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The ChurchWiseAI Blog

Practical guides, ministry insights, and AI tips for modern churches.

Church Technology

The AI That Drove on Mars (And What It Means for the Doctrine of Dominion)

An AI just drove on Mars. Anthropic's Claude planned a 450-meter route for NASA's Perseverance rover — the first AI-planned drive on another planet. The internet moved on in 36 hours. But Genesis 1:28 has something to say about a species that builds tools to explore other worlds.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·5 min
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Church Technology

Just the Facts, Ma'am: The AI Fact Sheet Your Church Needs in 2026

What is AI, really? How much energy does it use? Who builds it, who profits, and who gets left behind? A no-spin, all-sources fact sheet organized as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly — because your church deserves facts, not fear.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·10 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

Hollywood's AI Prophecy Problem: Why Entertainment Can't Imagine a Tool That's Just... a Tool

Hollywood has spent sixty years telling exactly one story about AI: it will turn evil and kill us. From Companion to Severance, how entertainment shapes public fear — and why the church needs a better narrative about technology.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·8 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

When the AI Went Rogue on Prime Time: Faith, Fear, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

Two of America's biggest TV dramas — The Pitt and 9-1-1 — tackled AI this season, and both chose fear over nuance. What does prime-time anxiety about artificial intelligence reveal about us, and what story should the church be telling instead?

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·7 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

Chariots of Data: When Technology Becomes an Idol

The Egyptian army had chariots. Lots of them. Six hundred of Pharaoh's best, thundering toward freed slaves trapped against the sea. If you're betting on outcomes, you bet on the chariots. You know how the story ends. Every era has its chariots — for us, it's data, algorithms, and AI. The promise is seductive. It's also a very old promise wearing very new clothes.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·5 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

Power, Pixels, and Providence: A Christian Response to AI in the Age of Palantir

The recent DealBook interview with Palantir CEO Alex Karp offers Christians a window into how the world's most powerful technology leaders think about artificial intelligence, national security, and human values. As believers called to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," we must thoughtfully engage with these developments—without falling into the traps of either nationalism or naivety.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·8 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Healing Algorithms: How AI is Fulfilling the Mandate to 'Heal the Sick'

While drones change the face of war, deep-learning algorithms are quietly changing the face of mercy. From the "Lazarus Protocol" helping the paralyzed walk to AI discovering new antibiotics, we explore how artificial intelligence is fulfilling the ancient mandate to heal the sick.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·7 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Silicon Deterrent: Did the 'Donbas Algorithm' Just End War or End Humanity?

The world is still reeling from November 28, 2025—a date marking the dividing line between the old world and the new. When an algorithm became the ultimate arbiter of life and death, erasing 18,000 combatants in a single night, we must ask: Has AI ended war, or has it ended our humanity?

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·8 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Soul in the Machine: Navigating Faith, Human Uniqueness, and the Rise of AI

When an AI-led church service delivered sermons in Germany, it sparked a profound question: what remains of our distinct spiritual essence when machines can mimic human creativity and offer spiritual counsel?

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·7 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

Our AI Sidekick: Embracing the Brilliant (and Bumbling) Robot in the Pews

AI is like that wonderfully enthusiastic intern who can translate ancient texts and organize your files—but might also accidentally attribute a Taylor Swift quote to St. Augustine with absolute confidence.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·5 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Erosion of Trust: AI, Misinformation, and the Sacred Duty of Discernment

When AI generates plausible falsehoods with 81% of responses containing errors, faith communities face a profound challenge: how do we guard truth and discernment in an age of digital deception?

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·6 min
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Global Church

AI and the European Church: Wrestling with Post-Christian Technology

June 2023: 300 people packed St. Paul's Church for an AI-led worship service—"98% from a machine." Jonas Simmerlein's experiment sparked continental conversation. From Vatican ethics frameworks to Orthodox mysticism, Eastern European surveillance memory to British monastic innovation—European Christianity brings 2,000 years of wisdom to 3-year-old technology.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·15 min
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Global Church

AI and the Asian Church: Ancient Wisdom Meets Cutting-Edge Technology

Christianity in Asia faces AI's most complex intersection—surveillance states tracking believers, Korean missionaries using tech globally, Indian churches navigating Vatican guidance, Japanese Christians as tech minorities. Ancient contemplative wisdom meets bleeding-edge AI research. The result? Perspectives the global Church desperately needs.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·14 min
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Global Church

AI and the African Church: Ubuntu, Community, and the Digital Future

While Silicon Valley races toward AI superintelligence, African Christianity offers profound wisdom: ubuntu, spiritual sensitivity, and relational foundations. Fr. Dyikuk's challenge—"Africa battles survival while the world does AI"—reveals both infrastructure gaps and unique insights the global Church desperately needs.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·14 min
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Church Technology

The Dangers We Must Not Ignore: Church Leaders Sound the Alarm on AI

While 91% of church leaders support AI, prophetic voices issue urgent warnings: loss of humanity, algorithmic manipulation, pastoral replacement, and truth crises. Not fear-mongering—wisdom for navigating AI's genuine risks without abandoning its potential.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·15 min
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Bible Study Tools

The Image of God in an Age of Algorithms: Theological Reflections on AI

As AI writes poetry, composes music, and produces sermons, the ancient question "What does it mean to be human?" returns with new urgency. The Church—custodian of imago Dei—must articulate a robust theology of humanity that transcends data and algorithms.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·13 min
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Ministry Tools & Applications

AI Tools for Ministry: A Practical Guide for Church Leaders

From sermon preparation to global evangelism, 61% of church leaders now use AI tools daily or weekly. This isn't about replacing the Holy Spirit—it's about stewarding time wisely to focus on what truly matters: relationships, pastoral care, and pointing people to Jesus.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·12 min
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Church Technology

The AI Awakening: How the Church is Embracing Technology to Reach a Digital Generation

In just two years, Christian leaders' adoption of AI surged from 43% discomfort to 90% support. This quiet revolution—powered by algorithms—is transforming ministry. But with great potential comes profound questions about humanity, theology, and the irreplaceable human element of Gospel work.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·13 min
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Sermon Preparation

How to Write Better Sermons with AI (While Keeping the Holy Spirit Central)

Learn how AI can enhance your sermon preparation without replacing the spiritual discernment and divine inspiration at the heart of preaching. Practical strategies for pastors.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·12 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

Christian Ethics and AI: A Theological Framework

Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and Christian theology. Understand the ethical implications, biblical perspectives, and practical guidelines for faithful AI adoption in ministry.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·18 min
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Ministry Tools & Applications

The Small Church AI Budget Guide: Ministry Technology That Won't Break the Bank

Discover how small churches can harness the power of AI without breaking the bank. Learn about free tools, budget-friendly solutions, and strategic implementation approaches that maximize impact while minimizing cost.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·12 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Digital Ordination Scandal: Why Catholic Answers "Defrocked" Their AI Priest

Catholic Answers launched "Father Justin," an AI priest who claimed ordination and offered absolution. Within days, theological backlash forced them to "defrock" their digital cleric. What went wrong?

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·12 min
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Ministry Tools & Applications

How Churches Are Using AI for Evangelism: 7 Innovative Approaches That Work

From personalized outreach to multilingual ministry, discover how forward-thinking churches are leveraging AI to reach more people with the Gospel while maintaining authentic relationships and theological integrity.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·16 min
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Ministry Tools & Applications

The Complete Guide to AI for Churches in 2026

Discover how artificial intelligence can transform your ministry while maintaining theological integrity. Learn about tools, implementation strategies, and best practices for churches of all sizes.

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·15 min
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AI Ethics & Theology

The Deus in Machina Experiment

A Swiss church\

Rev. John Moelker
Moelker·14 min
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Transform Your Church's Communication with AI

AI voice agents and chatbots built specifically for churches — answer every call, engage every visitor.

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