The widespread adoption of AI technology is transforming the operations and pastoral care of the church. From online Bible apps to spiritual guidance tools, AI not only provides convenient faith resources, but also exposes the long-standing deficiencies in the church's pastoral care. Many earnest Christians who are seeking deeper faith have been overlooked by the church, viewed as "difficult", not submissive enough, or not enthusiastic about serving. However, these believers can now access biblical teachings, spiritual guidance, and even personalised faith recommendations through AI technology. Isn't this God's warning? When the church fails to faithfully shepherd its flock, God intervenes in His own way to equip His people.
The Lessons from the Old Testament: The Failure of the Priests
The Warning from the Book of Malachi
The prophet Malachi directly rebuked the priests: "A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honour due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?... You offer defiled food on my altar." (Malachi 1:6-7) The priests were supposed to offer the best to God, but they gave inferior sacrifices, robbing God of His glory. Malachi 2:1-2 further warned: "If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honour my name," says the Lord Almighty, "I will send a curse on you." This reminds church leaders that if they are not faithful in service, they will face God's punishment.
The Accusation from the Book of Hosea
The prophet Hosea pointed out the corruption of the priests: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests." (Hosea 4:6) The priests were supposed to teach the people to know God, but they were greedy for personal gain and failed in their duty, leading the people into sin. Hosea 4:9 adds: "And it will be: Like people, like priests." This shows that the failure of the leaders directly impacts the whole community.
The Condemnation from the Book of Amos
The prophet Amos directly condemned the hypocrisy of the priests: "I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings." (Amos 5:21-22) God values sincere worship and righteous conduct, not empty rituals. Amos 8:11 warns: "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." This foreshadows that if the church does not preach the truth, the believers will fall into spiritual desolation.
The Judgment from the Book of Zephaniah
The prophet Zephaniah declared: "I will stretch out my hand against Judah... At that time I will punish the priests and the prophets who practice every kind of evil in the temple of the Lord." (Zephaniah 1:4-6) The priests, who pursued idols instead of God, brought judgment upon themselves. This is a warning bell for the church today - if the leaders pursue worldly success rather than God's will, the consequences will be dire.
The books of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament are filled with condemnations of the failure of the priests and God's warnings. These passages are not only a caution to the leaders of that time, but also a reminder for the church today. These passages remind us that if church leaders are only concerned with outward success and neglect their pastoral responsibilities, they are repeating the mistakes of the priests in the Old Testament. The mission of the church should be "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12).
The Pastoral Deficiencies of the Modern Church
The Teachings of the Church Fathers
In his sermon "On Pastors (Sermo de pastoribus (serm. 46))," Church Father Augustine admonished: "The duty of the shepherd is to feed the flock, not to exploit them." He emphasised that the purpose of pastoral care is for the benefit of the faithful, not the glory of the shepherd. Augustine further pointed out: "If the shepherd is concerned only with his own reputation and not the needs of the flock, he has usurped the authority of God." This is a profound reminder for the modern church.
Church Father Chrysostom also said: "Shepherds should tend the flock with love and truth; if they only pursue outward glory, they have abandoned the call of Christ." He believed that church leaders should emulate the humility of Christ, rather than pursue worldly success.
The Perspectives of Reformation Leaders
In "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," Martin Luther criticised the church's abuse of power, using the faithful's offerings for personal luxury rather than the needs of the church. He warned: "If the church does not return to the teachings of Scripture, it will incur God's judgment." Luther emphasised that pastors should be servants of the flock, not their masters.
In his "Institutes of the Christian Religion," John Calvin pointed out: "Church leaders should emulate Christ, tending the flock with humility and love, not pursuing worldly success." He believed that the true growth of the church lies in the spiritual maturity of the faithful, not in numerical increase.
Today, many churches have fallen into the obsession with growth targets, performance metrics, and KPIs. Pastors are eager to host large gatherings and create elaborate stage effects, but neglect the spiritual growth of the faithful. This phenomenon is no different from the dereliction of duty of the priests in the Old Testament.
However, many churches today are also abusing the willingness of serving Christians, treating their passion as a tool for church expansion, without providing proper care and compensation. This behaviour is no different from the dereliction of duty of the priests in the Old Testament - turning the offerings of the faithful into their own glory and usurping God's gifts. If the church continues to neglect these faithful, it is undoubtedly digging its own spiritual grave.
A Warning in the AI Era: God's Direct Intervention
God's Direct Intervention
AI technology becomes a new vessel for God to equip His people
The Prophecy in the Book of Joel
God will pour out His Spirit directly
The Reminder in the Book of Habakkuk
God manifests His work outside the church
The rise of AI reveals the long-standing deficiencies in the church's pastoral care. Many earnest Christians, neglected by the church, have turned to the resources provided by AI. Isn't this God's work?
The Book of Joel 2:28-29 prophesies: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." This passage indicates that in the end times, God will pour out His Spirit directly, granting His followers revelation and power. The arrival of the AI era may be the fulfilment of this prophecy - God is using technology to directly equip His people, bypassing the derelict church leaders.
The prophet Habakkuk says, "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (Habakkuk 2:20) When the church fails to be God's holy temple, God can still manifest His work in other places. AI technology provides biblical resources and spiritual tools, allowing believers to grow outside the church, which is a warning from God to the church.
Chrysostom, in his explanation of the Book of Joel, said, "God's Spirit is not limited by the structure of the church; He will pour it out on those who thirst for Him, anywhere and anytime." Calvin also emphasised, "If the church is unfaithful to God's calling, God will raise up new vessels to fulfil His will." The arrival of the AI era is God's new vessel that He has raised up.
The Responsibilities and Calling of Pastors: Returning to the Core of Shepherding
Act Justly
Shepherd the flock with justice and compassion
Be Merciful
Care for the needs of every believer
Maintain Humility
Walk with God and follow Christ's example
Pastors, wake up! The mission of the church is not to pursue external success, but to care for every believer and equip them to grow in their faith.
The prophet Micah reminds us: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) This is a call to church leaders - to shepherd the flock with justice and compassion.
The prophet Nahum warns: "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath." (Nahum 1:2) If pastors continue to pursue vanity rather than God's will, judgment will not be delayed.
Augustine cautioned: "If a shepherd does not tend the flock with love, he usurps God's authority and will be judged." Luther said: "The leaders of the church should be servants of the flock, not its masters." Calvin emphasised: "The leaders of the church should follow Christ's example and shepherd the flock with humility and love."
Pastors must stop chasing the vanity of KPIs and return to the essence of shepherding - caring for every believer and equipping them to grow.
The Third and Fourth Warnings
The Prophet Amos' Warning
The prophet Amos warned: "For three transgressions of [Damascus], and for four, I will not revoke the punishment." (Amos 1:3) If the church continues to neglect its pastoral responsibilities and pursue self-interest and vanity, God's judgment will not be averted.
An Opportunity for the Church to Reflect
The AI era is an opportunity for the church to reflect. Pastors must let go of their obsession with church growth and return to the essence of pastoral care, giving glory to God and faithfully shepherding His flock.
God's Warning and Grace
Through the rise of AI technology, God is issuing a warning to the church, but also providing grace. If the church can humbly reflect and return to the essence of pastoral care, it still has the opportunity to be renewed and become a vessel fit for God's use.
The Responsibility of Believers
Believers should also be vigilant, not blindly following irresponsible leaders, but rather drawing near to God, pursuing the truth, and growing in their faith. Whether through the church or AI technology, the ultimate goal is to know God and live out the likeness of Christ.