Human intelligence (HI) is needed with AI. Human intelligence is a must in using AI. Human intelligence refers to our mental, spiritual, and social awareness and knowledge. AI is exploding around the world. It is used for good and service to others, but it is also used by manipulators and deceivers. People of faith can responsibly use AI for good.
AI can be used for Bible study, sermon preparation, and emails. My word editor, Grammerly, incorporates AI. This editor helps improve typed content for presentations and communication. AI increases our effectiveness with our H.I.
AI can create material for us. My great, great grandmother’s first husband, Rev. Comfort I. Slack, penned the following words in Newton, Iowa, before their wedding in 1864:
“And I have thought how often it is that God upsets the cup of joy which we had prepared for ourselves, because he sees that it would only minister to our pride and self-confidence – and then mingles for us a cup of pure blessing of which we had no knowledge.”
I shared this quotation a few weeks ago at a couples meeting my wife and I attend. A member of the group took a photograph of the quote. Later, he asked ChatGPT to compose a poem on based Rev. Slack’s words. The AI-generated poem is titled Pride:
I raised the cup with steady hand,
Its surface bright, my own command.
I filled it full with dreams and will,
And thought the air around me still.
But God, who sees beyond the rim,
Beheld what I had hid from Him—
The self-made crown, the silent boast,
The thrones I built to praise me most.
And so He tipped the cup I bore,
It shattered softly on the floor.
I mourned the loss, the taste, the gleam,
Of what was never more than dream.
Then in my hands He placed anew
A vessel carved in humbler hue.
No gold, no pride, no boastful gleam—
But living water from the stream.
I drank, and found within that grace
A deeper joy, a truer place.
Not built on self or fleeting fame,
But known and held in Jesus’ name.
For He who loves will sometimes break
The things we build for our own sake.
And from the ruins, by design,
He pours a blessing, pure, divine.
The poem captured the theme in Rev. Slack’s words in a more expansive way. It also raised questions in my mind. Where in the body of the poem do I personalize it to make it my own? How does H.I. use this artificially produced poem? I just did. How do I give credit where credit is due? I just did.
I asked the same friend mentioned above for his feedback on the draft of this article. He asked ChatGPT to evaluate the draft and sent me the assessment which pleased me. I’ve incorporated some of the suggestions to improve the draft.
Decreased self-esteem, however, can be a downside to reliance on AI. The poem made me think, “I can’t come up with that kind of poem.” That is probably true but I still write poetry. We compare our material with what AI produces. Can we ever create anything as good or better than AI? AI can assist us in improving our writing just as belonging to the Destin Word Weavers writers group assists me.
If we are struggling self-esteem because we’re comparing our work to AI, the following X post for writers found at @jasonwmiser, can lift us up, “You can compete with AI. Don’t stop telling your story, writers. AI doesn’t have what you have, a soul.” Our H.I., God-given life, and souls energize us to keep creating human stories.
Tony Reinke’s lecture titled Authentic Preaching in the Age of AI gives Christian preachers, speakers, and writers many insights for using H.I. with A.I. He presented it to an audience at Phoenix Seminary composed Christian students, preachers, and teachers. Reinke described his use of AI for his morning religious devotional times and in research. He gave other examples of using AI for religious purposes.
The body of the presentation is based on an exposition of Ezekiel chapter 2-3. These chapters recount God calling Ezekiel to be a prophet. ‘[God] said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me…And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”’ (Ezekiel 2:1-2. 3:1)
Reinke gave eight observations about the intersection of declaring God’s message and using AI. Five of his observation are personalize, personality, relational, affectionate, and Spirit-empowered. The observation I emphasize here is the importance of personalizing God’s message when using AI: stand, listen, and eat before speaking. Ezekiel stood up, listened to God, and digested the divine message before declaring it to his people. Ezekiel personalized God’s message. H.I. teaches us to take responsibility today to exert serious effort to personalize AI-produced material related to declaring God’s message like Ezekiel.
We submit questions to AI and it returns answers and content for us. Our H.I. converts the material into personalized and accurate presentations or communication. Unfortunately, people also use AI to cut corners because they are short on time or neglect to verify the information and fail to transform the material into personalized content. Time is needed to listen to and integrate AI’s material into our work. Verification is required because the AI-generated material and sources are not always correct or accurate. Due diligence in verification is another aspect of H.I.
I used ChatGPT a couple of weeks ago for sermon preparation on John 20:23, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV 1995) I had used my own lexicons and commentaries to study the text. I then asked AI for commentary material. I asked for early church fathers’ comments on the text. I wanted access to resources that I don’t have in my library. AI gave me content that enriched the reflection process and brought more clarify my topic To Forgive or Not to Forgive.
I want to use AI with H.I. This means taking time to listen, reflect, and digest the AI-generated material. I rework it where needed to make it my own and to reflect my style. The ChatGPT evaluation of the draft of this article gave me several rewarding recommendations for improving the article.
Jesus Christ is our Lord not AI. He gives his Spirit to dwell in us, to guide us into all truth, and to bring to remembrance the things God teaches us. AI is another tool in our preparation toolbox that enhances our work and lives if we use it with H.I. under Christ’s Lordship and for his glory.