missions
Before You Use AI, Read Ecclesiastes
By Darin White at The Gospel Coalition
· June 4, 2026
· 9 min read
In April, a tech company called Just Like Me launched an AI-generated avatar of Jesus that people can talk to, pray with, and seek spiritual counsel from for $1.99 per minute. The avatar was trained on the King James Bible and modeled after Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus on The Chosen. T
Key takeaway The company's CEO told the Associated Press, "You do feel a little accountable to the AI.
Why this matters
The trend of young people seeking spiritual advice from AI raises concerns about the erosion of traditional sources of wisdom, such as pastoral guidance and scripture. The fact that four in ten Gen-Z and millennial adults consider AI-generated advice as trustworthy as that from a pastor suggests a shift in how this generation seeks wisdom. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in the context of Christian charity and ministry, where the role of technology in spiritual guidance is becoming increasingly prominent. The statistics highlighting the reliance on AI for decision-making, including life-or-death medical decisions, underscore the need for faith-based organizations to address the implications of outsourcing wisdom to machines. The biblical book of Ecclesiastes, with its exploration of the limits of human wisdom, offers a timely reminder of the importance of seeking wisdom from a relationship with God, rather than relying solely on technology or human ingenuity.
About this story
Original reporting by The Gospel Coalition . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit The Gospel Coalition . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 4, 2026 ·
Source: The Gospel Coalition ·
Reading time: 9 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering missions and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In April, a tech company called Just Like Me launched an AI-generated avatar of Jesus that people can talk to, pray with, and seek spiritual counsel from for $1.99 per minute. The avatar was trained on the King James Bible and modeled after Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus on The Chosen. T
When was this published? This article was first published on June 4, 2026 by The Gospel Coalition and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Darin White at The Gospel Coalition. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .