SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

Isaiah 33:15-16 states: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”

God is holy and just. He protects the righteous and punishes the wicked. As such, it is vital that the righteous abide by the well-known principle—“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”—“He that… speaketh uprightly… stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood… and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.”

God’s Judgement on the Unrighteous

Who will face God’s judgement and punishment? The hypocrites! Isaiah 33:15-16 is not addressing unbelievers but those who profess to know the living and true God, whether in Israel or the Church. Although they claim to believe in God and Christ, they lead double lives. Outwardly, they appear to be believers, but their hearts are not true to Him.

God will judge such hypocrisy. The mention of “everlasting burnings” is a clear reference to God’s all-consuming holiness and His unquenchable fire of judgement. Pseudo-believers will face eternal torment in the lake of fire, just as non-believers will.

The Characteristics of the Righteous

Only the righteous, who are justified by faith can dwell with God in heaven, and those who are justified by faith will show these characteristics:

1. They walk uprightly and lovingly. They walk their talk. As James said, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (Jas 2:26). They love God by obeying His commandments. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15).
2. They speak honestly and truthfully. They guard their lips, speaking truth and not lies. Their speech is free from slander, falsehood, and corruption. The Bible warns that the tongue reflects the heart (Matt 12:34), and those who walk with God guard their speech: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph 4:29).
3. They despise unjust promotion and exploitation. They refuse to profit from oppression or corruption. “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10), and those who seek dishonest gain will not stand before God. “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” (Prov 11:1). “Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.” (Lev 19:13).
4. They stop their ears from hearing falsehood and false accusations. They do not take pleasure in nor participate in violence or injustice. This includes avoiding gossip, slander, and evil reports that promote harm against others. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Prov 6:16-19).
5. They shut their eyes from seeing evil. They guard their eyes from wickedness, refusing to entertain sin through what they watch. This aligns with Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.”

The Reward of the Righteous

Those who practise righteousness will receive divine protection and provision:

1. They are guaranteed protection. God will place them in a secure position, away from the reach of their enemies. He Himself will be their rock, fortress, and high tower: “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Ps 18:2).
2. They are guaranteed provision. God will provide for all their physical and spiritual needs, even in the face of opposition. The righteous can confidently say, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Ps 118:6).

A Call to Righteous Living

We live in a world filled with wickedness, and such wickedness can also be found within the Church. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4).

In a world filled with sin, may we be those who reject evil in thought, word, and deed so that we may dwell securely in the presence of our holy God. JK

CAN AI REPLACE THE PASTOR?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a widely discussed topic in recent years. As its capabilities advance, debates surrounding its potential impact on society intensify. While some embrace AI with enthusiasm, others express concern over its implications. One major issue is whether AI can replace human roles—particularly in professions such as medicine, law, education, and even the clergy. Can AI truly take over these responsibilities?

This question leads us to a deeper inquiry: Can AI replace spiritual matters? Can it supplant the Word of God, the preacher, or Christianity itself?

At the outset, it must be made clear: AI can never replace God. Though it may attempt to encroach upon Christian teachings and pastoral duties, it will ultimately fail. There are specific reasons for this, which we will explore.

The Pastoral Role

In 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Paul provides instructions regarding the pastoral ministry, employing a poetic structure with parallelism—where key concepts are reinforced across verses. Three key verses highlight the role of a pastor:

• Verse 11: “These things command and teach.” A pastor is responsible for both instructing and upholding the truth.
• Verse 13: “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” The pastor must publicly read Scripture, preach, and teach doctrine.
• Verse 15: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.” A pastor must exemplify a godly life, living out the truths he proclaims.

Alongside these duties, a pastor must maintain his personal spiritual well-being:

• Verse 12: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example…” He must demonstrate godly character.
• Verse 14: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…” He must remain mindful of his divine calling.
• Verse 16: “Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them…” He must continually grow in faith, knowledge, and wisdom.

A key question arises: Can a machine replace a man? Can technology replace the spiritual? Can AI take over the pastoral ministry?

Authority in the Pulpit

Verse 11 highlights the authoritative nature of the pastoral ministry. This authority is not derived from the pastor himself but from the Lord and His Word. The pulpit ministry must be rooted in divine truth—truth that must be preached, believed, obeyed, and defended.

A faithful pulpit does more than teach; it warns. As verse 1 states, “The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.” Today, many are turning away from sound doctrine, seduced by false teachings and deceitful spirits.

In the digital age, these dangers are magnified. The internet and social media are rife with misinformation and heresies. This underscores the need for the pulpit ministry to remain steadfast in proclaiming the infallible and inerrant Word of God.

The Ministry of the Word

Paul instructs Timothy in verse 13 to “give attendance to reading.” Public reading of Scripture is an essential part of worship. This is why congregations engage in responsive readings. The Word must be read with reverence and attentiveness.

Additionally, pastors must exhort—preaching and providing godly counsel. The pulpit ministry is also a counselling ministry. While AI may analyse data and provide automated responses, it lacks spiritual discernment. Unlike AI, the Holy Spirit convicts, corrects, and instructs hearts individually. AI cannot shepherd a congregation with love, empathy, and wisdom.

The Spiritual Nature of Ministry

AI operates on algorithms and data, but the pastoral ministry is deeply relational and spiritual. A pastor, being Spirit-filled, can discern spiritual matters, whereas AI cannot.

Furthermore, AI cannot endure suffering or grow through trials, as human pastors do. The experiences of trials and perseverance in faith refine a pastor’s ability to minister effectively. AI lacks this capacity.

The Danger of AI in Religious Matters

AI is artificial; it lacks faith, convictions, and spiritual discernment. Can AI distinguish between truth and deception? It cannot. AI processes information based on programming—if the source is corrupt, so will be the output.

For example, in Acts 16:16-18, a demon-possessed girl spoke true words: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” Yet Paul was deeply troubled by this and promptly cast out the evil spirit from the girl and preventing the evil spirit from sowing confusion and causing more harm to the people. Can AI recognise such deception? AI would not recognise such spiritual deception; only a biblically sound and Spirit-led pastor can.

Furthermore, AI has been used to fabricate religious concepts. When asked if it could create a new religion, AI responded affirmatively, constructing doctrines and principles. This demonstrates its potential for deception.

Conclusion

Can AI replace a pastor? Only if a congregation desires a mechanical substitute for spiritual leadership. But that would be meaningless. AI cannot build genuine relationships, empathize with the suffering, or provide spiritual guidance. The pastoral role requires a living, breathing, Spirit-filled servant of God—one who can minister effectively to souls.

The Bible affirms that God ordains human pastors—not machines—to shepherd His people. Spiritual matters require spiritual discernment, which AI can never possess.

Ultimately, the pastoral ministry is not about mere information transfer but about transformation through the Spirit. AI, no matter how advanced, can never replicate the work of a God-called pastor. JK