The Danger Of Ai Isn’t Misinformation. It’s Mis-formation.

It’s crazy how fast this has become normal: Ask a question to any artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, and you get an instant, in-depth answer, even to a spiritual question.

AI is already showing up in everyday Christian life. People are using it to generate prayers and devotions, get quick answers to “Is this sin?” questions (with a Bible verse citation or two), and even generate small-group discussion questions instantly.

In each of these examples, it’s possible AI could churn out a biblically accurate answer. But the danger isn’t purely a matter of misinformation; it’s a matter of formation. The real issue is what habitual AI use does to us. It turns into muscle memory that, over time, will reshape basic Christian habits like what we pay attention to, what we expect, and where we look for counsel.

Biblical spirituality isn’t mainly about having an instant right answer. It’s about our slow formation into Christlikeness by the Spirit, through the ordinary means God gives us, like Scripture, prayer, and the life of the church.

The spiritual danger of AI is that it might condition us to take shortcuts in the means God uses to form disciples. Here are three ways this can quietly compete with biblical spirituality.

1. Attention Atrophy

AI trains our attention in the wrong direction. Instead of wrestling with God’s Word, meditating on it, or studying it, we’re tempted to turn to AI to acquire quick summaries and immediate takeaways. It gives us the (false) impression that biblical wisdom can be imparted to us in fast bullet points.

The spiritual danger of AI is that it might condition us to take shortcuts in the means God uses to form disciples.

But God’s Word isn’t meant to be skimmed or summarized. Scripture should be read, heard, meditated on, and obeyed.

What can the “attention atrophy” problem look like?

A person opens his Bible and asks AI to summarize the chapter before he reads it, because studying it on his own feels challenging or inefficient. It’s easier to ask AI to explain the verses in simple terms, rather than the believer sitting with the verses, comparing context, rereading, and praying. Another person listens to a sermon and asks AI, “Give me five applications for my life,” instead of praying through self-examination.

Over time, the speed of AI will likely accelerate the decline of attention spans and atrophy our muscles of focused attention.

2. Expectation of Less Friction

With instant answers comes the expectation that instant is best and struggle is wrong. This can normalize a “friction-free” spirituality that assumes growth should be quick and painless, that our devotional life can be “optimized.”

But in the Bible, God frequently forms his people through waiting, wrestling, suffering, and obedience—sometimes over painfully long periods of time. The way God forms us often feels inefficient and suboptimal.

Think about how seemingly harmless uses of AI might subtly shift our expectations about spiritual growth. People are already asking AI to give devotional encouragement that makes them feel closer to God. They’re generating personalized quiet-time plans tuned to their schedules, personalities, and specific areas of desired growth. They’re asking AI to help them make life decisions or provide clarity, even about what God might want them to do.

If we normalize these sorts of AI-optimized spiritual practices, we’ll be tempted to see friction and wrestling as avoidable impediments to spiritual growth rather than as opportunities to lean into God through faith.

3. Dependence on AI Shepherds

AI can provide users with a “private shepherding” experience. This creates a temptation to bypass the pastoral relationships God designed.

Consider what this growing dependence could look like. Someone uses AI for advice as her first stop when she feels anxious, tempted, or burdened by doubt, but never confesses her sin, asks another person for prayer, or invites accountability from a fellow Christian. A person feeling hurt by his church asks AI to help determine motives and blame and to give advice on whether to leave the church, without ever pursuing a conversation or reconciliation with the church leadership. A Christian struggling with recurring sin asks AI for reassurance that she’s saved, instead of praying, going to the Bible, and allowing her church to speak into the situation.

Even if the counsel AI gives is biblically sound, it’s still spiritually detrimental if it trains people to rely on AI for what God intends to mediate through his Word, his Spirit, and his people.

Five Principles for Pastors

Every pastor should take the time to understand the implications of AI use for spirituality so he can address them directly in his particular ministry context.

To that end, here are five simple principles you might teach and model in your local church:

1. Read first, then ask. Don’t start with AI summaries of Scripture (even in Logos). Read the passage, pray, and sit with the text, then use tools only as a secondary aid.

2. Pray before prompting. Don’t turn to AI for advice or reassurance before turning to God.

3. Seek pastoral counsel on serious issues. If you need input on matters involving ongoing sin, accountability, conflict, or major decisions, seek pastoral counsel and real people in a trusted church community, not AI.

4. Be clear on AI’s limits. Teach your congregation that AI can provide information (sometimes false information) but not true biblical wisdom. It lacks spiritual authority.

5. Talk openly about AI use. Encourage regular discussions in your church about people’s use of AI. Encourage a careful approach that involves community input as we weigh potential opportunities and hazards.

As AI transforms the world, the church needs to remain faithful and clear about what the Bible teaches about spirituality. AI doesn’t just give answers; it trains our instincts. We need to address now how those instincts might, over time, lead Christians and churches in spiritually malformative directions.