REPLACING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 

Following recent presentations on techniques and technologies in sermon preparation, this was one of the more prominent questions that surfaced among participants: “Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) replace the Holy Spirit?” Before answering the question directly, there are a few other questions that should be answered first.

For instance, what is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation (imitation) of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think, learn, and perform tasks that typically require human cognitive (reasoning) functions. A subset of AI focuses on the development of algorithms (procedures) that allow machines to learn from and make decisions based on data.

The term “artificial” implies that information produced may be factual, but it is not natural. Answers produced are dependent on data provided by many human sources. The AI technology has the ability to search the data from human sources and provide answers that are artificially intelligent.

AI can greatly assist with research in sermon preparation. The technology can analyze biblical texts, provide insightful overviews, historical contexts and cross-references. AI can identify and expand on themes, pulling from theological databases, commentaries and other resources. Furthermore, AI can draft sermon outlines and even write full sermons, based on specific inputs and themes provided by the preacher.

AI can help refine the language, ensuring clarity and coherence. The technology can adjust the tone and style to match the intended audience and setting, whether formal, conversational or inspirational. AI can even suggest relevant stories, parables, illustrations and find appropriate quotations from a variety of sources to enhance a sermon.

AI can bring organizational structure to a sermon. This helps to bring clarity, a logical flow of points and even add appropriate conclusions. Imagine, AI can ensure that accurate and relevant scriptural references are included to support the sermon.

However, when it comes to sermon delivery, AI strengths begin to diminish. The technology lacks the ability to use body language, facial expressions, and make eye contact. In addition, it cannot genuinely convey emotions, passion, or empathy, which are essential for engaging an audience and creating a spiritual connection. In addition, AI cannot respond dynamically to audience reactions, questions or feedback during a live delivery. It also lacks the flexibility to adjust a sermon in real-time, based on the congregation’s response or the flow of the service.

The presence of the Holy Spirit elicits a sense of awe or mystery in a service. AI cannot produce that aura of the Lord’s presence. Religious scholars refer to this as the numinous, or the supernatural awareness in a gathering of believers.

Agreed, AI can significantly assist in the preparation of a sermon by providing research, drafting content and organizing resources, but the delivery of a sermon involves spiritual and emotional elements that AI cannot replicate. Effective preaching requires emotional intelligence, personal connection and spiritual authority. These are beyond the capabilities of artificial intelligence.

AI should therefore be seen as a powerful tool to assist preachers rather than a replacement for the Holy Spirit and the human emotions in sermon preparation and delivery. The Holy Spirit convicts listeners of sin and righteousness. AI cannot replicate conviction nor the preacher’s passion to deliver a message from God.

When compared with human abilities, there are many things AI (Chat GPT) is unable to do. AI cannot understand information in the way humans do. It lacks the ability to comprehend context, nuances and subtleties beyond its training data. AI systems do not possess consciousness, self-awareness, emotions or subjective experiences. They cannot reflect on their actions or have personal experiences.

While AI can generate new ideas or content, it lacks genuine creativity and the ability to think outside predefined boundaries. Especially in the area of problem-solving, or issues that require intuition and emotional insight, AI is unable to replicate. Neither can it make groundbreaking discoveries without human input.

As a preacher, I often use artificial intelligence in the same way as I use books. AI assists me with generating content. It provides me with information I request. It often affirms my findings from preaching texts. But my inspiration and passion do not come from AI. It is the Spirit of God who convicts me about the directions my sermons should take. It is the Holy Spirit who gives me insight and feelings of compassion for listeners. It is the Holy Spirit who first breaks me in my study before I invite response from broken listeners in their pews.

THE VALUE OF SPORTS

 Agreed, sports is a billion-dollar industry. However, sports bring more than economic value. Actually, because so few engage in professional sports and fewer yet win, most persons participating in sports do not derive economic value from sports. Then why stay in something if economic profit is so unlikely?

There is much more in sports than the money. For instance, did you know that every two years, preceding each edition of the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United Nations adopts a resolution, calling for the observance of the Olympic Truce? This tradition harks back to the Games of Ancient Greece where the kings of the region would sign a treaty to that local inhabitants, athletes and artists could safely travel to the Olympic Games. The Truce brought conflicts to a halt from the seven days before the beginning of the Games until seven days after their conclusion.

 

On November 21, 2023, during the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, a resolution was adopted. The resolution called for the observance of the Olympic Truce from July 19 to September 2024. The main objectives pursued through the Truce are to mobilize youth for the promotion of the Olympic ideal, to use sport to help build bridges between communities in conflict, and more generally, to create a window of opportunity for dialog and reconciliation.

 

In addition, sports provides a platform for excellence. High goals are set. There are no limits to the ambitions of achievement. Sports also illustrates how to deal with disappointment, how to be persistent and how to overcome. Champion athletes often tell stories of failure, resilience, discipline and a teachable spirit. Upon reflection on his successes, Jamaican Usain Bolt said, “I trained for four years, in order to run nine seconds, and people give up when they don’t see results in two months.”

 

I was never an athlete nor a basketball player like Kobe Bryant. However, I continue to learn from the late basketball legend. Michael Jordan remembered Bryant reaching out to him at all hours of the night to get advice on certain basketball moves. Bryant’s relentless work ethic helped him set incredible basketball records – all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history, first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons, the second most points scored in a single game – 81 points, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.

 

In essence, the great value of sport is that it teaches us to recognize the difference between winning and pursuing excellence – the better and much harder achievement. And because we loose more than win in sports, we are constantly taught how to handle failure. Every sport illustrates that more people lose than win. However, to lose does not define who you are – losing provides opportunities for trying again, improving and making projections.

 

I wish I could say this to some of the parents I see at the soccer games I attend with my grandchildren. Players on losing teams are laughed at and reprimanded. Referees are ridiculed and verbally abused. Parents need to learn how to accept victory graciously and defeat honorably.

 

Sports has a capacity to transcend barriers and to energize people, all around the world. Many of the values that underlie sports are the core values of social justice, values that should lie at the heart of our Christian faith. Sports mobilize people in far more ways than the purely physical. Even though one person may represent a community at a sporting event, the community shares the joy or the challenges of failure. Communities never showed their faces on the awards’ podium, but their contributions were invaluable.

 

We all have similar support in the journey of life. Like any athlete, I can say, without the help of others, I would not be where I am today. Teamwork is absolutely essential. Players should never be arrogant as though their victory was a solo achievement. Victory is a combination of skill, failure, adequate coaching, therapy and encouragement.

 

Integrity is equally essential in sports. Enhancement drugs are not allowed in sports. The playing field must be level for everyone participating. In addition, rules of the game must be followed. Corruption undermines both achievement and trust. That is also true in other areas of life.  The feeling of joy is not only in the outcome, but also in the process. That process requires teamwork, integrity, diligence and athletic ability. 

 

If the apostle Paul were around, he would agree. In writing to the Corinthians, he said: “… run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26).

 

 

A MOTHER'S INFLUENCE

I am the fifth of six children. In addition, I am the fourth of four boys. Based on ranking among my siblings, I did not qualify to be Mama’s pet. I was one of the children. And that was okay, because mother was fair. From my perspective, she showed no partiality.

Her fair and balanced leadership was evident in the care she provided. I was raised in a one-pot family. We all ate what was provided from mother’s kitchen. We never went to school hungry. We knew nothing about wearing soiled clothing. My khaki pants were starched and well-ironed. She never worked away from home. Her full time job was to care for us and my hard working dad.

Dad was a committed blacksmith and Mom managed the home. Although a disciplinarian in her own rights, you knew you were in big trouble when she said, “you wait until your Dad gets home”. He was the senior leader at our local church, and she was his able supporter. He was literally strict and inflexible. He would probably prefer to describe himself as consistent and reliable. To lead six Caribbean children in the mid-twentieth century required less rigidity and more diplomacy. Mom provided that.

She displayed that diplomacy when one of my brothers left home. Dad gave him an ultimatum and he chose to leave. Dad never expected him to take that option, but he did. The tension in the home was very obvious – Dad’s authority was challenged. Dad realized if my brother were to return, he would need to soften his stance – but that seemed unlikely. Diplomacy was necessary, and mother stepped-in. In Dad’s absence, she began her search for her prodigal son. She pleaded with him to return home. However, before he attempted to return, she negotiated with my Dad. My brother returned, and according to Dad, “it was because of your Mother”.

From my perspective as a teenager, Mom was the champion. She possessed the negotiating skills to pull together two prodigals – one who left home and the other who left his compassion. I could only observe that event, because Mom never shared any negative opinions about Dad with her children. We were always encouraged to respect Dad. She was his faithful supporter and strong manager in his absence.

At Mom’s 100^th Birthday celebration, accolades came from numerous quarters. My wife did a monologue of Mom’s life. Launa sat like Mom with the 100 family members and guests drinking-in every word. She imitated Mom’s Trinidad accent and described how she interacted with each of her six children. Mom laughed her head off, expressing surprise at how accurately her Jamaican daughter-in-law depicted her life.

My mother and Launa had an amazing relationship. That seemed inevitable, in that it was Mom’s influence that affected my choice of a life companion. Unconsciously, I found someone who displayed Mom’s godly traits. Someone who understood and valued family loyalty. Someone who disliked small-talk and gossip. For almost forty years, Mom and Launa related to each other as Mother and daughter. On many occasions Launa challenged my insensitive male ego and reminded me to nurture my mother.

Shortly after celebrating her 102^nd birthday, Mom left us with her memories. Among those memories were her meetings with Launa’s mother. Although old enough to be Launa’s mother, Mom never assumed that posture. They related to each other as sisters. Their meetings were always cordial and respectful. Launa’s mother often was the center of attraction at family gatherings. She brought youth, skill and much humor. My mother relished those moments. She also grieved with us when Launa’s mother left us five years before Mom did.

Like my mother, Launa reminds me to be more frugal. Whereas Launa worked in banking, I never saw my mother go into a bank. Dad entrusted Mom with funds, especially when he was building our first family home. Mom demonstrated banking skills she never learned in a classroom. I can recall hearing my Dad tell the story of needing to pay workmen on the building site. That weekend he did not have enough funds for the no-mortgage project. He shared his plight with Mom. To his surprise, she produced a pan in which she had been saving funds he gave her for managing the home. She had just enough to avoid a work stoppage on the site of construction. That kind of frugality Launa continues to display – without a pan from under the bed.

Agreed, my mother is not around to celebrate Mother’s Day 2024 with me. That’s okay, she has left me with enough memories. Her legacy continues through another Mother – the mother of our three adult children. A mother who understands sacrifice and self-less nurturing. A mother who interjects flexibility when my sternness is not working.

Years ago, I was of the opinion that becoming a mother allowed my wife to maximize her potential as a woman. Then she became a grandmother. What a difference! She has gone beyond maximizing potential. As expressed in Proverbs 31:29, I can also say, “many women do noble things, but you surpass them all”.

Happy Mother’s Day to the nurturing women reading this blog. You have encouraged many, and today we rise up to salute and celebrate you and your extraordinary service.

CIVIL UNREST AND CIVILITY

 When channeled properly, civil unrest can serve as a powerful force for positive change and progress in society. History has shown that many significant advancements in civil rights, labor rights, women's rights, and other social justice causes have been achieved as a result of grassroots activism, protest movements, and collective struggle against oppression and injustice.

Civil unrest has the power to mobilize communities and galvanize collective action around common causes and grievances. This kind of mobilization can draw attention to injustices, inequalities and human rights violations that may have been overlooked or ignored by persons in power. Civil unrest provides a platform to exert pressure on government institutions, corporations, and other power structures to address the demands and grievances of the people. Protests, strikes, and boycotts can disrupt business as usual and compel decision-makers to listen to the concerns of marginalized communities and take meaningful action to address them.

Unfortunately, many have abused these legitimate avenues to protest, to cause mayhem. They have engaged in violence, social disorder and destruction of property, under the guise of utilizing their right to protest. Such disgusting behaviors must be discouraged. Perpetrators must suffer the consequences of such illegal actions. So often, the reaction exceeds the aggrieved action.

For this reason, many Christians are afraid to pursue advocacy. We understand our mandate to be salt and light in the world, but we fear partnerships with persons who do not share our worldview. Throughout the Bible, prophets often challenged unjust systems and rulers, advocating for the marginalized and oppressed. Many of the Old Testament prophets condemned corruption, exploitation and oppression. Like Jonah, some called on non-Jewish nations to repent. Some Christians even argue that the principles of justice, righteousness, and compassion found in the Bible can justify forms of civil disobedience or protest in response to oppression, while others may emphasize nonviolent resistance or peaceful means of advocacy and change.

The Bible encourages believers to speak up for the oppressed, to pursue justice, and to care for the marginalized and vulnerable. In the Old Testament, there are numerous passages that emphasize the importance of social justice. For instance, in Isaiah we read, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).

In the New Testament, Jesus himself speaks out against injustice and advocates for the poor and marginalized. At times he spoke about giving to the less fortunate and defending the vulnerable. His harshest words were directed to leaders who abused privilege and neglected justice. Some of these abusers accused Jesus of associating with outcasts and the less fortunate. It was in response to one of those encounters, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 

History confirms that Roman Emperors in the early centuries were not sympathetic with persons who shared Christian views. The political system did not entertain public descent. Christians were persecuted and many martyred for Christ. Christians displayed their disgust for the opposition by their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Augustine of Hippo, citing Tertullian, said, “The martyrs were bound, imprisoned, scourged, racked, burnt, rent, butchered—and they multiplied”.

 

Thankfully, we no longer live under the strictures of the Roman Empire. Our laws allow civil protest. Non-violent advocacy is allowed. Such demonstrations get the attention of governments. For instance, following decades of protests, women in the United States earned the right to vote in 1920. Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. used Scripture and Christian principles to speak out against racism and violence in the 1960s and helped lead the way for new anti-segregation laws to be passed. William Wilberforce, a British parliamentarian, was convicted by his faith to introduce a bill to abolish slavery in 1793. It didn’t pass, but he persevered until 1807 when he was finally successful.

 

Earlier in this blog, I referred to Jesus calling his followers salt and light. Both items, although less in volume than the surrounding environment, were sufficiently powerful to make a difference. Salt preserved, delayed corruption and brought flavor. Light dispelled darkness and the accompanying fears. Similarly, as Christians, although often fewer in number, we have the potential to make significant differences in the world. In making a difference, we must be sure that our methods of protesting are not as egregious as the grievances.