Building hope in the age of AI

At first glance, the emergence of artificial intelligence can seem like a harbinger of science fiction come to life: the rise of machines to take over our world. Yet as Dr. Jon Askonas of Catholic University (and current advisor to the State Department) thoughtfully reminds us in his essay, “Building a Future in the Face of the Apocalypse,” Christians do not face the future as passive spectators of collapse but as people rooted in a deeper story—one of redemption, hope, and calling.

Since its publication last fall this essay has been an encouragement to me in my work on AI public policy debates in Washington, D.C. Askonas offers an essential reframe of the issue: While the era of AI may appear to some doomers like an ending, it can also be an invitation to hope. He explains that “hope is a theological virtue, one that finds its proper object in God. Especially as technological power increases, the belief that ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well’ can come only from a conviction that God, and not man, is the Author of history.” In that light, AI should not be dismissed as merely a threat to Christian life—it’s also an opportunity.

Indeed, what if we viewed this moment not through the lens of anxiety, but through the lens of stewardship?

Consider how AI is already reshaping Christian ministry. In a recent Barna Group survey, over half of pastors said they see potential for AI to assist in research and administrative tasks. As Kenny Jahng, editor of Church Tech Today, explains, pastors are embracing tools like ChatGPT not to outsource their calling, but to multiply their impact—saving hours of busywork, uncovering richer theological insights, and even experimenting with new forms of discipleship and outreach.

Artificial intelligence is tangibly enabling new ministries that were previously unimaginable. For a personal example, One Voice Fellowship—a new multilingual PCA church plant primarily ministering to immigrants and refugees in Northen Virginia—uses AI to translate the service into nearly 20 different languages every week. As a friend and supporter of the church, I can tell you it is a beautiful experience hearing every tongue and language sing together and follow the sermon despite the initial language barriers. It’s a practice that would be logistically unfeasible before the emergence of this cutting-edge technology.

Other ministries are using AI tools to automate prayer reminders, develop study materials, and translate content for global missions. For small churches with limited staff, these tools are leveling the playing field. What once took hours of isolated labor can now be done in minutes—freeing up time for the work that truly matters: visiting the sick, counseling the hurting, teaching the Word.

Even in my small group, I’m routinely able to leverage the power of AI to conduct deep research on texts and theological resources that previously would be hard to attain. If anything, I am yearning for a “TheologianGPT” to be built to guide my searches even better so I would not rely on secular coders but could know that an LLM has the stamp of approval of a trusted Christian institution. My ESV Study Bible has been valuable, but if those notes were incorporated into a larger LLM with theological writings and sermons from over the past 2,000 years, now we are cooking with gas.

Of course, we must proceed with discernment. Trevin Wax rightly warns that potential AI-generated content will lack the incarnational depth and pastoral presence of Spirit-led preaching. It is also true that AI for kids can pose real concerns to their healthy development, much like video games, smartphones, or other digital content.

These are valid critiques, but they are not arguments for disengagement. They are arguments for discernment. We should not retreat from AI, but rather enter the conversation with wisdom and humility.

Now is the time for churches and denominations to get smart on the issue. I am encouraged to see my church, the PCA, and friends in the SBC kickstart committees study and report on the emerging technology. It is vital for Christians to lead this conversation by developing principles and parameters that can be a useful guide for congregants.

We are not the first believers to face technological disruption. The printing press sparked both revival and reformation. The microphone changed preaching. The internet transformed evangelism. In each age, the Church has had to ask: How do we use this tool to proclaim the gospel and form disciples in a rapidly changing world?

We must do the same with AI.