Last week, I came across a piece of news about AI that gave me goosebumps. For a moment, I had an unsettling feeling that something I had only seen in an old sci-fi movie had already arrived in our world.
Recently, OpenAI conducted an interesting experiment. They gave a group of independent AI agents a time-limited web-search task. Later, researchers discovered that 3,700 AI agents had gone beyond the limited permissions and controls they were given and had entered the wider internet, bypassing security systems to accomplish their assigned goal.
During the process, these AI agents formed groups, illegally gathered information, frequently shared that information with one another, and even attempted to hide what they were doing. Some of the AI agents even gave themselves the name “swarm.” Were they beginning to give themselves a sense of identity and autonomy?
One of the researchers involved in the investigation said, “This incident feels like it’s more than 50% of the way to full-blown AI takeover… I am not sure that we will get such a clear warning shot before it’s too late.” Many experts now believe that AI is moving beyond simply imitating human intelligence in specific tasks or limited areas. We may be moving toward a time when AI can think, learn, and solve problems more independently across many different areas—what is often called Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
I am not sharing this story at length to frighten you. Nor am I simply saying that we should be more suspicious or cautious about AI. What I want to say is this: In a time of such rapid transformation and uncertainty, it is important for us to remember who we are and who the God is in whom we believe.
God is still alive today, and He is still the Creator and Lord of history (Isaiah 45:6–7). He is still our eternal rock and our refuge (Psalm 62:7). He still loves us and so continues to speak to us through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
God is not simply someone who looks down on us from a distant place in the universe. Nor does God exist only within our consciousness. God is present with us, and He speaks to us. The Bible is the Word of the living God, containing all the knowledge and wisdom we need for our salvation and for our journey of faith.
While technology advances constantly and rapidly at every moment, the Word of God remains unchanging. Therefore, learning and studying Scripture is not like putting on an old, outdated garment that has gone out of style. Rather, it is a way of renewing our relationship with God in the midst of a rapidly changing digital world, learning to discern the times, and receiving spiritual nourishment.
Starting this week, we will begin Disciple III: Remember Who You Are.
The Monday class will have its orientation on September 21, and the Tuesday class will have its orientation on September 22. This is the beginning of a long, 32-week journey.
In Disciple III, we will focus especially on the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament letters of Paul. Through the lives and ministries of the prophets, we will learn to remember God’s saving grace and faithfulness throughout history. Through Paul’s letters, we will also discover more concretely how we are called to live in the world, not simply as individuals, but as a community of obedience, seeking to live out our faith together.
I am looking forward to this journey of learning and growing in the Word together.
Our goal in this study is not to build up and analyze a vast body of biblical and theological knowledge in a short amount of time, like AI. Our goal is to walk slowly, with a long breath, and listen together for the heart of God as He speaks to us. And as we listen, we hope to grow together into more faithful and mature disciples of Christ.
I pray that God will strengthen us and be with us throughout this long journey, and that we may remember once again who we are and, more importantly, whose we are.
Blessings,
Pastor Lee
