Supernatural Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence in Christian Spirituality

The Greek term *mysterion*, often translated as "mystery" or "secret," refers not to something unintelligible or impossible to understand, but to a truth once hidden or only partially revealed in the Old Testament and now fully disclosed in Christ through the New Covenant. This revealed mystery centers on the gospel message of Jesus Christ crucified and risen, a divine wisdom that was hidden from the rulers of this age but is now made known to believers by the Spirit ([18:37] to [20:40]). An example of this is the lifting up of the serpent by Moses in the wilderness, which foreshadowed Christ being lifted up on the cross (John 3:14).

A fundamental distinction exists between the "natural person" (*psychikos anthropos*) and the "spiritual person" (*pneumatikos anthropos*). The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God because they appear as foolishness and cannot be understood apart from spiritual discernment ([14:44] to [15:15]). This person operates solely within the material realm and remains ignorant of spiritual truths. In contrast, the spiritual person, having received the Spirit of God, is able to understand and judge all things spiritually. The spiritual person possesses "the mind of Christ," empowered by the Holy Spirit to discern divine wisdom, though this discernment remains inaccessible to the natural person ([23:18] to [23:48]).

The concept of "supernatural intelligence" (SI) highlights the unique guidance believers receive through the Holy Spirit, contrasting sharply with the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies of the world ([30:40] to [32:12]). While AI may assist with tasks and decision-making through data and algorithms, supernatural intelligence is relational and personal, residing within believers to lead, convict, and empower them with wisdom beyond human or artificial means ([32:43]). This divine intelligence provides step-by-step guidance that surpasses any technological innovation ([31:10] to [31:40]).

Worldly wisdom is transient and often misguided, as demonstrated by historical examples such as misleading cigarette advertisements, flawed dietary guidelines, and shifting cultural morals on issues like abortion ([05:41] to [09:38]). This wisdom rejects the gospel and the cross, regarding them as foolishness ([14:44]). In stark contrast, the wisdom of God is eternal, hidden in divine revelation, and made known by the Spirit to those who believe ([11:03] to [13:13]).

Practical steps to be filled with the Spirit and gain spiritual discernment include confessing all known sin, including sins of omission, and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sin ([26:53] to [29:03]). Persistent prayer and seeking the Spirit’s filling are essential, modeled by the parable of the persistent widow, encouraging believers to continually ask for the Spirit’s empowerment ([29:34] to [30:05]). Being filled with the Spirit enables believers to understand and judge all things spiritually, a capacity unavailable to the natural person ([23:48] to [24:19]).

This revealed mystery, the contrast between natural and spiritual understanding, the superiority of supernatural intelligence, the folly of worldly wisdom, and the call to be filled with the Spirit collectively provide a framework for living a spiritually discerning Christian life.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Village Bible Church - Sugar Grove, one of 2528 churches in Aurora, IL