Artificial Intelligence and the Battle for Truth by Cynthia Greene
We are living in a unique time of technological advancement few of us could have ever imagined. But that advancement has come at a price. We now face the troubling question, “What is true?”
In the past, truth was proven through oral testimony, written records, photographs, videos, and firsthand eyewitness accounts. Now anything can be convincingly fabricated. Voices can be cloned. Images can be altered. Videos can be created of events that never really happened. Convincingly false written content can be produced instantly using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) tools. We are now living in a time when real events can be dismissed as “A.I.-generated” and false narratives can be presented so convincingly that they become indistinguishable from the truth. Now the truth can not be easily determined. People stop asking “Is this true?” and instead ask “Does this feel right?” Or “Does this support my belief system?”
Artificial intelligence is changing the way truth is tested and examined.
“AI systems can generate statements that sound authoritative without any underlying evidence.” Source: MIT Technology Review (2023) ChatGPT is a tool to access Artificial Intelligence (AI)
“When everything can be faked, people stop believing anything.”
Source: RAND Corporation, Truth Decay Report (2018)
Scripture warned us that this day would come. Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). The warning is sobering because even God’s people can be deceived. The end-time deception will be very believable, persuasive and convincing. The danger is not that the deception will be based on lies, but that the deception will be a convincing imitation of truth.
Artificial Intelligence and the Absence of Truth
AI tools and applications only generate responses based on probabilities, patterns and data based on their programming. As a result, AI systems can and do produce false information—sometimes confidently and convincingly. These responses may be detailed, persuasive, and even entirely fabricated. Even the creators and researchers behind these technologies openly acknowledge this limitation:
“ChatGPT sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.”
“The model may hallucinate facts, fabricate citations, or provide incorrect information with high confidence.” — Source: OpenAI, GPT-4 Technical Report
“Language models do not have a concept of truth. They generate text based on patterns in data, not factual grounding.” — Source: Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute
“Chatbots are notorious for making things up, including fake citations, events, and even people.” — Source: MIT Technology Review
AI may not fabricate with intent, but its outputs can still misrepresent reality. The most serious risk is not the falsehoods themselves, but that discerning truth becomes a struggle.
These tools and applications do not have the ability to discern right from wrong, consider moral consequences or seek what is holy and righteous.
Source of Truth
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joins and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
God’s Word is truth (John 17:17; Psalm 119:160). Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). God’s truth is the very nature and character of God and it is rooted in His laws and principles that do not change over time.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). For Believers, the gift of the Holy Spirit is essential as it guides us into all truth. Jesus said, “… the Spirit of truth, has come, it will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
Distraction has become one of the enemy’s most effective tools. When our minds are racing and distracted, we often cannot hear God’s voice. Hearing God’s voice takes time and requires setting aside time for prayer and meditation. Scripture tells us that God speaks in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19;12). Godly discernment and the Holy Spirit are what guide us into His truth.
Guidance from The Holy Spirit vs. Artificial Intelligence
There is a big difference between receiving prompting from the Holy Spirit verses artificial intelligence.
- The Holy Spirit reveals truth; A.I. produces information.
- The Holy Spirit changes our hearts and renews our minds; A.I. gives us words with no power to change us.
- Godly discernment helps us rightly understand and apply His truth; A.I. can organize data but not provide spiritual wisdom.
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and shows us right from wrong; A.I has no moral compass or understanding of God’s eternal plan.
- The Holy Spirit leads us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3) and godly thoughts within us; A.I. has no spiritual discernment or understanding of the consequences of sin.
- The Holy Spirit calls us to repentance, obedience, surrender and faith; A.I. offers up information without moral authority, accountability, or ability to sanctify.
In Hosea 4:6 we read, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. This is not referring to a lack of data or information as we see produced through artificial intelligence. Israel was rejected and went into captivity because they rejected the knowledge of God. Godly knowledge brings wisdom, understanding, and divine revelation.
We are warned that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it” (Jeremiah 17:9). Ask yourself, how easily can and will the enemy use AI tools to deceive us?
Are You Hearing God’s Voice?
As artificial intelligence tools become more common, Christians’ reliance on and use of A.I. are increasing.
About a third of practicing American Christians report that the spiritual advice they receive from artificial intelligence is just as valuable as from a pastor. Source
We also are seeing a rise in the number of Christian ministers that use ChatGPT and other A.I. applications for sermon preparation, research, and drafting church communication. Some have even created their own personalize chatbots to mimic their writing and speaking style while staying within a defined set of theological beliefs.
The danger is not the use of the AI technology itself, but rather the danger is relying on A.I. for understanding, revelation and guidance of God’s Word. As A.I. makes deception easier than ever, divine guidance and godly discernment become essential to remain grounded in God’s Truth.
Actions We Can Take—Choosing God’s Truth Over Technology
- Pray for discernment and protection against deception.
- Seek God first before seeking answers from technology. (James 1:5)
- Pray before using A.I. tools.
- Set aside time for meditation, prayer and reflection.
- Read God’s Word directly from the Bible or a trusted source.
- Ask God for His understanding, meaning and revelation.
- Test every thought and message we hear against Scripture. (1 John 4:1)
- Use artificial intelligence as a tool, not a source of truth.
Truth That Sets You Free
The goal of a Christian is to be transformed into the image of Christ.
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed (transformed) to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
Choose to let the Holy Spirit guide your understanding, and lead you into God’s Truth, His Way, His Will, and His Revelation. For true and everlasting freedom is not found in A.I. generated information or human wisdom. True freedom is only found in Christ, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
In a world where truth is increasingly blurred, God is calling His people to:
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
