Unofficial Rules for AI Apps for Christians
Written by Cam Pak
AI is here, and itâs only going to get more powerful. Many believers around the world are working towards using the power of AI for redemptive purposes, instead of being frozen in fear.
Weâve seen a rise in Chrisitian-focused AI apps and tools. And frankly, there are a ton of apps created from people with good intentions and from people with bad intentions regarding AI and the Bible. Some have created incredible apps. Some have created what seems good but are wolves in sheepâs clothingâon purpose or on accident.
So, when it comes to AI tools that speak on behalf of the Bible, a person in the Bible, or on behalf of Christianity, here are some unofficial rules:
5 unofficial rules for AI apps for Christians:
AI output must be biblically accurate.
AI output must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.
AI output must clearly identify as AI, not human.
AI output must not replace human relationships or spiritual practices.
AI output must balance grace and truth, while not neglecting one of the two.
1. AI output must be biblically accurate.
People are tired of fluff and shallow words intended to make them feel good; people want truth. The Bible offers real truth about the realities of sin, timeless wisdom, the real story of the world leading up to Jesus and his return, and showcases our deep need for a savior, Jesus.
We cannot risk biblical accuracy with trying to make someone feel good. The Truth from the Bible must be spoken and not hidden. AI output must be biblically accurate.
2. AI output must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.
AI LLMâs are good at organizing words into what it thinks we want to hear, but what if it decided to create its own Bible verse or slightly change a verse to fit a narrative it wants to portray?
âDonât rely on LLMs to quote things with 100% accuracy b/c you donât know what they were trained on exactly. Just give them the information they need via [Retrieval-Augmented Generation] RAG in real-time.â
AI output must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.
Related Resources:
3. AI output must clearly identify as AI, not human.
Throughout the history of computing, weâve been tasked with learning how to speak âmachineâ so that the computer would do what we wanted it to do. Now, we are learning how to speak to the computer in a way thatâs inately âhumanâ.
AI responses have become pretty good at responding in a way thatâs best suited or fine-tuned for the reader. This change in how we interact with computing must be met with the clear reality that AI is artificial.
AI is artificial.
Anthropomorphising (or humanizing) AI can be very dangerous. Some examples of dangerous AI applications that do this are friend.com or replika. An example of dangerous AI application in the faith-based space is the Text with Jesus app. (I am not referencing these specific apps to be mean.)
AI should masquerade as a being from the Bible, because itâs dangerous and can lead people astray. AI that is overtly clear its non-sentient, or rather a robot, sets healthy emotional and social boundaries. AI output must clearly identify as AI, not human.
Related Resources:
4. AI output must not replace human relationships or spiritual practices.
Can AI truly be a friend? Can AI truly pray for you? No, itâs artificial.
âDivine Wisdom is superior to artificial intelligence,â
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail (James 5:16Â BSB).â
Have you experienced the healing power of confessing a sin to a trusted follower of Jesus and being prayed over by them? That divine experience is meant for humanity as a gift from the Lord. Nothing artifical can replace that.
A lot of people, including myself at times, have used Google to ask really big, deep life questions. Yet, the Bible tells us to "âŚnot be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2 BSB)." If we go to the world for answers, how can we discern what is good or true? That we must ask of AI itself. That is a deep reason why we need AI trained and made obedient to the ways of Jesus and the alive Word of God.
âIf Godâs Holy Spirit is hard to hear amidst the noise of life and distraction, should I just reach for AI instead?â We may not say this, but sometimes our actions say this. AI output must not replace human relationships or spiritual practices.
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5. AI output must balance grace and truth, while not neglecting one of the two.
Dr. Henry Cloud paints it so well when explaining why we need both grace and truth. Please pause for just a few minutes to read Growth Takes Grace and Truth.
AI output prioritizing truth alone can feel like law and judgement without relationship, while AI output priotizing grace alone can feel like license to sin without direction. Jesus was full of grace and truth. We need both.
If the AI output fails to say the truth in order to protect from offending someone, then it goes against the provocative and offensive nature of the gospel. Yet, if AI output fails to showcase the rivers of grace that flow from following Jesus, then it goes against heart and power of the gospel. AI output must balance grace and truth, while not neglecting one of the two.
Recap
AI output must be biblically accurate.
AI output must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.
AI output must clearly identify as AI, not human.
AI output must not replace human relationships or spiritual practices.
AI output must balance grace and truth, while not neglecting one of the two.
A few good examples that abide by these unofficial rules are Apologist Agent, NTWâď¸, and Bible Answers AI. (If I didnât list your app, it doesnât mean your app doesnât meet these criteria.)
Related Resources:
â from Cam Pak, someone who is deeply facinated with AI and making it obedient to the Lord Jesus
