AI, the Bible and Spirituality

Let the word dwell richly in you

I recently published my latest book, Know Yourself, a book which I started writing in 2021 and completed in May 2025. I never take this long to write a book, but this was a special one. I had to do what I don’t like doing—moving from one book to another, and from one verse in one book, to another verse in another book. Honestly, I don’t like reading the Bible like that. You don’t grow spiritually when you do that.

My way of studying the Bible is to camp in one book until I understand it. Then as I go about my day, I can recall a verse here and there, and comfort myself accordingly, or I can remember a certain verse, and make a decision accordingly. The point is I know and remember the verses. Why? Because I have studied.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Colossians 3:16.

The word of Christ dwells in you richly when you STUDY. Now, the problem I have with AI is that it doesn’t allow you to study. That thing feels hollow. Empty. And lacking a heart. A few years ago, I used to read 5-7 books a week. I would read them fast, and understand them. But when it came to any spiritual book, say, a commentary, that thing would take me time. I remember this one time I got my hands on a Matthew Henry Commentary, and I was going through Genesis. I intended to complete Genesis in one week. But Genesis chapter 1 took me 26 hours. I remember because I was surprised. 26 hours!

I didn’t complete that commentary. I gave up. I wasn’t ready for it. But I learnt my lesson. Spiritual things cannot be rushed. Because the Lord didn’t design us to speed through that process. AI can fool you that you can learn these things fast, but you cannot.

THERE IS NO SHORTCUT.

You have to study. You have to digest the word. Artificial Intelligence is not Godly wisdom. Your spirit needs godly wisdom. And if it doesn’t get into you, it will not be part of you. You will feel empty.

It is the same as writing that is done by AI. It feels empty. You just read something and you just feel a lack of human touch.

To grow spiritually, you have to get into your Bible. I see some churches where the preacher is about to share a message, and they have to project the verses on the screen. Do you know how dangerous that is? People cannot open their Bibles anymore. They do not know whether the book of Jude is in the Old Testament or New. And yet, just flipping those pages is a lesson of its own.

AI will be helpful when you already know. But if you do not know yet, stick to the old ways. Human beings.

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:30-31.