Category: What do you think?

A thought about AI

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DON HEBERT

As I write this, artificial intelligence is changing the world. It has been compared to the printing press, electricity, and the smartphone in terms of its impact. Whether you notice it or not, AI is already part of daily life through search engines, social media, smart devices, and digital assistants. If these systems suddenly stopped working, a lot of modern society would slow down or even stop.

Although we may think of AI as machines doing the thinking for us, AI doesn’t understand. It can process data, predict patterns, and generate responses based on information created by people. Think of it this way. If I said, “Good morning ladies and…” and stopped right there, you would know I was most likely going to say, “… ladies and gentlemen.” AI does something similar. It can look at thousands of sentences that began the same way as the sentence in my example and determine the next word was gentlemen. Today’s most advanced tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, and Copilot, are often called large language models. They are powerful prediction systems, not living minds, meaning, they can be used to streamline research or see the sum of what others have said about a topic. Some pastors even use it in writing their sermons. AI brings both promise and concern.

For Christians, a question of concern is not about what AI can do, but what it may do to our understanding of ourselves. The Bible begins by teaching that human beings are made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26–28, people are described as bearing God’s likeness and given responsibility over creation. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes life into humanity. This means human life is not mechanical. It is personal and spiritual. No machine shares this breath of life. Because of this, I’m skeptical of any Christian writing that is written solely by AI. A computer may reflect the inspiration in a human’s writings, but it has no inspiration.

In this changing age, technology can be useful. Yet it must remain a tool, not a master. Our calling remains steady: to worship God, love others, and live as people made in His image.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

A pastor concerned for true faith

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JEFF TURNER

Imagine hearing from a pastor you respect that he is troubled about your spiritual condition. That kind of message would be serious. This is what happened to the believers in Galatia. Paul wrote to them with deep concern about their walk with Christ.

In Galatians 4, Paul called them his little children and said he was suffering as if in childbirth until Christ was formed in them. He even admitted that he had doubts about them and wished he could be with them and speak in a different tone. Paul was not being harsh for no reason. A faithful pastor cannot ignore the spiritual state of the people under his care. His role is not to flatter or simply make people feel at ease. Just as a shepherd protects sheep from danger and leads them to safe places, a pastor must protect believers from false teaching and harmful choices.

When Paul spoke of labour pains, he was describing deep inner struggle. He felt anguish as he waited to see Christ fully shaped in their lives. His care was not distant or cold. In his letter to the Corinthians, he wrote about feeling pain when others fell into sin. It is also true that among those in the churches, there were some whose salvation Paul questioned. A pastor must remind people that it is possible to be mistaken about their standing with God. Self-examination is necessary.

When someone shows signs of doubt or spiritual confusion, loving confrontation is needed. A shepherd who never warns the sheep is not protecting them.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

2 Corinthians 13:5

Understanding the firstborn of all creation

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JEFF TURNER

You may have had someone come to your door dressed neatly and ready to debate. They may argue that Jesus is not God. Often, they turn to a verse in Colossians 1 to support their claim. In that passage, Paul writes that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Some say this wording proves that Jesus is a created being and not the Creator.

It is true that single verses can be taken out of their setting and misunderstood. When a line of Scripture is separated from its full meaning, confusion can follow. That is why it is important to look closely at the words Paul used.

When Paul calls Jesus the image of the invisible God, he is saying far more than that Jesus reflects God in a small way. The term means an exact likeness. It carries the idea of a perfect copy or full expression. Since God is unseen, Jesus makes Him known. This description points to deity, not to a created being. God is not created, and if Jesus is the exact representation of God, then this speaks of His divine nature.

The phrase “firstborn of all creation” also needs careful thought. The Greek word translated “firstborn” is prototokos. In this context, it does not refer to being born first in time. The word does not focus on order of birth. Instead, it speaks of rank and status. It refers to the one who holds the highest place, the chief or premier one.

So when Paul uses this term, he is not saying that Jesus was the first thing God made. Rather, he is declaring that Jesus holds authority over all creation. He stands above it in position and honour.

At the same time, Jesus did enter the created world. He was born in human form. In that sense, He became part of creation through His incarnation. Yet this does not cancel His divine identity. The passage presents both truths together. He is the full and exact expression of God, and He also took on human flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Living out the salvation God has given

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JEFF TURNER

Every Christian understands that salvation is a gift from God. It is not gained by effort, good deeds, or personal merit. We are saved by grace. Yet in Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” At first glance, these words may seem to suggest that salvation depends on human effort. They may even sound as if fear plays a part in earning eternal life. But that is not what Paul means.

The key is to read the verse carefully. Paul does not say to work for salvation. He says to work it out. In other words, believers are to express outwardly what God has already done within them. Salvation is already theirs. It has been received. Now it must be shown in daily life.

This command is a call to live in a way that matches the change God has made in the heart. It is about obedience, worship, and honour toward God. A Christian should take sin seriously and should respect the Lord with a humble spirit.

The words “fear and trembling” speak of deep reverence. They describe a heart that understands who God is and responds with respect. In Book of Isaiah, the Lord says He looks to the one who is humble, who has a broken spirit, and who trembles at His word. This kind of attitude shows true faith.

The next verse in Philippians explains that God is already at work within the believer. He is the One who gives both the desire and the strength to do what pleases Him. Because God has acted within, the Christian now responds in faithful obedience.

Salvation is not earned through effort. It is revealed through a life that reflects the grace already given. As James writes, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17

When the church must Act in discipline

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JEFF TURNER

The Bible gives clear steps for dealing with a believer who falls into sin. We are told to love that person and to pray for them. We are also called to correct and guide them. These actions seem natural to many Christians. But there is another instruction that may sound severe.

In First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 5, Paul writes that when someone who claims to be a believer refuses to turn from sin, the church must hand that person over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. These words can seem hard to accept, yet they are written plainly in Scripture.

I believe Paul is speaking about removing that person from the fellowship of the church. To be part of the church is to live within its care, teaching, and protection. When someone is put outside of that circle, they are no longer sheltered in the same way. Paul explains this by saying that a little leaven spreads through the whole batch of dough. In simple terms, one sinful influence can affect many others. Like a spoiled apple left in a box, the damage does not stay in one place.

There are times when people argue that such a person should remain in the church so they can be shown patience and kindness. Love and patience do matter. The church should correct gently at first. However, when a person’s sin begins to spread and harm others, and when that person will not repent, stronger action is required. If the behaviour continues without change, the church must remove the person from fellowship.

Church discipline is not meant to be cruel. It serves two purposes. First, it guards the church from harmful influence. Second, it may lead the sinner to face the weight of their actions and turn back to God. The goal is both protection and restoration.

Scripture also teaches, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” Epistle to the Galatians 6:1