AI, the Church & What It Means to Be HumanWith Tony Boules | The Bible Made Real Podcast Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace. But for Christians, the biggest questions may not simply be technological. What happens when we can no longer tell what is real from what is artificial? What happens when machines can perform work we once believed required uniquely human intelligence? What happens to our creativity, our sense of purpose, our children—and even the way we study Scripture? In this episode of The Bible Made Real, Kathy sits down with her friend Tony Boules, a software engineer working in technology, for a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence, the Church, and what it means to remain faithfully human in a rapidly changing world. Tony begins by breaking down artificial intelligence and large language models in simple terms, explaining what tools like ChatGPT actually do—and why their increasingly human-like responses can easily cause us to attribute qualities to them that they may not possess. From there, the conversation goes much deeper. Kathy and Tony discuss the extraordinary potential of AI alongside the very real concerns surrounding misinformation, deepfakes, automation, technological dependence, job displacement, privacy, creativity, and the growing difficulty of distinguishing truth from deception. But ultimately, this episode is not about fearing technology. It is about remembering who we are. We are not merely minds, workers, producers, or collections of information. We are human beings created in the image and likeness of God, embodied persons with souls, relationships, experiences, creativity, and—most importantly—a spiritual life that no machine can reproduce. Kathy and Tony explore what could happen if AI disrupts the careers and accomplishments through which many of us have built our identities. Could this moment actually force us to rediscover a more biblical understanding of work, calling, service, and human worth? They also talk candidly about raising children in an AI-saturated world. When a student can generate an essay—or even a Bible lesson—in seconds, Christian formation must become about far more than completing assignments. We must form character: integrity, honesty, discipline, discernment, courage, and a love for truth. And nowhere may this matter more than in our relationship with Scripture. AI can summarize a passage. It can organize notes. It can generate a Bible lesson. But it cannot pray. It cannot wrestle with God. It cannot be illuminated by the Holy Spirit. It cannot replace the slow, transformative work of sitting before God, searching the Scriptures, learning from the wisdom of the Church, and allowing the Word of God to first transform the person who will teach it. You cannot microwave spiritual formation. Jacob wrestled with God and emerged transformed. The Bereans searched the Scriptures for themselves. Timothy knew the Scriptures from childhood and was equipped to remain faithful in a world filled with deception. That kind of formation takes time. The conversation ultimately returns to the Church. In an increasingly artificial, digital, and disembodied world, the embodied life of Christianity may become more important than ever: entering the church, smelling the incense, praying the liturgy, receiving Communion, confessing, repenting, reading the Psalms, praying, worshiping, and gathering physically with the people of God. Technology can imitate many things. It cannot replace communion with the living God. In This Episode Kathy and Tony discuss: What artificial intelligence and large language models actually areWhy AI can appear conscious or intentional even when that may not be what is happeningThe benefits of AI—and the dangers of developing technology faster than we understand itDeepfakes, misinformation, and the growing difficulty of knowing what is realWhy Christians must become increasingly anchored in truthWhether AI could diminish human creativity and critical thinkingTechnology, loneliness, and our existing struggle with screen dependenceHow AI may transform careers, employment, and the global economyWhat happens when intelligence and professional achievement can no longer define our worthA biblical understanding of work, calling, and human purposeWhy losing a job can never mean losing our God-given purposeHow Christians might use increased technological freedom for ministry, service, evangelism, and works of mercyThe danger of idleness if technology removes the necessity of traditional workHow parents can prepare children for an AI-dominated futureWhy character formation matters more than simply producing impressive workHow AI should—and should not—be used when preparing Bible studies and ministry teachingWhy prayer, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual struggle cannot be outsourcedThe importance of returning to primary sources rather than allowing algorithms to form our theologyWhy the embodied, sacramental life of the Church cannot be replicated digitallyHow Christians can see this cultural moment not simply as something to fear, but as a moment in which we have been called to faithfully bear witnessScriptures Referenced & Discussed Genesis 1:26–28 — Humanity created in the image and likeness of God and called to cultivate creation Genesis 11:1–9 — The Tower of Babel and humanity's desire to make a name for itself Genesis 32:22–32 — Jacob wrestling with God and emerging transformed Matthew 5:13–16 — Being salt and light in the world Matthew 6:6 — Entering the secret place to pray Mark 12:41–44 / Luke 21:1–4 — The widow's offering John 10:10 — Christ's promise of abundant life John 17:3 — Eternal life as knowing God Acts 17:11 — The Bereans searching the Scriptures to test what they were taught 1 Corinthians 2:12–14 — Spiritual truth discerned through the Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 3:19 — The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God Ephesians 2:10 — Created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared beforehand for us 2 Timothy 3:13–15 — Deception increasing while Timothy remains grounded in the Scriptures he has known from childhood 1 John 2:18 — The spirit of antichrist already present in the world Esther 4:14 — Called “for such a time as this” A Question to Take With You As AI becomes more capable, the question may not simply be: “What can technology do?” Perhaps the more important question is: “Who is technology forming me to become?” Is it making me more dependent or more discerning? More isolated or more connected? More passive or more creative? More efficient—but less prayerful? And am I allowing a machine to do work that God may actually want to use to form something inside of me? AI may be able to organize information, generate content, and imitate human language. But it cannot replace prayer. It cannot replace spiritual struggle. It cannot replace genuine human relationship. It cannot replace the Holy Spirit. And it can never replace the Church. Perhaps this is our Esther moment—a generation placed in a rapidly changing world for such a time as this. Not to retreat in fear. But to know the truth, remain rooted in Christ, form the next generation well, and shine His light faithfully in whatever world comes next. Connect With Kathy For Bible studies, prayer resources, devotionals, and more, visit KathyAbraham.com. Follow Kathy on Instagram at @kathyabidinglife. If this episode encouraged you, please follow The Bible Made Real, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Every share helps more people discover the transforming truth of God's Word. Welcome to The Bible Made Real. Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes. You can connect with Kathy on Instagram @kathyabidinglight and learn more at kathyabraham.com.
