Can I Use AI as a Christian: Insights from Life.Church's Technology Solutions Team

By: Nick Prince

Nick Prince, our AI Solutions Manager, has worked at Life.Church for over five years. He’s helped launch and grow how Life.Church and YouVersion integrate Artificial Intelligence into our work. Drawing from experience, he shares valuable insights on the advancements of technology and how we, as Christians, can adapt with it.

The Spiritual Dilemma of New Technology

When the printing press was invented in the 1400s, some religious leaders worried it would undermine the church’s authority. When radio came along, there were concerns about broadcasting sermons to people who weren’t physically present. Each technological advancement has sparked similar debates within faith communities.

Today, AI presents us with the newest version of this age-old question: How does the church embrace innovation while staying true to our faith? Is using artificial intelligence to help with our Bible study, to generate prayer ideas, or to create faith-based content somehow “cheating” at being a Christian?

The good news is that we don’t have to choose between innovation and authenticity. When used thoughtfully, AI can enhance our faith journey while preserving the essential human and spiritual elements that make our relationship with God meaningful.

What AI Is Really Good For (And Not So Good For)

Let’s get real about what artificial intelligence can and can’t do. Understanding this helps us use it in ways that actually strengthen our faith rather than substitute for it.

AI is really helpful for …

• Finding information quickly (like Bible verses on specific topics)

• Helping us organize our thoughts when we’re stuck

• Translating content so more people can access it

• Creating graphics or videos for church events

• Summarizing long articles or books

But AI absolutely cannot …

• Have a personal relationship with Jesus

• Feel the Holy Spirit’s guidance

• Understand the deep significance of your faith journey

• Replace genuine prayer or worship

• Substitute for real community with other believers

How Regular Christians Can Use AI in Their Faith Life

1. Bible study assistance. Stuck on understanding a difficult passage? AI can help explain historical context, suggest cross-references, help with sermon preparation, or summarize commentaries. A friend of mine uses AI to create personalized Bible reading plans based on topics she wants to explore more deeply. Remember, though—AI is like having a study partner. It’s not a substitute for your own engagement with Scripture.

2. Prayer life enhancement. Some people use AI to help generate prayer prompts when they’re feeling stuck or create prayer lists organized by category. One family I know uses AI to turn their kids’ prayer requests into simple rhymes they can memorize together. The AI doesn’t pray for you—it just helps organize your thoughts.

3. Faith-based content discovery. Artificial intelligence can help you find books, podcasts, articles, or videos that align with your specific questions or spiritual growth goals. Instead of random searching, you can find resources tailored to exactly what you’re learning about right now.

4. Family devotion ideas. Parents often tell me they use AI to generate age-appropriate discussion questions or activities that help bring faith to life for their kids. It’s like having a creative partner to brainstorm with when you’re out of fresh ideas.

5. Community service coordination. Some small groups use AI to help organize outreach events, create sign-up forms, or even match volunteers’ skills with community needs. It handles the logistics so you can focus on the actual serving.

But What About the Concerns?

"Is it authentic if AI helped with it?"

This is probably the biggest question, and it’s a good one. If I use AI to help draft a prayer, does that make my prayer less authentic?

I think it comes down to your heart. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus warns against “babbling like pagans” who “think they will be heard because of their many words.” What matters isn’t the perfect wording of our prayers but the sincerity of our hearts.

If AI helps you express what you’re already feeling or thinking, that’s different from letting AI replace your communication with God. It’s similar to how using a devotional book written by someone else can guide your prayer time without replacing your personal connection with God.

"What about all the ethical issues with AI?"

You might have heard concerns about AI bias, privacy issues, or job displacement. These are legitimate concerns that deserve our attention as Christians who care about justice and human dignity.

The Bible tells us to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This means we can engage with technology thoughtfully, being aware of its limitations and potential pitfalls while still recognizing its benefits.

Here are some practical ways to use AI ethically:

• Be thoughtful about what personal information you share.

• Verify important information rather than blindly trusting AI outputs.

• Support companies and AI tools that prioritize ethical AI development.

• Use artificial intelligence to complement human work rather than replace it.

Technology can help spread the message, but only God can change the heart.

When we apply this mindset to artificial intelligence, we can use AI to support our faith journey rather than trying to make it the journey itself.

Think of it like using GPS when driving to a new place—it helps you navigate, but it doesn’t experience the destination for you. My nephew once insisted that the GPS voice was part of our family road trip, but we all know that an artificially generated voice can’t actually enjoy the ice cream stop or marvel at the sunset! Always remember: It's just a tool.

Finding Balance in a Digital Age

In Romans 12:2, Paul writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This verse reminds us that we engage with the world around us—including its technologies—with a mind that’s being continually renewed by God.

We don’t need to choose between tradition and technology.

Instead, the future of faith includes thoughtfully integrating helpful tools while keeping our focus on what matters most: loving God and loving others.

After all, the Apostle Paul used the latest communication technology of his day (letters!) to spread the gospel, and I’m pretty sure he’d have a well-managed prayer list app if he were around today.

AI is ultimately just another tool that can either distract us from our faith or help us engage more deeply with it—and the outcome we experience depends largely on how intentionally we use the tool. When approached with wisdom and discernment, new technologies can become unexpected allies in our spiritual growth.

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It was inspired by this article from Finds. Finds is a go-to source of approachable, practical, and personal spiritual growth content.