On Faith, AI, and the Courage to Change
By Justin Lester
Have you ever gotten a gift you didn’t really know the value of until much later? I’m talking about the kind of gift that makes you say, “Wow, I almost blew it.”
I grew up in the era of the GOAT, Michael Jordan in his peat in Chicago. A family friend gave me a choice. Two courtside seats or two nosebleed seats. In my stubborn, emotional teenage way, I rebelled. I wanted to see Charles Barkley, my favorite player, and ended up in the nosebleed while my sister got to experience the courtside view.
My little sister saw Michael Jordan courtside and had no clue who he was.
I missed the real value of that gift by letting my anger dictate my choice.
In a similar way, we often look at the gifts God gives us—peace, love, grace, and purpose—and then, in our pride or impatience, we tell God, “You could have done it differently.” We overlook what He’s already handed us, just like I did with those tickets.
This tension is where we are with Artificial Intelligence, the workplace, and our religious expression. God, through humanity, has given us another amazing gift that can build the kingdom, what are going to do with it? AI is speeding up an already out of control world, and we are faced with the question of how we engage with this in our faith spaces. If regret is our concern with the past and anxiety is our concern with the future, let's center in the present. The big question isn’t whether AI is good or bad—it’s about how we blend our faith, work, and technology to live out what we are called to do in the present. It is not a question of balance, rather it is a challenge of calling.
And that’s where Jonah’s story comes in. How can AI assist us, if at all, in this blend? I want to look at Jonah. A man who was called into transition and didn’t handle it well. Let’s learn from him and handle it differently.
Jonah’s Journey as Our Metaphor for Change
Remember Jonah? Quick recap: God directs him to go to Ninevah, yet he opts for the distraction of Tarshish—a choice that reflects our own struggles with stepping into the unknown. Jonah makes the decision to Tarshis. At this time, for him, it was as if he was traveling to the other side of the world. It is an expensive ticket. It is a long journey, a journey Jonah decided to take.
Jonahs’s issue is that he took a first step. He gathered what he had, ran to Joppa, and decided that this step he would take would be a step in the direction against God. Jonah chose Tarshish, an exotic religious land. Tarshish is so much more exciting than Ninevah. Ninevah had a bad and terrible history.
Going to Ninevah was not a coveted assignment for a Hebrew prophet, but Tarshish was! Tarshis was exotic. Tarshish had adventure. Tarshish had the appeal of the unknown based on stories of others having success. Remember was a place where Solomon sent ships to get gold. It was a place of exotic escapism.
Tarshish, to me, is a representation of the days of church past. Whether that is the 1990’s days of the megachurch, the early 2000 pre-recession church, or the 2018 pre-COVID church, Tarshish was where we saw pews filled, work-life balance, and cheaper eggs.
Recognize that God, who does not know what mistakes are, has called us in a unique season to not go where we “dream.” Rather, God is summoning us to go where God is yielding unique vision. Jonah isn’t just a story about a reluctant prophet; it’s a mirror for you and me. Contrast this story with when Jesus made His determined journey to Jerusalem, (Luke 9). He showed us the power of unwavering resolve—even when the path ahead was daunting. Similarly, the sons of Issachar were renowned for understanding the times and discerning what needed to be done.
Today we must recognize the times we are in and use every tool, including digital ones, to meet God’s vision without fighting to go where God doesn’t want us to go.
Distractions vs. Direction
I am not oblivious to the fact that today’s digital landscape offers many enticing distractions—flashing notifications, endless feeds, and the latest gadgets promising quick fixes. These can be likened to Jonah’s detour to Tarshish, an alluring but ultimately misaligned journey away from God’s clear direction. How many times have we settled for the “nosebleed seats” of technology, missing the courtside view of God’s grace?
Staying rooted means recognizing when technology becomes a distraction and refocusing on the mission God has set before us. Instead of being sidetracked by the next big thing, we are invited to see technology as a tool that amplifies our message without diluting our purpose. Distractions are inner denial of God's promises. I get comfortable with distractions because I am uncomfortable with my future.
Where are you distracted at work?
Where are you distracted in your worship?
Where have you welcomed technology to be a distraction instead of an opportunity to worship?
May the spaces of your life where you have become comfortable with distraction be a space where you are intentional with God giving you direction.
You Are the Tool!
AI isn’t here to replace our gifts—it’s here to enhance them. Ephesians makes it clear that we “Equip Saints for the work of ministry.” AI can accelerate our equipping! Imagine a tool that helps fine-tune your sermon, sparks fresh ideas, or engages your community in ways you never thought possible. Think of it as a modern-day “assistant” that, when used wisely, magnifies the work God is already doing through us.
Here’s a playful invitation: experiment with AI tools using simple prompts. Try asking, "How can I illustrate the concept of Kairos timing in a sermon?" or "What are creative ways to engage my teens?" These prompts are just starting points; the real magic happens when you take that first step and then a deliberate, experimental second step—building on what you already have. There are thousands of tools, but remember God gave you the gift first! Steward it well.
Take The Second Step
Jonah’s story reminds us that taking the first step isn’t enough. His boarding of the ship was an act of initial obedience, but his detour to Tarshish shows what happens when we let distractions hijack our direction. In ministry, embracing technological innovation must move past initial curiosity. We’re called to deliberate experimentation and continual refinement.
- Recognize: Identify what’s available—see them as resources that can sharpen your impact.
- Play: Use creative prompts to explore AI’s potential. Experiment with tools for sermon writing or community outreach. There’s no need to commit to one system—allow your curiosity to guide you.
- Iterate: Learn from your experiments. Keep what works. Refine what doesn’t.
A future-ready church isn’t one that abandons tradition for the sake of technology, but one that blends the Gospel with who you are. By aligning our work with our gifting, we can build communities that are both flexible and dynamic and unshakeable.
I challenge you to embrace how God is using you without compromising your core values. As we experiment and learn, let’s be mindful to use technology not for its own sake, but to further the Gospel, enhance ministry, and build community.
Just as Jonah was called to overcome his distractions and pursue God’s directive, we too are invited to value the gifts God has given us—including the digital tools at our disposal. Ask yourself:
How are you using the digital tools in your ministry today?
Are you taking that critical second step, moving beyond initial experimentation?
What creative prompt or tool can you try this week to better share the Gospel?
The future is a memory to God. What’s ahead is not one where leaders who compromise are welcome, the ones who integrate are! Blending faith and technology in a way that honors God’s vision for human flourishing.
In other words, Michael Jordan is playing, and you have courtside seats. Let’s take our seats.