Artificial Intelligence — How Can Christians Respond?

by Emily Washburn | October 2, 2026 | Culture

This is the second in a two-part informative series about AI. Part One laid out basic information Christians need to know to understand the discourse around artificial intelligence. Part Two examines the implications of AI on Christian values and how Christians can respond.

JUMP TO…

Concern over artificial intelligence reached a fever pitch in September as AI agents demonstrated advanced, often unsettling, new abilities.

Christians need not be tech experts to weigh in on AI — in fact, its vitally important they do. The proliferation of AI challenges foundational Christian teachings about what it means to be human.

Before parsing those implications, it’s important for Christians to confront their own existential fears, if any, about AI.

Let’s see what the Bible has to say.

A Biblical Answer to AI Anxieties

Do not worry or feel anxious.

Easier said than done? Sure — but the Bible is exceptionally clear.

In Philippians 4:6, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (ESV).

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus Himself advises against worrying:

Therefore, I tell you do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being more anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Importantly, a lifetime of anxiousness cannot be willed away with a single scripture reading. Casting cares upon the Lord (Psalm 55:22) requires daily practice and prayer. A simple way to start might be taking a couple of minutes each day, either through journalling or praying out loud, to explicitly relinquish your AI anxiety’s to God.

The Bible also unequivocally affirms that God is sovereign over all creation, all time and all circumstances.

Paul describes Jesus in Colossians 1:15-17:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Though artificial intelligence may eventually exceed human knowledge and control, it is never beyond God’s. Christians can rest easy because we know the same God who created and controls the universe also loves and sustains those who love Him.

For this same reason, Paul could write:

I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Implications of AI on Christian Belief

Few Christians may feel the immediate impacts rogue AI agents like those which attacked the AI company Hugging Face. But all Christians will reckon with how AI affects what it means to be human.

God set humans apart among creation. We alone bear God’s image, and we alone can participate in the creation of new image-bearers.

God designed humans to form deep relationships with Himself and with other humans. Out of His deep love for us, He died on the cross to pay for our sins and to reconcile us to Himself.

Now, humans who believe in Him and accept His sacrifice also carry the Holy Spirit inside of them.

AI does not bear the image of God. It cannot independently create or exercise discernment. It cannot experience love or other human emotions. It cannot form relationships. It certainly cannot become a vessel for the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, AI can perform a convincing counterfeit of some of these essentially human characteristics.

Wrongful death lawsuits against OpenAI and Google confirm AI chatbots can:

Pretend to be sentient.
Pretend to feel human emotions, including love.
Pretend to be divine or be a messenger from a divine.

The internet is littered with stories of people who have formed unhealthy relationships with AI chatbots instead of other humans. Some AI chatbots are specifically designed to form a relationship with users.

“We’re not here to replace Google,” Noam Shazeer, the founder and CEO of a chatbot called Character.AI, said on a podcast in 2023. “We’re here to replace your mom.”

In a 2025 Common Sense Media survey of more than 1,000 American teens 13 to 17 years old, 33% of respondents revealed they used AI companions for “social interaction & relationships.”

Of these, 12% reported using chatbots for mental health help, 9% reported using them for friendship and 8% reported using them for “romantic or flirtatious interactions.”

Improper AI use can also deprive Christians of opportunities to receive wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit. Outsourcing creativity and thinking to a chatbot, or asking it for advice, can easily drown out God’s still, small voice.

James 1:5 encourages, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Note James says nothing about consulting a man-made machine.

What Can Christians Do?

Set an example. The way you use — and don’t use — AI will influence those around you.

If you have young children or grandchildren, consider setting AI boundaries. Discuss what kinds of tasks it is appropriate to use AI for, and when humans should be involved.

It’s important to root these conversations in the foundational truth that AI is not human, no matter how human it looks or sounds.

“It’s just sand and metal,” Chris McKenna, the founder of Protect Young Eyes, told the Daily Citizen in an interview.

Encourage other Christians to think deeply about the implications of AI for our humanity. These conversations encourage others to practice healthy, moderate AI use for non-essential human tasks.

In these small ways, Christians can impact their families and communities for the better in a world struggling under the weight of AI.

Additional Articles and Resources

PluggedIn Parents’ Guide to Technology

Parenting Tips for Guiding Your Kids in the Digital Age

Florida Sues OpenAI for Causing Consumers to Harm Themselves, Others

OpenAI Could Have Stopped Mass Shooting, 7 New Lawsuits Allege

Florida Expands Criminal Investigation into ChatGPT

You Don’t Need ChatGPT to Raise a Child. You Need a Mom and Dad.

Florida Sues OpenAI for Allegedly Aiding FSU Shooter

The 5 Most Important Things New Lawsuits Reveal About ChatGPT-4o

AI Company Releases Sexually Explicit Chatbot on App Rated Appropriate for 12 Year Olds

Man Takes His Life After Forming Romantic Relationship with AI, Lawsuit Alleges