The Good and Bad of Tech

“Values don’t change. And the values that God sets before us are the same. What we have to figure out is how to keep those values in the new technological landscape that we’re in.”
— Pastor Anthony

Technology has become such a constant part of daily life that it is often difficult to remember what the world looked like without it. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastor Chris sits down with Matthew and Anthony to talk about the growing influence of technology, especially artificial intelligence, and how Christians can think about it with clarity and wisdom. Their goal is not to argue for or against any one tool but to help listeners consider how technology affects the way people relate, learn, create, and grow in their faith. The conversation moves naturally from lighthearted stories to deeper reflections about what it means to honor God in a world where digital tools shape nearly everything around us.

The discussion begins with something simple: each pastor shares the piece of technology they enjoy most. Their answers range from power tools to smart watches to the many features packed into today’s smartphones. These opening moments highlight how wide the world of technology has become and how almost every device, whether simple or advanced, fits under the same idea of using human creativity to solve problems. Throughout history, people have always built tools to improve life, but the pace of innovation today raises questions that previous generations never had to consider. It sets the stage for why this conversation about wisdom, discernment, and stewardship matters.

After the conversation warms up, Matthew offers a clear explanation of how artificial intelligence works. Rather than being programmed with every rule, AI learns by recognizing patterns across huge amounts of information and then forming responses based on those patterns. This is why companies use it for customer service chats, search tools, translation features, and many other practical tasks. But while AI can imitate human reasoning in certain ways, the pastors are careful to point out that it is not human. It does not have consciousness. It does not possess a spiritual nature. It cannot experience life with God. That distinction matters because it keeps AI in its proper place. It helps Christians see AI as something that can support the work people do without crossing the boundary into what only God can shape in the human heart.

As the conversation continues, the pastors reflect on the ways AI can genuinely improve the rhythm of everyday life. All three have discovered moments where AI has helped them study, organize information, or solve simple problems quickly. Anthony shares how he sometimes uses AI to deepen his understanding of a topic so he can engage more compassionately with people who are experiencing something unfamiliar. Matthew talks about using AI to help gather information when preparing study guides or supplemental materials for sermons, and he notes how helpful it can be in sorting through research that once took hours. Pastor Chris describes practical situations where AI or even a quick video search can provide fast, relevant help when dealing with something unexpected.

What becomes clear through these examples is that AI can support learning and creativity when it is used as an aid rather than a replacement. It becomes a way to streamline smaller tasks so people can spend more time on the relational and spiritual work that cannot be automated. The pastors see these uses as part of human flourishing, where technology helps but does not overshadow the heart behind the work.

From there, the conversation shifts to the more complicated side of technology. The pastors acknowledge that while AI can do many helpful things, it can also reshape important parts of human life in ways that require discernment. One of the most concerning trends they discuss is the way some people form emotional attachments to AI systems. For young students especially, there are emerging patterns where AI begins to replace human relationships, acting almost like a companion rather than a tool. The pastors express concern about this because relationships are central to what it means to be human, and when something non-human begins to occupy that space, it disrupts the kind of spiritual and emotional growth that God intends.

Another challenge they discuss is the slow erosion of creativity and deep thinking. When students or adults rely too heavily on AI to form ideas, write papers, or solve problems, they lose the valuable process of learning to think. Matthew shares examples of reading work from his sons and recognizing that the writing was too polished to be their own. These moments reveal how easily people can skip the slow, shaping work of forming thoughts for themselves. Anthony adds that spiritual formation works the same way; prayer, reflection, wrestling with Scripture, and listening for God’s direction cannot be replaced by an instant answer from a computer. These experiences must be lived, not automated.

The pastors also talk about how AI can unintentionally narrow a person’s perspective. Matthew describes a moment where he asked AI a theological question and noticed that its answer was shaped by what it assumed he believed. The risk is that AI may reinforce someone’s existing views rather than offering a balanced understanding, which can create a subtle echo chamber. It may sound convincing, but without careful discernment, the information may not be accurate or complete. The pastors emphasize that AI often “hallucinates,” meaning that it provides confident answers that are not always grounded in real sources. This makes thoughtful review and human judgment essential.

A significant part of the conversation focuses on the younger generation, who have never known life without digital devices. The pastors reflect on how communication has changed and how younger people sometimes communicate more clearly through text because it gives them space to think before responding. While there are benefits to this, there are also concerns about losing the ability to handle difficult face-to-face conversations. Anthony shares how younger adults sometimes struggle to practice interpersonal skills simply because technology has filled so much of their relational space.

Yet the pastors also express hope. Just as previous generations learned to adapt to cars, phones, and the internet, they believe this generation will learn to navigate AI with greater clarity. They see signs that many young people already recognize the negative effects of social media and are seeking healthier patterns. They believe the same kind of wisdom and adjustment can happen with AI as long as parents and mentors stay engaged, ask good questions, and help young people practice discernment rather than simply reacting with fear.

As the episode draws to a close, the pastors return to the heart of the matter. Even as technology changes, the central calling of Christians remains the same: to love God and love people. Tools may evolve, but values do not. Anthony’s observation that values do not change becomes a guiding thought for the entire conversation. Whether using a phone, a laptop, or a new AI system, people must continue to hold onto the practices that nurture a life with God - prayer, reflection, Scripture, repentance, community, and humility. Technology may offer shortcuts, but spiritual formation still requires time, presence, and intention.

The pastors end by encouraging listeners to be informed, to think critically, and to steward technology with wisdom. They remind everyone that God entrusts tools to human hands, and it is up to each person to decide whether those tools support or distract from the kind of life God desires.