As AI becomes a towering influence in our society, we explore its implications in spiritual and social contexts. Could the technology we rely on daily become the tool that fosters a new kind of cognitive warfare? The scriptures encourage believers to test the spirits and exercise critical discernment, a skill more crucial than ever. This episode challenges listeners to engage with these technologies thoughtfully, ensuring that digital advancements enhance human endeavors rather than replacing core spiritual truths.
The Crawford Stand, with the president of Crawford Broadcasting Company, Don Crawford.
SPEAKER 02 :
There are any number of references to the Antichrist in Scripture. I’m sure you know that. I hope you do. And especially the New Testament, and most especially in the book of Revelation. The end times in Revelation are vividly portrayed, factually colorful, most urgently. The now factor exists big time when it comes to Scripture prophecies these days, don’t you think? And the coming of the Antichrist is one of the most important. And that coming signals the end of the age, the end. I don’t know about you, but I can’t comprehend that. I leave that to the Lord. And now comes the theory and the warning that the Antichrist may not arrive as an obvious tyrant. but one who promises global safety from catastrophic risk and consolidates worldwide power as these promises are made. Boy, that’s different, don’t you think? Do you think that might be accurate? And while promising the world that he will end wars, this Antichrist, and deal aggressively with plagues and disease, stomp out poverty, and more, He convinces the world that he is acting for the good of humankind, when in fact, says Scripture, he, the Antichrist, is evil incarnate. Evil incarnate. The representative of Satan himself. The Antichrist, say these digital disciples, will not engage in typical mental warfare and persuasion. but will wage what they call cognitive warfare. Cognitive warfare. This new psychological battle will be waged through the existing systems and platforms that millions consult daily for news, guidance, emotional support, and moral reasoning. Perhaps that includes you. I’m sure you consult these platforms as well. This so-called digital antichrist will use these existing platforms to manipulate perception, distort truth, and influence populations at scale in our very own homes, and especially on the devices now used by our children. That’s a bit scary, don’t you think? The weapons, among others, will be deep fakes, synthetic media, and algorithmic manipulation. Boy, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? The new battlefield of the digital Antichrist will be the hearts and the minds of human beings. We are told in Scripture by our Lord that in the last days, the end times, evil deception would intensify. So much so, and so expertly done, that it would even lead astray the very elect themselves, the very strongest of Christians. Boy, I hope you’re not misled. and me as well. And that would happen partially because we the Christians do not, as the Scripture admonishes us to do, test the spirits, test the spirits to see whether they are from God. The Scriptures demand we who believe must exercise the most critical discernment as we mentally digest the new information provided by the Antichrist in this new cognitive warfare. The question is whether or not we the believers and our church of our Lord Jesus Christ are in fact exercising that discernment, that discretion, that testing. Are we aware? Are we concerned? Are we resisting? And are we staying in the truth now more than ever? Are we? Are you? Boy, I hope you are. And with these new digital weapons, it is easier than ever to manipulate and distort and change the truth, especially the moral trust of Christianity and Scripture. The younger generation can indeed be more seriously influenced. Scripture makes it clear that in addition to the role of the real church, with its moral instruction and definitions of right and wrong and biblical truth, That biblical truth is the responsibility of the parents of the children. If you are a parent, you have an added obligation now more than ever in this digital age. And that obligation is to train up your child in the way in which he or she should go, cultivating the discernment of right and wrong. So, says the scripture, teach your children diligently talk to them educate them listen to them you cannot delegate that responsibility to a platform or to an algorithm and especially artificial intelligence you matter parent you really matter now more than ever step up step up diversity was the obvious intention of the creator of our universe It exists in so many ways, and especially between peoples. The difference in language, culture, color, and lifestyle were what God intended. But the Antichrist would use these incredible digital means to make one world, one people, and most importantly, one belief system, like the intentions of the old Tower of Babel. and with that exercise extreme power, ultimate power, and control over all humankind. In Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel had a similar objective to produce a humanity united by common language and technological ambition, attempting to create a self-sufficiency which would have no need of or reference to God. Boy, that’s scary, isn’t it? I hope you don’t let that happen. Be on the watch. Discern. Make sure you step up and defend biblical truth now more than ever. The technology companies of today have very much the same goals and ambitions. America must compete and, in fact, must have the objective of leading the research and the development of AI. Why? Why do we have to do so much for AI when there is so much human need we should be paying attention to and problem solving? If that leadership is co-opted by China, so these so-called experts say, or any other nation, the outcome can have incredibly serious existential results, disastrous to America and Christianity. Maybe, but maybe not. For example, China’s AI ecosystem is designed for social control at scale. We can never let that happen in America, or for that matter, we should resist it in the world at large. But, sad to say in some ways, AI is here to stay and will continue to develop, grow, and become more powerful. But it must be kept as a tool to be used by mankind and never to become dominant. That’s the problem. AI can be useful in some cases. That is for certain. But it must only be a tool of humanity and not replace it. So there comes now a public reckoning of major change. And with that, there must be an even larger public awakening. The alarm must be sounded by pastors, and by parents, and by policymakers, and by people of faith, real faith, and in the know, and fully recognize the new enemy in the new cognitive warfare in these end times. Christians must understand the incredible power of AI and its potential and usage for good or evil, for the truth or for the lie. God has not given us a spirit of fear. We should not be afraid of AI or anything else in this world for that matter. But our God has given us the spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. And it is that God-given sound mind which you and I possess, which we must use now with the greatest possible discernment more than ever. to discern the signs of the times. Are these the end times? Are they? We must heed now more than ever the admonition of the Apostle Paul, who told us as believers, we should see to it, said Paul, we should see to it that no one takes us captive through philosophy and empty deception. Those two tools can be used for good or for bad but in order to seriously affect or even replace much of humanity ai does not need to introduce a new theology it simply needs to influence and distort and reinterpret age-old beliefs and especially your beliefs in christianity and jesus christ it wins you lose, and evil triumphs gradually, but eventually thoroughly, and eventually permanently. Permanently. There is for we who believe but one truth, and that is embodied in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the carpenter of Nazareth, who said to us, to man and woman, these words, I, Jesus, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. I am those three things, the way, the truth, and the life. I don’t see AI or even imply AI in any of that, do you? But AI would seek to corrupt that truth and that wisdom and that love of and superiority of Jesus Christ unless you and I step up and do not let that happen. Don’t let it happen, my fellow Christians. Watch AI carefully. Watch what happens. Understand the times. Discern the times. Judge and evaluate AI and keep this tool in its place. Never let a machine replace the love of the man who died for you and me at Calvary. Never.
SPEAKER 01 :
So what do you think about AI? Tell Mr. Crawford in your email to him at stand at Crawford Media Group dot net. When you write, be sure to tell Mr. Crawford on what station you hear the stand. The email address again, stand at Crawford Media Group dot net. When you want to review what you hear, go to our website, CrawfordMediaGroup.net. The Crawford Stand is a public affairs presentation of Crawford Broadcasting Company and this station. Serving God and country. I’m Bill McCormick.
