Posted on 02/27/2025 7:57:19 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Noted theologian and author John Piper has expressed opposition to using artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT to compose sermons, saying he was “appalled” by the idea.
In Monday's episode of “Ask Pastor John,” a couple of listeners asked Piper about using AI platforms like ChatGPT to write a sermon or Bible study.
Piper noted that a key problem with AI is that it lacks an emotional element, saying that God “is glorified not merely by being rightly thought about, logically comprehended, but by rightly being enjoyed, admired, appreciated and valued.”
Listen to the "Ask Pastor John" podcast on the Edifi Podcast Network
“Worship is not simply right thinking, which computers can do. Worship is right feeling about God,” said Piper. “We consider it ludicrous when a machine attempts to rejoice or delight or be glad or stand in awe or be amazed or feel grief or fear.”
“We know that these are the making of the human soul so uniquely that they will not be replaced by machines. The very phrase ‘artificial emotion’ is an oxymoron.”
Piper stated that while he believes ChatGPT can be useful for information, he was “appalled” at the idea of it being used to draft a sermon or a church newsletter, unless ChatGPT was credited for it.
“Don’t have ChatGPT write the first draft of your sermon, which you then check, adjust, and customize. Frankly, I’m appalled at the thought. Appalled!” he reiterated.
Piper cited 1 Timothy 3:2, which lists the qualifications for a church leader to include being “vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality” and notably being “apt to teach.”
“That means you must have the ability, the gift, to read a passage of Scripture, understand the reality it deals with, feel the emotions it is meant to elicit, be able to explain it to others clearly, illustrate and apply it for their edification,” Piper continued. “That’s a gift you must have. It’s your number one job. If you don’t have it, you should not be a pastor.”
“Don’t use it for composition unless you’re going to give credit for it. So, if you’re going to have ChatGPT write your first draft and you’re going to tweak it, then you better say to your people, ‘ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, has composed the word of God for you this morning.’”
In recent years, some churches have looked into using AI platforms in some capacity, from offering information tools for spiritual seekers to writing sermons.
Last year, for example, the Toronto United Church Council’s Innovative Ministry Center and the TryTank Research Institute at Virginia Theological Seminary launched an AI chatbot called “AskCathy” that sought to answer questions about The Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, executive director at TryTank Research, told The Christian Post in an interview last August that he believed most people using AskCathy see it “as a tool and in no way a replacement for human interaction,” which “can augment the work of The [Episcopal] Church.”
“To be clear, AI should never be used in place of people, and that is not the intent of Cathy. Cathy regularly encourages people to seek further, deeper advice from local clergy or spiritual guides,” he said. “Ideally, Cathy is a tool that can allow us to grow deeper into the Episcopal faith.”
I concur. Just adds to the reason to avoid church if AI is writing sermons.
New level of lazy. And honestly, disingenuous to the message.
This kind of thing will only help advance the home church.
There is NO Parousia in the internet.
Can’t be worse than my old pastor.
I went to a funeral he was preceding over and it was nearly the same one from the 70’s.
Kind of sad actually.
I disagree with Piper that the missing key to AI sermons is emotional. It’s glaring that the HOLY SPIRIT is what’s missing.
A true Pastor would want to write his own sermons, knowing that he gets tondelve in the Word.
Depends on the pastor.
Most of the time you get a good preacher who’s a bad pastor, or a good pastor who’s a bad preacher. It’s rare to get both in the same guy. Bad preachers maybe could use some help from a fundamentalist AI.
We’re lucky to have one who’s good at both. My dad and my uncles were both, too.
AI generated sermon might be an improvement in some cases. :-)
It is a ridiculously phony idea of course. I only want to hear a sermon from a real saved individual who has studied the Bible.
Take a pill.
It’s 2025.
How about a sermon edited by a real saved individual who has studied the Bible?
Believe it or not, most sermons are canned.
Very.
Funny I’m still appalled that Pastor John Piper has been a day 1 NeverTrumper — and in a really ugly, contemptuous way too.
I did not know that.
There is no reason to not use it to do first draft. THEN, add the necessary bit of humanity.
Nonesense. Using AI is no different that using a book, concordance, or other writings to help draft a sermon.
Yes, I am not saying everyone has to have the same opinion — but it’s the scathing, dark— maybe unhealed (?) hateful place from which Piper is speaking from that irks me.
And it has irked me since before 2016 but his behavior since has confirmed my feelings. It’s something I prayed to God as I dove deeper into theology and doctrine in college, attending conferences where Piper preached and the like. (Have since learned that not sitting well with a “doctrinally sound” pastor and their ministry is not the same as not sitting well with Christ Himself and the straight Word!)
And re: doctrine: for all the valid criticism Catholicism gets, I found that certain Protestant circles idolize preachers/personalities WAY more than Catholics would the pope or their parish priest! And many idolize(d) Piper.
Let’s be frank: it was the Pharisees who were the biggest stumbling block to the Gospel, NOT hookers and the like. And perhaps it is the spirit of the Pharisees Piper has been infected with, can’t stand to see an obvious sinner like Trump with all the worldly glitz and trappings being used mightily of God.
Correct.
Reading a sermon AI wrote is not good. Using AI - as with any resource like a concordance - to outline a sermon is a great idea.
For years I’ve used https://executableoutlines.com/ in teaching adult Bible Classes. Do I follow the outline exactly? Of course not. I add in and delete out many other points and references.
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