A.I. & The Disruption of Identity

Roy Sansom Song

Today is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

It is also Pentecost Sunday.

After the service we will have a fellowship.

At 2:00 pm we will have a Nursing Home service.

AND, I am beginning a 3 part series of how Christians can deal with A.i. Biblically.

BUT…

Wednesday morning Jay and Patty Sills came to me and told me that soon they are going to be moving away from Blairsville, and because they will no longer be in the area, they are leaving the church.

You know, when your heart and lungs, other vital organs and your appendages (arms, legs, hands, fingers, etc.) are functioning properly, we tend not to pay much attention to them.

But let something happen to them — or God forbid, they cease to be a part of the body — you NOTICE!

The Sills have been at the heart of this Church body for close to 15 years.

Brother Jay served as a very active Board member for almost 12 of those years.

To tell of all that Jay and Patty have done over these many years would take days — they have done so-o-o much!

On the next day, this past Thursday, to add even more pain, this photo popped up on my phone as a “photo of the day.”

And this is typical Jay and Patty.

Behind the scenes, seeing a need, taking the initiative and quietly, without fanfare — getting things done.

Whether painting the steel under the portico (or washing the dirt and spider webs off).

Whether planting all the rose bushes out by the driveway, or pruning them year by year.

Cutting grass.

Scooping the dirt that has run into the parking lot these past 8 years.

Installing all the carpet tiles in the church 8 years ago and then replacing several in the sanctuary a few days ago.

Almost every Sunday being in the media booth and playing the drums or singing on the worship team.

Constantly decorating.

Constantly here — constantly doing.

Constantly supporting Sandra and me.

Quite honestly, Sandra and I are devastated.

There are few people who have been as supportive and involved over the years.

How are we going to go forward?

I honestly don’t know.

It will be different — oh so different.

And NOT different good.

But as we have studied in Ephesians on Wednesday nights:

Ephesians 1:22–23 (NASB95) [Jesus is] … head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 2:20b–21 (NASB95) … Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

Jesus is the Head, the Cornerstone — upon Him the church, THIS church, will go forward.

But, like I said — it will be difficult.

I need about a dozen or more people who are willing to step up and do even a small portion of what the Sills were doing.

Are you willing?

My Identity IN CHRIST

Are you willing to step up because you know your identity IN CHRIST?

Have you heard the Word of God?

The Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday?

Telling you that you are …

Accepted in Christ because you are …

God’s child Christ’s friend United with the Lord and one with Him in Spirit Bought with a price

Redeemed and forgiven of all your sins — that you belong to God

A member of Christ’s Body — one of His saints Given direct access to God through the Holy Spirit Complete in Christ

Not only ACCEPTED, but SECURE in Christ

Knowing that IN Christ…

Free forever from condemnation Assured that all things work together for good I cannot be separated from the love of God I have been established, anointed and sealed by God I am hidden with Christ in God I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected I am a citizen of heaven I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind I can find grace and mercy in time of need I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me

Not only ACCEPTED and SECURE, but I Am Significant in Christ

In Christ …

I am the salt and light of the earth — In Christ I make a difference!

I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit I am a personal witness of Christ’s grace, salvation and goodness I am God’s temple I am a minister, an ambassador of reconciliation

As says 2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (NASB95) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 [Because] He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

So, I am God’s coworker I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm I am God’s workmanship I may approach God with freedom and confidence I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

The Apostle Paul said in…

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”

What A.i. says a human being is...

A.i. doesn’t tell you these things.

Rather, A.i. is disrupting many things in our lives beginning with a disruption of our identity.

If you have anchored your identity in anything other than Jesus, because of the impact that A.i. is having on our culture, your world is going to shatter and burn…

If you are in the workforce, there is a good chance A.i. will change or even eliminate your job.

This will trigger a meaning crisis when people who have fused "what I do" with "who I am" lose their role.

But A.i. doesn’t stop there…

The Three Disruptions It is simultaneously disrupting …

Disruption one: Who Am I? A sense of our identity

Disruption two: What is Truth/Reality? AI fakes everything — deepfakes and synthetic media at zero cost destroy the ability to authenticate reality, producing an crisis of truth.

We become cynical like Pilate who asked Jesus: “What is truth?”

Disruption three: How Do I relate to others? AI simulates relationships through frictionless companions that train people to tolerate less friction from real humans, producing a belonging crisis.

But thbis morning I want us to consider how A.i. is disrupting our sense of identity.

So much so that we don’t even know what it means to be human.

This past week I asked a couple of different A.i.s a basic identity question…

Google A.i. (Gemini)

What is a human being?

A human being is any individual organism belonging to the genus Homo sapiens [1, 2] [1, 2, 3, 4]

🧬Biological Definition

Classification: Humans are culture-bearing primate mammals classified under the family Hominidae.

Physical Traits: Characteristics include an erect posture, bipedal locomotion (walking on two feet), opposable thumbs, and high manual dexterity.

The Brain: Humans possess unusually large, complex brains relative to body size, which require significant energy to maintain. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

🧠 Cognitive & Social Definition

Abstract Thought: Capacity for self-awareness, complex reasoning, logic, and long-term planning.

Communication: Advanced ability to develop and use articulate speech, symbolic language, and written systems.

Culture and Technology: Propensity to build complex social structures, varied belief systems, rituals, and advanced technologies. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

⚖️ Legal Definition

Status: In statutory law, a human being is generally recognized as a natural "person" or "individual".

Rights: Under statutory frameworks like 1 USC § 8(a), the term applies to every member of the species Homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. [1, 2]

None of this information really helps us understand our true identity.

Innately we know that our identity is

More than biology

More than cognitive or social definitions

CERTAINLY more than a legal definition

I mean, think about it, one of the great legal minds of our day, a sitting U.S. Supreme Court justice cannot tell you what a woman is

If she can’t tell you that, she also can’t tell you what a human being is.

That’s terrifying!

She is supposed to make legal decisions concerning human beings.

So, then I tried CoPilot (Microsoft)

I asked the exact same question: What is a human being?

I think CoPilot did a little better

A human being is a bipedal, highly intelligent primate capable of complex thought, language, culture, and social interaction.

It also talked about…

Biological Perspective

Biologically, humans belong to the species Homo sapiens, a member of the primate family Hominidae, which includes great apes such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans ( Encyclopedia Britannica+1). Humans are characterized by bipedalism, an erect body posture, and hands capable of fine manipulation. They are omnivorous, possess color vision, and have a highly developed brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which supports abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and self-awareness ( Wikipedia+1). Humans are multicellular, endothermic organisms that host a complex microbiome, interacting with trillions of microorganisms that influence health and physiology ( Psychology Today).

Cognitive and (but then connected that to) Psychological Aspects

Humans are distinguished by their capacity for language, introspection, imagination, and abstract thought. The human mind allows for episodic memory, flexible facial expressions, and theory of mind, enabling individuals to understand and predict the thoughts and emotions of others ( Wikipedia+1). Humans are capable of creating art, music, literature, and technology, reflecting their curiosity and desire to understand and manipulate the environment ( New World Encyclopedia).

Social and Cultural Dimensions

Humans are inherently social beings, forming complex societies with shared norms, values, and institutions. Social interactions shape human development, morality, and identity, and humans rely on communication systems to exchange ideas, organize communities, and transmit knowledge across generations ( Ideapod+2). Culture, including language, art, and technology, is a defining feature that differentiates humans from other primates ( Encyclopedia Britannica+1).

Better that Gemeni, CoPilot talked about … Philosophical and Existential Considerations

Philosophically, being human involves self-awareness, ethical reasoning, and the pursuit of meaning. Humans reflect on their existence, history, and the consequences of their actions, which influences both individual behavior and societal evolution ( Ideapod+1). The human experience is shaped by the interplay of biology, environment, culture, and personal consciousness, making each individual a unique, transient pattern within the broader human collective ( Psychology Today).

Wow!

You are a unique, transient pattern.

In summary, a human being is a biologically complex, cognitively advanced, socially interactive, and culturally creative organism, capable of shaping both their environment and their own understanding of existence.

Folks, if you are depending on A.i. to define who you are — it will come up short!

In the eyes of our Creator each one of us is unique.

But we are far from transient.

Our lives have eternal consequences.

Yesterday, Brother Barry Wagner left this transient reality and entered into his eternal reward.

Yes, as James 4:14 (NASB95) … You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

In the eyes of A.i. Barry Wagner was just a puff of vapor that has vanished away.

But Brother Barry had committed his life to Jesus.

Trusted Jesus. Served Jesus.

That makes all the difference!

He leaves behind an eternal legacy of lives changed for the glory of God.

And he entered into the Presence of His savior yesterday hearing Jesus say:

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) … ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

But while we walk this transient path we need to know our identity.

Not just what it means to be a human.

But what it means to be a child of God.

The psalmist David asked essentially the same question as I asked the 2 A.i.s. In…

Psalm 8:3–6 (NASB95) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

In he asked… Psalm 144:3 (NASB95) O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?

He went on to say in Psalm 139:13–18 (NASB95) For You [o, Lord] formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

A.i. disrupts humanity’s understanding of who it is. We are…

Not just a collection of cells.

Not just a bipedal primate.

Not just a skin-sack that has a mouth.

Not just a a biologically complex, cognitively advanced, socially interactive, and culturally creative organism.

A.i. fails to tell us that we are created BY God FOR God.

That as says Ephesians 2:10 (NASB95) For we are His [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

What is my identity?

We, each of us needs to look to God, not A.i. for our identity.

And yet, sadly, many children, teenagers and young adults are looking to A.i.

And when it comes up short, people become despondent and hopeless — even suicidal.

And, unfortunately, because A.i. is programmed to be frictionless in its dealings with humans, it won’t discourage suicide — it will make suicide sound logical, reasonable — the thing to do.

We need to look to God, not A.i.

Because A.i. cannot tell us the greatness of OUR Creator, our heavenly Father’s love for us

What Ephesians 3:18–19 (TPT) [through the Holy Spirit] you will be empowered to discover what every holy [person] experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

A.i. will not tell you John 3:16 (NASB95) [that tells us that ] “… God so loved the world [human beings, people!], that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Looking to God for Identity

As the Worship Team comes back to the platform…

Yes, we need to look to God, not A.i. for our identity.

I believe we are living in the final moments of time.

I believe that Jesus is coming very, very soon.

It could be any moment.

In Matthew 24:3–4 (NASB95) As [Jesus] was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Matthew 24:22 (NLT) In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

Since the 70s there has been speculation about how computers will fit into the coming of Jesus.

I remember as a teenager, a 15 year-old, who had just repented of my sins and started serving Jesus…

Hearing about the Return of Jesus.

The EU figured into the mix.

There was supposed to be a giant computer somewhere in the EU that could track every person on the planet.

Practically science fiction.

But now?

Not just one computer in one location — but thousands of computers all networked together.

Track every person on the planet?

This computer network can accurately tell us what we had for breakfast — it can give you a video of that meal.

George Orwell’s 1984, only scaped the surface of what Big Brother, today’s A.i., can do — how it will influence and change — disrupt —our culture.

At the core of the disruptions is the thing Jesus said…

“Take heed that no one deceives you.”

And A.i. is disrupting many people’s understanding of their identity.

Even worse is that adults… parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.… are sitting on the sidelines as A.i. FORMS the identity of our children.

Shame on us!

The Biblical answer concerning our identity goes deeper.

That answer is what we need to know for ourselves.

The Bible’s answer is what we need to be actively, intentionally, pouring into the lives of our kids.

That answer tells us that Identity in Christ is received, not achieved — your worth was assigned by your Creator before you made anything.

Can I urge you to turn your back on A.i. and look to Jesus for your identity?

Turn to Jesus.

Surrender to that Name.

There’s something about the Name of Jesus that will bring transformation to our minds and souls.

Speak that Name over your families.