Monthly Archives

April 2019

The Danger of Artificial Intelligence

By | Public Blog, Uncategorized

There is a lot of attention given to the topic of artificial intelligence today.  Artificial intelligence (AI) uses machine learning to mimic human intelligence.  Some definitions of AI are:

The ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.

A machine completing the tasks which involve a certain degree of intelligence which was previously deemed only to be done by humans.

The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.

AI, when boiled down to its basic meaning, deals with how close or how well can a computer imitate a human being.  There has been examples of artificial intelligence around for a long time.  Rosie, the robot maid, was always cleaning up after George in the old cartoon The Jetsons.  In the movies, AI has gone from the benign character of Rosie to fierce robots rising up and trying to control the world.

Today, there are some fears that are attached to what the future holds when it comes to artificial intelligence.  There are two major fears that a lot of people hold about the future of AI.

  1. Machines (robots) are going to kill us.
  2. Machines (robots) are going to replace us.

Behind these fears is the concept that man could “program” intelligence and, thus, man is no longer special or needed.  Even non-Christians fight to protect themselves by holding on to the idea that human beings are special and/or different from anything else.

The definitions of the terms “artificial” and “intelligence” are as follows.

Artificial

Something made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally; behavior that is insincere; something humanly contrived; imitation; sham; pretend; hollow.  Artificial conveys the idea that something is inferior to the real thing.

Intelligence

The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills; skilled use of reason; mental acuteness; the act of understanding; the ability to benefit from past experience, act purposefully, solve problems, and adapt to new situations.

These definitions make it clear that AI will always be inferior to human life.  Any intelligence that is “man-made” will always be deficient in some way or another.  This is because true intelligence involves reason, understanding and wisdom.  These characteristics of human beings can never be programed into a computer.  AI can not include emotion, creativity, intuition and consciousness.

How does artificial intelligence apply to the education we give our children and youth?  Artificial intelligence is dangerous and must be avoided at all costs when it comes to the education we give our children.  I am not saying that our children and youth shouldn’t be taught about the power of technology — especially robotics.  I am talking about the real artificial intelligence that is so common in society today.

Artificial intelligence in education can be summed up in two simple words — secular education!  You may be asking yourself the question how can I say that secular education is and/or produces artificial intelligence?

To me it is quite simple.  Secular education denies or, at least, ignores the existence of God.  Therefore, secular education is not built on the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge.  Secular education is humanly contrived and, therefore, can only be an imitation of true education.  Secular education will always be inferior to the real thing.

Any intelligence that results from secular education will be found lacking in one way or another.  This is because it will not develop children who have the ability to act with true purpose and the skill to use reason in gaining understanding and wisdom.  They will be like the people Paul wrote to Timothy about.  Those who have gained only artificial intelligence will be:

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV)

Unfortunately, most Christians today believe that there is a body of knowledge that is spiritually neutral.  This belief has been developed by means of a secular education system that teaches that knowledge is merely a set of objective, neutral facts.  This has to be the case since secular education denies or ignores the existence of God.  Therefore, education must be spiritually neutral.

When our children are given a secular education, they never come to the knowledge of the truth.  They will never obtain the real meaning behind the facts that they are learning.  God becomes totally irrelevant to math, science, history, language arts, etc.  John Piper says it best.

Modern people suppose that if they have the facts about a given thing, person, or event, they have the truth.  They forget that facts are not meaningless or value free, and that if we do not associate the meaning with the fact, we do not have the truth.

We must understand a very important truth about secular education.  Secular education may be factually accurate but it is never spiritually neutral!!  If children merely get the facts about any subject and/or life itself, they are not coming to the knowledge of the truth.  Without coming to the knowledge of truth, children go out into life thinking that they have received a good education when, in fact, they have developed a dangerous form of artificial intelligence!  We must give our children a biblical worldview education at home, church and school.

What are your thoughts about artificial intelligence in today’s world?

It Isn’t Too Late!

By | Public Blog, Uncategorized

Last week I had the privilege of speaking at a Worldview Conference sponsored by Precept Marketing and BJ Press.  It was held at the beautiful Bible Museum in Washington, D.C. and included other speakers such as Jeff Keaton and Dr. Josh Mulvihil of Renewantion, Dr. Bryan Smith, Ben Schetler, and Dr. George Barna.  I came away from the conference deeply burdened about the condition of today’s church and society here in the United States.

If you have been following my blogs over the past several weeks, you know that my concern for our children’s future isn’t new.  I first wrote about this in the blog, For the Sake of Our Children.  I encourage you to take the time and click on the title and read it again.  Following that post I realized that Christians must repent of our sinful actions of giving our children a secular worldview education.  Two verses have been on my heart and mind ever since.

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord“turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”  Joel 2:12 (NKJV)

So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:13 (NKJV)

In each of my blogs since then I have been challenging readers to examine their lives and apply Joel 2:12-13 to their lives and ministries.  I suggested that today, April 23, 2019 be the day that we individually and collectively turn to the Lord with our whole heart.  Last week’s conference burned this conviction deeper into my heart.  Each presentation built on the others as if all of the speakers had met and collectively planned what would be said.  I left DC with several key realities weighing heavy on my heart.

Christianity is facing a crisis of belief!

The majority of Christian adults are biblically illiterate compared to previous generations.  Less than 10% possess a biblical worldview.  Today’s church is a better reflection of today’s culture than it is of biblical Christianity.

Younger generations have developed a secular worldview that is driving their actions and attitudes!

It is believed that only 4% of Millennials have a biblical worldview and 51% of them desire to live in a socialistic or communistic society.  The younger generations are more likely to support various lifestyle positions that go contrary to the Bible.

 

The worldview of every generation is a result of the education that they received!

The main business of all education is the communication of ideas.  All educational efforts take place in the context of the teachers’ and textbook authors’ worldview.

There is no such thing as neutrality!

It is a myth to believe that there is a body of neutral facts that can be taught without spiritual implications.  This is true at home, church and school.

Education can have only one of two missions!

The education that a child receives at home, church and school will have the mission to instill a biblical worldview or a secular worldview in the hearts and minds of the next generation.

The home, church and school must be united in giving children and youth a biblical worldview education!

A divided kingdom cannot stand.  This is true when it comes to the education that the next generation receives.  There must be unity in beliefs and values if the current trends are going to be reversed.  It is now believed that a person’s basic worldview beliefs are pretty much set by the age of 13 or 14.

Today’s society is definitely secular which means that religion, specifically Christianity, has no place in the public square.  It has taken decades of secular education to get us to the condition that can be clearly seen in today’s culture.  We have heard the statistics for years of how the majority of our young people are leaving the church in their teenage years — many of them will never return.

Even though the future looks bleak, we must remember that with God all things are possible.  It isn’t too late for God to work.  However, it is going to require certain things of parents, church leaders and educators.  We don’t need better facilities, programs or teaching methodologies.  It isn’t going to be accomplished by improving technology or chasing after the latest fad.  It will only happen if parents, church leaders and educators rend their hearts and turn to the Lord their God with fasting, weeping and mourning!  We must get back to following God’s instructions on how to educate future generations!

What Controls Your Life and Ministry?

By | Public Blog, Uncategorized

As I was examining my life in preparation for turning to God with all my heart, I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks.  Pastor and author Tim Keller wrote these words.

Whatever you live for actually owns you. You do not really control yourself. Whatever you live for and love the most controls you.

As I reflected on these three short sentences, I realized that every person is controlled by something or someone.  No one is in control of his/her life.  In a world that is consumed with setting goals and making plans, it is easy to think that one has everything under control and can accomplish anything through good planing, hard work and perseverance.  That person says in his/her mind, I am in control!

Keller brings us back to reality by stating that everyone is controlled by whatever or whoever he/she loves most.  That is because what I love most I end up living for.  As I was thinking about this, I came across an article about a basketball coach that I greatly admire.  This coach just led his team to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.  If you follow college basketball, you know that this coach is Tony Bennet, head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team.

Throughout the tournament Bennett’s team was under scrutiny because last year ended in such a terrible way.  Last year, the UVa team was a number one seed and lost its first game in the tournament to a number 16 seed.  In fact, it was the first time that a number 16 seed beat a number 1 seed.  They didn’t simply lose the game but they lost the game by a 20 point margin.  How would they respond this year as, once again, the team had a number 1 seed?  Because of this scenario, Coach Bennett was repeatedly asked how the team was going to perform?  What pressure did he and the team face?  How did he and the team cope with such pressure?

In one article, Bennett made a powerful statement that took the pressure off him and his team and guided them on an unbelievable path to the national championship.

If my life is just about winning championships—if it’s just about being the best—then I’m running the wrong race. That’s empty. But if it’s about trying to be excellent and do things the right way, to honor the university that’s hired you, the athletic director you work for and the young men you’re coaching—always in the process trying to bring glory to God—then that’s the right thing.

Bennett was saying that winning basketball games is not what controls his life.  He understood that coaching basketball was simply God’s gift and that he needs to do it as a good steward that will bring glory to his Lord.  Bennett’s own words proves this point.

I have great things in my life—my love for my wife, my love for my family, my love for coaching, my love for basketball. Those are wonderful things, but when you line them up in comparison to Christ and the relationship you have with Him, with what He’s done for you and with what He’s given you, they don’t compare. That’s the greatest truth I know.

After reading this, I asked myself what do I love and live for the most?  Is it being a husband, father or grandfather?  Is it directing Kingdom Education Ministries?  All of these things are very good things but do I love and live for them more than I love and live for God?

 

Over my years in education I have seen administrators that seemed to live for the schools they led.  I have seen teachers who lived for the subjects they teach and coaches and sponsors who lived for the sport or activity they led.  It is easy to have these things control us.  I have learned that I can identify what I am loving the most and living for by seeing what I promote the most.  The Psalmist explains that what we praise or promote is what we love the most.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. Psalm 9:1 (NKJV)

As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior next Sunday, take time this week to ask yourself some questions.

  1. What do I talk about (promote/praise) the most?
  2. What works do I tell others about whenever I have the chance?
  3. What am I living for — my family, my ministry, etc.?
  4. What really controls my life and my ministry?

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.  Philippians 3:7-8 (NKJV)

A Lesson From Moses

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The Old Testament provides us with powerful truths that we must understand and grasp.  Today, there are some who believe that the Old Testament is outdated and Christianity can simply focus on the New Testament.  However, Paul explains that we can learn a lot and avoid making serious mistakes by carefully studying the accounts found in the Old Testament.

 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. 1 Corinthians 10:6-7 (NKJV)

The account of the people of Israel desiring to have a “god” of their own is familiar to most Christians.  When Moses was up on the mountain getting the law from God, the people got anxious when he didn’t return right away.  Instead of waiting on the Lord, they decided to take matters in their own hands.  The people pressured Aaron into making something that they could worship.  Aaron took gold from the people and made a golden calf that they could worship.

I find it amazing how Aaron tried to avoid taking any responsibility in making this false idol.  When Moses questioned him about what he had done, Aaron came up with one of the most unbelievable tales.  He tried to say that this idol just appeared out of thin air.

So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ and I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”  Exodus 32:22-24 (NKJV)

Aaron simply took the gold that the people gave him and threw it into the fire and miraculously out popped a golden calf.  Most of us are familiar with all of this but it is what took place after this that I want to focus on in this week’s post.  God was angry with the people and He told Moses what he needed to do.

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. Exodus 33:3 (NKJV)

God told Moses to go ahead and enter the Promised Land.  However, I am not going to go with you because if I do, I might destroy the people because of their idolatry.  It is at this point that Moses shows amazing wisdom.  Listen to what Moses said to the Lord.

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  Exodus 33:15 (NKJV)

Moses was actually saying to God that he would rather stay in the wilderness with God than be in the land of milk and honey without God.  Wow!  I wonder how many of us would have taken the stand that Moses took.  How many of us would have looked at the options and maybe made a list of pros and cons and decided let’s get out of this forsaken place and head to the Promised Land?

I believe that just about everyone reading this blog has a vision for the future.  Most of us have some goals we want to accomplish in the immediate and distant future.  We want to be successful in both our lives and our ministries.

  • Parents want their children to be successful and enjoy life.
  • Teachers want their lessons to be effective and bring about transformation in the lives of their students.
  • Administrators want to see their schools grow and accomplish more than what they are right now.
  • Coaches want to experience success and may even win a state championship.
  • Pastors want to see their churches grow and impact the community for Christ.
I could go on and list many more things you and I want to accomplish.  Maybe it would be good if you would make a list of your dreams for your life, your family, your ministry and your church.  Once you did this, what would you do if God were to say to you, “Go after your dreams and accomplish all your goals?  However, I won’t go with you so that I won’t consume you because of your idolatries.

Would you and I rather stay right where we are, even if it is in the wilderness, if it meant that God’s presence would not be with us?  Would you say to God,

  • don’t have one more student enroll in your school
  • don’t allow us to win one more game
  • don’t give us one more donor and/or gift to help fund the ministry
  • don’t let us grow in our ministry efforts to reach our community for Christ
  • don’t bless our family in any way

if you do not go with us?  This is difficult to try and comprehend but that is exactly what Moses said to God.  Moses knew that God’s presence was the most meaningful thing that one can experience in life.  Any other advances, victories and blessings that might come our way here on earth are completely meaningless if God is with us.  As we prepare to turn to God with our whole heart on April 23rd, let’s have the conviction shown by Moses.  God, don’t move us one step forward if You don’t go with us!