This is a co-authored presentation with Christopher Jaus (a research PhD student at Liberty).
With the rise of the internet and other technological innovations, the world has witnessed a rise in “on-line communities.” Technological advances (including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence—i.e., AI) create a problem and an opportunity for the 21st century church. How can the global church find a way forward and remain both biblical and innovative? To address this question, this presentation will consider Paul’s view of the church as an embodied (instead of electronic) reality. Christian community will be defined from Paul’s letters (specifically but not limited to Romans and 1 Corinthians). Taking cues from these letters, a contrast will be built between on-line Christian communities and Paul’s vision of the church as Christ embodied in life and action. The importance of physical contact, regular interaction, and actual (not primarily virtual) community describes the church as seen through Paul’s eyes. But what then of innovation? Is technological advance to be ignored? Paul wrote letters to churches, and in doing so he acted in an innovative manner to use the technology of his day to help build community. Without discounting the need for physical community, Paul uses letters as a substitute for his own physical presence and offers a pattern of innovation for the 21st century church to follow. What would that look like? This presentation seeks to explore the implications of the integration of technological advancements (including AI and others) into the life of the church, arguing that while AI possesses considerable utility in various domains, the biblical dynamics of human interaction within the body of Christ remain intact. The analysis extends to the broader cultural implications of technological reliance, particularly the fragmentation of human relationships in favor of digital substitutes, and how such trends contrast with the Paul’s vision for the Christian community. This presentation advocates for a balanced perspective that honors Paul’s vision of an embodied community as essential to the church’s identity and mission in the world.