AI pictures and Jesus

Have you seen the pictures that you can make by typing in random phrases and then aregenerated by artificial intelligence (AI)? Phrases such as, “cats in outer space, eating tacos.” Or“a bunny riding a bike in Time Square.” These phrases are taken and generated into pictures that are funny but look so realistic! If you don’t believe me, google it right now. These images arecreated from people thinking of the most random things and typing them into an AI system that creates them. It is truly fascinating and terrifying!
Now that you have searched them and have seen how ridiculous they are, what terrifiesme the most is that we seem to do the same thing with Jesus. We take ideas, concepts and thingsthat we like and can impose those things on him, thus creating an AI Jesus. Or maybe I shouldsay an AM (artificially made) Jesus. A Jesus that fits what we like, who we vote for, what westand for, and how we think we should live, instead of opening the revealed Word of God andseeing Jesus for who he truly is.
Instead of having a Jesus that says, “Love your enemies and prayfor those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44) we have a Jesus that says don’t welcomeimmigrants and pray only for your blessings. Don’t read that last statement on immigrants as apolitical statement. Read it as a statement on how we should care for others.
Instead of having aJesus that says, “If anyone comes after me, let them deny themselves, pick up their cross dailyand follow me,” we have made a Jesus that says do whatever you want, do whatever feels right,and make sure all of your pleasures are satisfied, no matter what the cost.
Of course I could keep going on with examples, but you understand my point. There hasbeen a creation of who Jesus is in our culture, in some churches, and in many believers to createa Jesus that is okay with what we want. We are just like Adam and Eve, taking a bite out of thefruit of the knowledge of good and evil, thinking we know better than God.
But look where thatgot them.
So what is the remedy to fix this? If you are reading this and realize that you have formedGod into your image rather than being formed in the image of God, I have good news for you.There is a way to change this and see God the way he is. There is a way to stop putting in yourmind an AI Jesus that meets only your needs. And the remedy is the same as it was back in thebook of Acts, Chapter 2. You need to repent (or turn away (since I know that can be a scary word)from the wrong thinking. Confess to Jesus that you have been worshiping a false god that you created and then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is revealed in scripture. Start reading the Bible in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John and start seeing this true Jesus who has been revealed to us through the kindness of God.
May God give us the grace to not make God in our image but to continually know himand be formed more in His image.