The One Good Thing About ChatGPT Twisting The Bible

A lot of Christians are reacting again.This time, because some folks are using ChatGPT to rewrite the Bible.

Now, of course, that’s not a good thing… However, I’m encouraged. Let me explain why.

Oscar Wilde, who wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”

Most of us have heard that quote, and maybe even uttered it. However, that is not the complete quote. Mr. Wilde’s full statement is a bit more— shall we say, descriptive.  But I will circle back to that in a few moments.

First, let me say, that if Oscar Wilde was right, then Christians should feel very flattered.

ChatGPT recently penned a “trans-affirming” Bible passage. Here are some excerpts:

“My child, blessed are those who strive for unity within themselves….” Jesus never talked about “unity within yourself.” He talked about “unity” within his church.     

“Be not afraid for in the kingdom of God, there is no man nor woman….” Either that means I’m not in the Kingdom of God, or that I’m not a man. But the Bible actually says there is both male and female, and that followers of Christ are in God’s Kingdom.

“The gates of my Father’s kingdom will open for those who love and are loved, for God looks not upon the body, but the heart.” That sounds soooo appealing, doesn’t it? God looks on the heart. God will judge you based on your GOOD INTENTIONS; but Jesus never said that.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through ME.” If we want to get into the Father’s Kingdom, we must do more than just love. We must love Jesus.

The guy who posted it on Reddit wrote: “I was feeling sad today so I asked chatgpt to write a fake biblical passage about Jesus accepting trans people.” “I know it’s not real but it gave me some comfort.”

A FAKE, imitation Bible passage gave him comfort? Wow!

Likewise, PETA used ChatGPT to give the Book of Genesis a “vegan makeover,” with its cruelty-free version. PETA President, Ingrid Newkirk said, “The Bible has long been used to justify all forms of oppression, so we’ve used ChatGPT to make it clear that a loving God would never endorse exploitation of, or cruelty to animals.”

In the PETA version of Genesis chapter 21, when Issac is born, Abraham and Sarah also adopt a dog named “Herbie.” Not a dog named Moses or Solomon, or Goliath. But a dog named “Herbie.” That’s a horrible Jewish name!  

Imagine Abraham and Sarah going: “Herbie, come eat your Matzoh Ball.” I don’t think so.

PETA is hoping their FAKE, imitation Bible will appeal to Gen Z’ers.

Now, let me return to Oscar Wilde’s quote. I left off the last half, which most people have probably never heard:

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

My point is, the Bible, whether you agree with it or not, is still regarded as the greatest moral teachings and explanation of who God is the world has ever known.

It is the gold standard.

It is the Mona Lisa.

It is Mount Everest.

Everything else is a mediocre imitation. A fake.

From the beginning the Bible has been copied, imitated and twisted.

Remember the passage in Matthew chapter 4 about Satan tempting Jesus by twisting the scripture.

Or what about Arianism, Gnoticism, Universalism, Mormonism and now ChatGPTism.

Christians should feel very FLATTERED.

However, if Oscar Wilde was right, Christians should also feel very REASSURED. As long as people continue to try to imitate the Bible, we can reasonably conclude that it is still the gold standard.

No one is trying to imitate the Koran.

No one is trying to imitate the Book of Mormon.

No one is trying to imitate the Bhagavata.

They are still trying to imitate the Bible. After 2000 years, the Bible still reigns supreme.

A lot of people may not like the Bible, but they can’t ignore it. Almost everyone has a heartfelt opinion about the Bible.

Why, because it is still the greatest story ever told. It is God’s story. It is the story of God reaching down to his creation. There has never been a greater story. And there never will be.

So the next time ChatGPT comes up with another FAKE imitation of the Bible, feel reassured that the Bible is still King. They imitate it because they can’t do better.

If the Bible wasn’t the gold standard:

• they wouldn’t try to imitate it.
• they wouldn’t try to fake it.
• they wouldn’t try to censor it.
• they wouldn’t try to ban it.
• they wouldn’t try to burn it.
• they wouldn’t try to CANCEL it.
• they wouldn’t try to ChatGPT it.

The day we should become seriously concerned, is when they IGNORE it.  As long as the secular culture continues REACTING to the Bible, and trying to IMITATE it, there is still HOPE.

So, you see, this is not a PROBLEM. This is an OPPORTUNITY.

The next time a co-worker quotes a fake ChatGPT Bible passage, just respond: “You know, if what you said is true, that changes everything.” 

• Can you tell me more? 
• Why do you believe that? 
• On a scale of 1-10 how deeply do you believe that? 

If they say anything other than a 10….

Then ask:

•    “Have you ever read the Bible?”
•    “Do you know what the Bible says about this issue?”
•    “Would you be interested in learning more?”
•    “What’s your biggest question about the Bible?”

Now you are having the right conversation.

If you use a warm voice, these responses invite a person into a conversation about what the Bible DOES say.

That’s an OPPORTUNITY!

If they respond, “NO,” that’s their choice. You gave them an opportunity.

All you and I can do is open the door. We can’t force them to walk through. You can’t convince a person against their will. Don’t badger them. Just leave the door open.

Our job is not to CREATE good soil. Our job is to FIND good soil. And then TILL it.

I’ve actually had people come back months later and re-engage the conversation with me when THEY were ready to talk.

If I had been judgmental or pushy, that would have never happened.

The goal is to invite people into the most important conversation of their life, not to immediately point out where they are wrong. Don’t let the GOOD be the enemy of the BEST. Seek to have the most important conversation, Not just a conversation about symptoms.

You are not the authority.

Neither am I.

God is the authority.

So get your finger out of the air, and start pointing people back to God’s Word.

Of course, if you don’t know what the Bible says, you can’t easily have those conversations.

For you, the place to start is by committing to read your Bible every day.

Start with 5 minutes a day, but develop the HABIT of reading your Bible daily. Over time you can push that to 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes.

For those of you who read your Bible on a regular basis, I would encourage you to join a Bible study like Bible Study Fellowship or Precepts.

They require you to do some reading and study at home in order to prepare each week, but they do a great job of helping you understand God’s Word.

Of course, if you are not a part of a local church that teaches the scriptures, then that really is the first step.

In Matthew 13, Jesus asked us to focus on growing the wheat, not pull up tares (weeds). Instead of telling pagans, “Stop it!” all the time, we need to INVITE them into spiritual conversations. We need to change the conversation to:

   Who is God and why does it matter on this issue?

The Apostle Paul never told pagans to change their behavior. He always told them to change their God.

That’s why I never say:

• abortion is wrong,
• or same sex marriage is wrong,
• or racism is wrong.

What I say is; there is nothing wrong with:

• abortion,
• same-sex-marriage,
• or racism,

unless God actually exists.

You can’t start with “survival of the fittest” and reasonably conclude that abortion, same-sex-marriage and racism are wrong.

Survival of the fittest means:

   The GREATEST GOOD is that the strong survive and the weak die. That is what drives Evolution forward.

God’s existence and nature is the critical issue. If God does not exist, then the Greatest Good is: the strong survive and the weak die.

God’s existence and nature changes everything.

So, if you are concerned about ChatGPT twisting scriptures, start viewing it as an opportunity to engage the people around you in spiritual conversations about what the Bible DOES say.

Not by LECTURING them with your finger in the air, but by graciously offering them something better.

However, unlike the federal government, you can’t give away what you don’t own. So, make sure you are daily and weekly, equipping yourself to have those spiritual conversations, by being in God’s Word.

God is the issue—in every issue. So, let’s use ChatGPt to go out and MAKE him the issue.

As always, Like & Subscribe if you have found this podcast helpful.