East Flatbush Writer

One of my newest addictions on social media is to watch videos of babies having conversations as if they were adults.  Out the mouths of those chubby cheeks are the voices of grown adults on topics that range from court cases to relationships. The topics are not all funny or even appropriate for a baby to discuss,  but what is intriguing is the technology that has helped to create that virtual reality. 

I know I am not the only one trying to figure out if what we’re  watching on social media platforms are real or just made to look real.  Is it truth or artificially constructed reality? And despite the entertainment value of these reels it has become more and more difficult to ascertain between the reel and the real. 

The church has done no less than the world in representing  what sounds and seems real,  but couldn’t be farther from the truth. Over the past 30 years I have observed a campaign to mislead Christians and even derail their faith in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The truth has become deluded and too many have gone astray with it. 

Paul warns Timothy of things to come in his second letter to him.  Chapter 3 reads like a manifest of what’s happening in 2025. They will say and do anything for money.  They will pervert the true meaning of God’s words in the Bible to get what they want.  Many people will believe it because they trust the speaker, although he acts religious,  but has denied the real power of the words he is responsible for that can transform lives. Verse 13 states that those are “… evil people and impostors (they)  will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

The deception however is convincing.  Just like the talking babies,  it’s not always easy to distinguish between a lie and the truth.  We don’t always have the perception to tell who’s words are being spoken, God’s or man’s.

I have had to turn the channel more times than I care to admit while listening to a message from the”man of God.”  As not only was the message not true but the messenger was motivated by pride, disobedience and personal gain.  During covid. I spent a lot of time watching an extremely talented young pastor who has the ear of the young people.  He has gained local and national recognition for his energetic and visual sermons.  After a while however,  I began to observe that the truth of the message had taken a back seat to his elaborate antics and personal presentation.  His way of speaking and dressing became increasingly confusing to me even as a mature Christian. Another well-decorated Christian  music artist repeatedly performs on stage in a way that keeps my eyes on him and not on the message of the song.

By this point you might be thinking that I’m being legalistic and judgemental.  But I’m simply addressing the  powerful force of AI in the realm of our faith.  It’s completely believable but not the real thing.  The real message of the gospel keeps our eyes always on Jesus.  What he said, how he acted,  what he did for people,  how he asks us to treat others.  The real message of the gospel transforms our thinking,  our decision-making, is humble not self- seeking and challenges us to live in a way that is different from those around us. As we continue to read God’s truth,  the artificially intelligent messages will reveal themselves as lies.