AI, The Church, and The Questions We’re Just Beginning to Ask
Recently, I read a few Barna articles about artificial intelligence, looking at what Christians are thinking and how church leaders are responding to this evolving reality we all find ourselves in. The insights were encouraging but also unsettling (a dichotomy I found in most of the research highlights).
As always, we wanted to bring this conversation to the Ministry Forum community and see what you think about this tension:
How are you feeling about AI right now?
What questions are surfacing in your ministry context?
What excites you… And what gives you pause?
Here are the three articles from Barna that we reviewed:
Before we start the conversation, here are a few themes and insights that stood out:
1. AI Tools Can Be An Asset… And Also A Threat
One of the most interesting findings is that many Christians don’t see AI in simple black-and-white, good-or-bad terms. Instead, most hold two ideas at the same time:
66% of practicing Christians say AI is improving their lives
Yet 57% also say it is a threat
These are the same people who feel both hope and concern at the same time.
Barna calls this a “high opportunity, high risk” mindset, and interestingly, Christians are more likely than others to feel this tension.
2. Gen Z Uses AI and Also Has Significant Concerns About It
Younger generations, especially Gen Z, aren’t just curious about AI. They’re also concerned.
38% of Gen Z view AI as high risk
Many feel uncertain about its impact on their future
This is interesting because we often assume that skepticism about technology comes from older generations, while younger people just adopt new things. We hear concerns about relying too much on AI in schools, questions about plagiarism, and broader worries about work ethic in an automated world. And yet, this research complicates that narrative.
Even though they use these tools often, Gen Z are also among the most likely to see AI as high risk and to feel unsure about its long-term effects. We should note this awareness because it shows that their engagement with technology is not just passive or uncritical. In many ways, they are wrestling with it as it develops.
AND, this could be a chance for the church to listen more closely. People who have grown up with technology often understand both its possibilities and its pressures in ways others might not.
Instead of assuming people are disengaged or overly dependent, this could be an opportunity for mutual learning. Different generations can talk about both the benefits and the limits of these tools and work together to find a wiser path forward.
Two questions you might consider:
Are we creating space in our churches for honest conversations about technology, anxiety, and trust?
Could these findings open opportunities for intergeneration coversations and shared learning?
3. AI Is Already Shaping Spiritual Life
Nearly 1 in 3 adults say AI can offer spiritual advice as trustworthy as a pastor
Among younger adults, that rises to 2 in 5
About 40% of practicing Christians say AI has helped with prayer or Bible study
41% of pastors are already using AI in sermon or study preparation
A majority of church leaders are using AI personally at least monthly
Only 33% of churches are using it in ministry contexts
One-third of Christians want guidance from pastors on AI
Only 12% of pastors feel equipped to teach about it
These statistics can seem alarming. The idea that people might turn to AI for spiritual guidance or see it as akin to a trained minister or pastor is concerning. But without more context, it is easy to jump to conclusions that may not help our communities.
In many cases, AI is not replacing spiritual authority but is being used as a tool to navigate the huge amount of content online. AI tools can help summarize, clarify, and make information more accessible. People are often not trying to outsource their faith, but they are looking for easier ways to understand things.
If we polled our Ministry Forum community, we would likely see a similar pattern to the research. Some leaders have thoughtfully incorporated these tools into their study, preparation, and communication, while others have remained cautious and mindful of the risk of misinformation, overreliance, or loss of authenticity. Both approaches are valid and can exist together.
But just reacting or being alarmed by these statistics does almost nothing to move the conversation forward. So how do we take these findings and move with pastoral curiosity and responsibility?
If people in our congregations are already engaging these tools, the question becomes: how do we resource them well?
How do we help them recognize what is trustworthy and what is not?
How do we encourage engagement with Scripture that is not merely efficient, but formative?
How do we build spiritual habits that are shaped by the Spirit?
The goal is not to become an AI expert. The goal is the same as it always has been: point people to the truth of Scripture, encourage wisdom and discernment and nurture lives rooted in Christ. Being aware of the evolving landscape of technology (and AI specifically) only helps to guide our approach in shepherding and discipling our congregations.
AI Is Raising BIG Questions That Call for DEEP Discernment and Discipleship:
What does it mean to be human?
Where does authority come from?
How do we form people in truth and wisdom?
How do we help people use tools like AI without losing the Church's relational and embodied, SPIRIT-LED nature?
What is stirring for you as you read this?
Are there statistics or insights that raised questions or even discomfort?
Is this something you’ve already been wrestling with in your ministry context?
We would love to hear from you as part of this shared discernment.
If this is an area you’d like to explore more deeply, we recently hosted a webinar with Curt Hammond from Four Simple Words titled “Becoming Ourselves with AI: A Conversation about Change, Faith, and Possibility.” If you’re interested in watching the recording, just send us an email, and we’ll get it to you.
Becoming Ourselves with AI: A Conversation about change, faith, and possibility.
Curt Hammond, Service Champion at FourSimpleWords.ca and co-founder of the +AI Mindset. Passionate about the positive impact AI can have on our faith communities, he brings warmth, clarity, and a relentless curiosity to this space. Together, we will explore questions of leadership, service, and calling in the age of AI, especially through the lens of “Who are we becoming?”
Designed for faith and lay leaders, this session will create space to wrestle with new possibilities and stretch old hesitations. Come as you are, whether you are already experimenting or still deeply unsure.
This is an evolving conversation, and as technology continues to develop, we anticipate creating more space for dialogue, learning, and reflection together.