I was driving home from Home Depot yesterday, when a car in front of me slowed suddenly to turn into a driveway. Seeing that there was no oncoming traffic, I turned to go around that car. But my car has a computer linked to sensors all over the vehicle, and the computer decided that I was too close to the turning car in front of me, so it applied the brakes just as I was executing the turn. The computer, based on its limited inputs (speed & distance to the object in front of me) decided to slow down or stop the car. I, on the other hand, having more inputs, ( traffic before and behind, width of the roadway, time required to execute the turn) knew the turn was the correct and safe move to make. Plus I have sixty-three years of driving experience; while my car is only three years old.
Computer technology can be a remarkable servant; but it makes a terrible master. Devoid of human reason, emotion, morality, and spirituality, the computer takes limited inputs and programming (by humans!) and attempts to replicate what we do naturally by design. There’s a reason the big new thing is called artificial intelligence.
Yet, we tend to idolize our servant machines, thinking that they can make better decisions than we can; thinking (wishing?) that they finally will so improve our lives that all the bad stuff will go away. In his blog today, C. A. Post, an online friend, posted an article titled “The Dangers of Trans-Humanism”. (https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/31459941/posts/4693589860) This is presented as a new religion, that sees artificial intelligence as the god who will finally makes us better. It’s the latest in a long series of idols that we make in our own image because the thought of the real God scares us. So what is an idol?
Idol: an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
- a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered
Idolatry: the worship of idols.
- extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone
In the book of Hebrews, we’re given an account of the Israelites experience of God at Mt. Sinai:
Hebrews 12:18-21 (ESV) … a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
That’s what it is like to face God without a mediator; it’s terrifying.
So the Israelites made an idol of gold, a golden calf, and they worshipped it. It was a god who represented no threat to them, a passive image that they could control. We have been making idols like that forever. We do it because of Satan’s lie, “If you eat of this fruit, you will be like God.” Though we are made in God’s image, we are not God. We are his beloved creatures, made to worship Him and fellowship with Him, to live in a relationship with Him and other humans. It’s an astoundingly wonderful design. But since we broke that relationship with God, He Himself provided the mediator, one who could mend and reconcile us to the Creator.
Hebrews 12:22-24 (ESV) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood…
We do not need a super computer to make our lives perfect. In fact, since humans are the ones who build them, the computers will ultimately be imperfect, because everything we do on our own is tainted by sin.
No, what we need is a Savior, one who will fulfill to perfection what God intends for us, and who will then sacrifice Himself to cover our sins and restore a right relationship with God, our creator.
I like and use modern technology every day; it is a useful tool for living in this age. But it is not my master, and it cannot be my savior. My Master and Savior is Jesus.
Robert Frohlich 
I once noted that every solution humans come up with for any given problem only creates more problems.
Take for example, drugs to cure our diseases… until we find out that there are unintended consequences and they get pulled from the market only to show up in drug deals.
Then there is the auto. Nice invention, saves travel time… and at times has accounted for more deaths that any other source in our country.
Computers speed up our work… and leave users with bad eyes, carpal tunnel syndrome and addictions to games and porn.
EVERY human solution only creates different problems.
❤️&🙏, c.a.
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yes indeed. especially big pharma’s solutions…
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Well said, Robert! And C.A. Post!
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A great example you use with your car’s computer making the decision to apply the brakes… when experience (your knowledge of your skills and also the intuitive understanding of others and the situation) is the logical and best way. It seems society is easily drawn to the ideas of letting AI take over many things (and I do think it has great advantages), but it is best to take a step back and see if it really is the smart thing to do.
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Some are raising the alarm about AI and its potential to do more harm than good. I pray that wise and cautious individuals prevail, not the risk-taking gamblers unwilling to consider the dangers. Perhaps it won’t matter in the long run. Jesus could return any day!
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“Plus I have sixty-three years of driving experience; while my car is only three years old.” LOL! Great post, Robert! Blessings!
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Amen Robert! Like Cindy said, the fact that you have 60 years more experience than the computer in your car is a hoot!
Today’s world overwhelms me, as do the seventeen different directions I am being pulled in every day because of the technology that incessantly distracts me from what I set out to do initially. It’s been two hours since I started a letter to my stepdaughter, to put in a box with a couple of books I am sending her. And here I am, commenting on your blog post, when my reason for looking for you in the first place was to tell you I am enjoying your book 🙂
I love how you wrote it. You have inspired me to try again.
I submitted a couple of chapters of my own book to a friend to critique several months ago, and her response burst my bubble, so I stopped writing. again. Now, I’m just going to write my story. I’m not going to be try to be overly creative. The story is enough on its own. I don’t need to embellish, or be crafty. I just want it out there, to minister to others like me. Other women mostly, but men, too, who feel unworthy, unacceptable to our good good Father, like I once did. So, thank you for your inspiration. I’ll let you know when I finish the book. I read at night, while lying in bed, so don’t last long before my eyes want to close. Anyone else who wants to purchase Robert’s ebook, here’s the link. No paperback, just a Kindle read. https://a.co/d/5OQW2Dj
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Thank you for your comment. I want to encourage you to keep on until you’ve written your book. I’ve read your blogs and you certainly are able to tell a story. Your book need not conform to a bestseller standard, but if you write it the same way you blog, it will be compelling. When you’re done, get a good editor to help correct the technical things; spelling, grammar, and punctuation. My granddaughter edited my book (her degree is in professional writing). The edits did not change the story, they just cleaned up the errors to make the presentation more professional.
So keep on. But first finish the letter to your daughter. God bless.
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I finally started writing again! Just yesterday! 🙃 I have two days in a row under my belt, amidst renovations in my house that have opened more than one can of worms. I finished your book and loved your story, your transparency, and how you’ve served our Abba all these years. It’s so nice to be able to give back, to be a part of the body of Christ and fulfill your purpose, help others come to know and love our Creator and one another. I marvel at how He never stopped pursuing me. I am so grateful. I am also grateful for your encouragement. I will follow your lead with an uncluttered format and just keep writing! Blessings Robert. Peace in Christ
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