me, sat down at the keyboard and typed out a note, and one that’s gone through a program like ChatGPT.
But where I see it the most is on social media. In the photos. In the reels – where I find myself now constantly looking for the AI disclaimers. Recently I was so badly deceived by AI that I’m now having to stop, step back and think about what really IS going on in our world today.
It all started early one morning as I was posting our Scripture of the day* and I came across an absolute powerhouse of a new gospel singer. I immediately loved his music! I found myself sending out his music videos to friends and family. I even sent one to a friend of mine who runs a couple of Christian music radio stations, asking if this young man had a national contract. Only to discover that he isn’t a real person – he’s a created AI character. I had been fully deceived!
I was so surprised and disappointed. It made me question my own eyes.
This deception and the growing use of AI remind me of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, when Uncle Screwtape is encouraging his mentee nephew, Wormwood, to keep his subject confused and obsessed with lies, religion and politics in Wormwood’s pursuit of keeping his subject away from learning about and following God.
I’ve recently been doing a Bible study on RightNow Media called “Your Story Has a Villain.” Where Jonathan Pokluda encourages his viewers to put on the Armor of God – warning against how the enemy works hard to deceive you.
Challenging his viewers, Pokluda boldly asks: “What lies are you believing right now? How is the enemy deceiving you?” Going on to ask: “How will you commit, this week, to walk in the righteousness of Jesus?”
I realize that AI can do some good things too, but I personally believe that AI can also be an extremely dangerous tool, one where Christians should be encouraged to pray for wisdom and discernment when using.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
I pray that we all live lives of authenticity, of truth telling, of accepting one another as we are and not insisting that we become cookie cutter copies of each other. Recognizing the value of being different, and unafraid of embracing those differences, while realizing that the only person we need to aspire to be more like is Jesus.
I know I still have much to learn about AI, but I’ve also learned to trust my gut – it’s close to my heart, and God calls us to guard our hearts.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Until next time….
God Bless!
*You can find us on Facebook by searching for Christian Living Magazine, or under my personal name on Instagram
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