3 Things Pastors Cannot Get from AI

I read an Axios newsletter every morning, and one article is usually about Artificial Intelligence. I skim or skip those articles. I cannot believe that something earth-shattering in the world of AI happens every morning. I've written a bit about having a AI-proof ministry here. Even though I'm over AI, it's inescapable. I can't help thinking about it. Here are three things I don't think pastors can get from AI.

  • Skill. Part of pastoring is the skill of ministering in the moment to people. If someone offloads the thinking of ministry to a computer, they will get exposed when someone needs them to minister to them without their computer in front of them or their phone out. When the helicopter transporting an injured loved on takes off, you won't have time to look at your phone for instructions. When you are trying to figure out how to respond during a conflict with church leaders, you can't look it up and ask for help. If you give your ministry thinking to a computer when you have unlimited time, then you will lose the skill of thinking and responding when you don't have time.
  • Discernment. Another part of pastoring is the ability to discern what is going in a situation or with a person. You cannot predict your way through that which is what AI would have to do. AI doesn't know anything. It just predicts what the next word should be. No computer can replace the pastor's ability to discern temptations, root issues, presenting problems, etc.
  • Taste. I struggle with what to call this one. It could be personality or judgment. Part of pastoring is the man doing the ministry. Rick Rubin famously described his job as knowing what he likes. He doesn't play, write, or record. He just uses his taste to help musicians make their best records. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said preaching was the word brought through personality. A computer that only mimics cannot have taste or personality. God sovereignly creates and shapes a specific person for a specific place and time. AI only mimics people from other times and places.
If we turn our pastoring, thinking, writing, counseling, and preaching over to a computer, then we will be cheap imitations of other pastors. We will become empty shells of pastors. That may work for a while, but after 400 sermons and a bunch of crisis situations, we will be exposed. 


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About Me

I'm a husband and father. Pastor of Manchester Baptist Church in Manchester, IL. I graduated from Bryan College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I grew up in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, and Georgia. I write about my personal and professional interests here on my website. I'm a former personal trainer and have stayed interested in fitness. You'll see a mix of things I'm interested in. Topics might include fitness, gardening, coffee, ice cream, church leadership, theology, tech, reviews, etc. This website is my social media. I deleted all of my accounts except for LinkedIn. That is why you won't find me in any of those places. * This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. You can email me at joe[...
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