Links for today’s readings:
Sep 24 Read: Jeremiah 51 Listen: (10:15) Read: 2 Corinthians 10 Listen: (2:45)
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 51.15-19
15 “He made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
16 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17 “Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.
The images he makes are a fraud;
they have no breath in them.
18 They are worthless, the objects of mockery;
when their judgment comes, they will perish.
19 He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for he is the Maker of all things,
including the people of his inheritance—
the Lord Almighty is his name.
Reflection: Are These Your Gods?
By John Tillman
Jeremiah’s poem comparing God creating the world by his wisdom to idol makers creating objects of mockery by their foolishness appears in chapter 10 and here in chapter 51. Maybe Jeremiah knew we needed to hear it twice…
In chapter 10, this poem is directed at God’s people, who are adopting the practices of the nations around them. In chapter 51, the poem is directed specifically at Babylon, forecasting their downfall and the shame that their idols would bring to them.
Idolaters reject the truth of God for a lie. God’s wisdom created the world. Idolaters’ foolishness creates false gods. Instead of worshiping a glorious creator, they take created things and make from them something they call a god.
Modern folks are quick to shake our heads at ancient peoples who carved idols out of stone or wood and bowed down to them as supreme, supernatural beings. However, how different is this than our treatment of artificial intelligence? Aren’t we making it from the resources God granted—both natural resources from the earth and the resources of human intelligence? Aren’t we proclaiming it as our savior who will go before us? (Ex 32.1-4)
The tech billionaires behind Ai certainly are treating and speaking of it in salvific terms. The investors in the technology certainly expect miracles. The politicians enamored with its power certainly desire it. One prominent politician (that no one can critique without being called “deranged”) announced to the United Nations that his government would officially start calling artificial intelligence “Superior Intelligence.” This was after running a social media poll with two other names that he suggested, “Extreme Intelligence” and “Supreme Intelligence.”
No matter how amazing (or terrifying) the capabilities of artificial intelligence become in a year, a few years, or decades from now, it will never be “superior” or “supreme.” And even if some whistleblowers are correct and Ai (either independently or guided by malicious humans) destroys life as we know it, it will not be unique. We’ve created such tools before.
Even if we don’t call something “god” or bow down to it, it can still be an idol. When we rely on it, praise it, sacrifice for it, and defend it, what else could it be but an idol?
Be careful how much loyalty, praise, and resources you give to things or people, especially if those people or things are making god-like promises.
Resources: “AI, Surrender All”, The Russell Moore Show. Podcast, YouTube
Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. — Psalm 100.2
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Readers’ Choice is Coming!
Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year.
What posts helped you pray?
https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7
Read more: Idolatry as Parody
We become like our idols…Our hearts harden and our ears tune out and our eyes glaze over.
