Aye Yi Yi

That’s a phrase I hear a lot these days. I’ve married recently and my new family uses it quite a bit. It has a somewhat flexible meaning ranging from mild frustration to real dismay depending on the circumstances. I bring this up because it verbally blends with the growing phenomenon referred to as AI in the cyber world. I don’t presume to understand AI in technical terms, but the idea that a programmed entity—such as a vehicle or a monitoring device—can operate independently to fulfill a task while learning to do that task more and more efficiently is both fascinating and frightening at the same time. In a sense the mechanism can think for itself! The question that comes to my mind is: does efficiency equate with the concept of right and wrong? Something—or someone—can learn to do something with increasing prowess, but the question is should it be done? And the answer to that question needs to be informed by the added query: why? Why should it be done? Is efficiency a sufficient reason to do something or are there other factors to be considered? Of course it depends upon the task that’s being addressed. The process of assembling a mechanical component can easily be determined by the principle of efficiency. The easiest and fastest way is the best way to perform this task. But if the task at hand involves an action that requires more than determining the best way to do or understand something it may be beyond the scope of a computerized resolution. There may be an element involved which doesn’t reduce to the most likely or efficient approach to understanding, or enacting, or explaining something. Studying the Bible is a case in point where, in some respects, AI is used to help fathom the complexities of Scripture by incorporating and applying various study tools in the effort to better understand what the text means and how to apply it. I don’t know that much about it, but it sounds like something that would be useful for those who write reference works such as commentaries which are then used by clergy and lay people to better understand the text. My concern is that even the most sophisticated program that incorporates all the latest tools for proper exegesis and all the latest hermeneutics for understanding the text, it still won’t be able to replace the need for personal interaction with the Lord in the process of studying and applying the text to our lives.

I know that this comparison is a stretch, but I think it is valid if for no other reason than that it prompts us to think about where the world is going, and what that has to do with the Church in these “last” days. I say last days because given the rapid advancement of technology in this era—an advancement that purports to answer all the important questions and concerns regarding human existence—it won’t be long before the only way for the Lord to prompt the world to address its progress toward self-destruction is to reveal Himself in a way that can’t be denied. I’m saying this as both a hope and a “conviction?” of sorts. God is Spirit and the Scripture indicates a “spiritual” realm, a notion that stands in complete opposition to the effort to manipulate the natural world for the preservation and enhancement of human life. I can’t “prove” what I’m saying because the Lord’s presence cannot and will not be used to validate this reality unless He determines to do it Himself. We—meaning all of humanity—need to seek the Lord, in order to know the Lord! Resorting to our own capacities for human advancement won’t get the job done. Right now we—meaning America—are riding a wave of advancement. Our influence on the world stage is increasingly evident under the current administration, but this advancement doesn’t change the fact that reliance on our own capacities will not result in a better world overall, it just changes the chess board to our advantage. What’s needed is recognition that under the Lord’s supervision this world as it stands today will be brought to an end; and the indicators are that this will happen sooner rather than later. Replacing or locking up the bad people can help limit the pace of self-destruction to some extent, but the impact of sin will continue to prevail in the world at large and we need to guard ourselves against its influence. The Apostle Paul was indicating the need for this recognition when he said:

But this I say brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

And the Apostle John pointed out that improper affiliation with this world compromises our relationship with the Lord.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (1John 2:15-17)

This isn’t to say that good things haven’t taken place in the course of human history. But the progress of world history shouldn’t be measured by the advancements made in the areas of science, technology, or politics. The true advancements made involve the presentation of the Gospel. Our God has been at work drawing people to Himself since Jesus rose from the dead. And the Lord and His Church have made full use of those other advancements in order to present the “Good News” to everyone in this fallen world. God has always been at work through those whom He has called to present the truth of Jesus Christ. His light is shining upon the world in these days, but evil will not be eliminated until the end of the age.

The reason for this is that our tendency to sin will never be completely eradicated until the Lord’s return. Why is that? Why is the world like this? If the Lord is sovereign why does He tolerate the ongoing engagement with sin? Plug that question into those study tools informed by AI and see what comes up. I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to the use and application of algorithms in assessing the data associated with the human condition. What I do know is that God is who He is, and we’re marred by a fallen nature that’s been corrupted by the compromised relationship that we have with the Lord. The cross of Christ has paid the price that we’ve incurred because of our sin and this has enabled us to be reconciled with God. But it’s a reconciliation that only begins a process of change, a process that enables us to become more and more like our Savior. I’ve said this in the past and I’ll say it again. Recognizing all of the power that the Lord possesses, there is one thing that He cannot do: He can’t make us love Him! He made us independent entities that can choose what we do. Adam and Eve chose not to obey His warnings and went their own way resulting in the “fall” of humanity. The result is that on our own we’re not able to reconcile with God because we don’t have the means of providing sufficient restitution for our violation. The Lord’s response was to present an agenda for proper conduct that began with a call to love the Lord above all others. (Deuteronomy 6:4) But we’re unable to fulfill that call because fulfillment can only be achieved in concert with the Lord. We can’t do it on our own. Only Jesus Christ could achieve our salvation through His death and resurrection. Through our resulting communion with the Lord we are enabled to engage a process of being changed into His likeness. This is indicated in one of Peter’s letters when he said:

            As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. 

              Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (1 Peter 1:11-16)

The question is: why didn’t He just change us once and for all when we repented of our sins? It doesn’t compute does it? In fact this conundrum might prompt us to say “Aye Yi Yi! How and why are we in this predicament? If you’ve followed this blog then you may already know my answer to this question. I’ve made attempts to address this before. The Lord could have just prompted us to see the circumstances of our futile life and, upon our repentance, completely change us by eradicating the tendency to sin. But He didn’t do that. Instead we have to engage a journey that moves us toward being changed into His likeness. Why? It’s like being married to someone isn’t it. Ideally you love the person you marry and as you embark upon the rest of your lives together changes immediately begin to take place. I’m at the very beginning of this process but it’s already apparent that marriage changes everything. How you communicate, how you act, how you use your resources, what value you place on things; it all is altered by this new relationship which will continue to develop throughout the rest of our lives. My wife and I will become different people in the process and, as Christians dedicated to serving the Lord, we will become more and more like our Savior. It’s a process in which we are molded through suffering. We suffer the distress of losing what is familiar and gaining what is far better. In a way, Jesus had to suffer in order to become the Savior that we needed. He took the pain and death of crucifixion because it was required as a consequence of our sin. We deserved death in our fallenness, but the Lord made a way to take that consequence on Himself, rescuing us from death. Now we suffer as Christians as we take on the call to be conformed to His likeness and participate in His effort to rescue the world from the inevitable impact of sin on the human condition.

Think about it!

Halleluiah!

Praise the Lord!!!