Today is a day of contradictions. As is often the case, it heralds some kind of expansion. The collapse of the old and an increase in the amount of light. But this phase is not a pleasant one. I can feel a growing, smouldering hatred around me. Deep down, I myself am at peace and in balance. Yet in this moment, I feel an emotion rising within me, and it is directed at the world. Not at people, not at created things, but at the World itself.
Christian Living: Why Our Motives and Intentions Matter
In my recent articles, I have done my best to explain to you that actions are, above all, about motives. Money can be used in many ways and for many different purposes. In my article on sin, I reminded you that even something as simple as a gesture can mean different things depending on the surrounding circumstances. In a modern classroom, raising your hand is a good thing. But imagine doing so at a meeting chaired by a certain Adolf Hitler… You understand what I mean.
Some time ago, we ended up discussing yoga in a Christian group. Comments came from every direction. Many approached the subject with caution, and not without reason. One person explained that they had studied the origins of yoga and that its sequences of movements stem from the worship of a false god. Even so, yoga as a form of exercise, without the religious element, is simply bodily movement, just like walking or dancing.
Can Christians Use Yoga and Other Worldly Practices for God’s Work?
If we removed from our lives everything that had ever been used in Satan worship, we would have nothing left to do. We would not even be able to speak or write. But when we take something ugly and dark from the world and consecrate it to the work of God and His Kingdom, we begin to spread light around us.
This works in both directions around us. An extreme example that comes to mind is the old cases of child sexual abuse committed by priests. Darkness took something that was meant to be a source of light and claimed it for its own purposes.
I certainly do not recommend that anyone attend a guided yoga class and blindly repeat mantras without understanding what the words mean. Instead, I recommend finding a form of exercise that suits you and beginning each workout with a short declaration to God. We take care of ourselves for Him and for His work.
Christian Yoga: Finding Christ-Centred Alternatives
If someone happens to enjoy the way the sounds of mantras vibrate through their body, I recommend choosing their own litanies addressed to Christ. And as a little tip, Christian yoga has finally arrived in Finland.
One person who took part in the yoga discussion shared a story about a Christian woman who had once attended a yoga class. At the beginning of the session, the instructor had walked to the front of the room and remarked, “Well, it seems we have a Christian here, since the spirit guides cannot descend.” To me, this alone shows how mighty our God is. The battle belongs to Him, and He does not allow us to enter just anywhere for no reason. Even that experience continues to bear new fruit through this very article.
Christianity and AI: The Contradictions of the Modern World
By now, the reader may be wondering how any of this relates to the hatred I feel. It relates through the contradiction it has brought to the surface. I am trying to keep my thoughts and tone on the side of light so that this article does not become too dark. Today, that is not easy.
In recent weeks, data centres have been a topic of discussion here in Finland. In particular, Google’s direct assault on our country. Of course, this case has also brought the shortcomings in our legislation to light very effectively. So is this situation simply unfortunate, or could it be a blessing in disguise? Only time will tell.
Data Centres, Cloud Storage and AI: Where Does Our Digital Content Live?
Once again, I sat down to pray, and a memory from my ninth-grade year came to mind. We were creating a website in an IT lesson. Eventually, I asked the teacher where the websites were now stored. Until then, all information had been saved either on a computer or on a floppy disk, somewhere tangible, at least. “It’s not as if they’re floating around in the air,” I remarked. The teacher laughed because he did not understand my sarcasm.
And here we are, all these years later. Everything we have created and stored in that “invisible” place is now coming to our own backyards. And now we are shocked, asking why nobody told us.
For years, we have been sold invisible cloud services as part of the package. We have moved from physical photo albums to digital content. We have created enormous archives filled with nothing but pictures of our meals and silly cat videos. We have never stopped to ask where all of it goes. Where all of it actually is. Now AI has entered the scene, bringing with it a growing demand for capacity. My cousin put it sensibly: “You cannot even turn it off. For example, in Google, it is enabled by default.”
Technology, Energy Consumption and Responsible Choices
These tools can be used to do a great deal of good. The invention of electricity once revolutionised human life. Let there be light for the people! A rather wonderful slogan. In recent years, electricity companies have repeatedly tried to sell me contracts promising 2,000 kWh of usage per month at a fixed price, even though I do not use that much electricity in an entire year. All of this has blinded people, making them happily rush forward until, suddenly, they are weeping over the high cost of electricity and food.
For goodness’ sake, we do not even open the boot of a car using the handle anymore, but with the push of a button. We no longer spend autumn days working with a rake or curl up on the sofa with an old, worn book in our hands.
What the Bible Says About Darkness and the Modern World
We have not learned to use what we have been given. This is the result. Darkness has swallowed everything we have handed over to it into its bottomless abyss. Now that it is dark, we are in a panic. For us Christians, of course, none of this should come as a surprise. It is all written in the Bible. This is how things are meant to unfold, and worse is yet to come.
Hating the World but Loving People: A Christian Perspective
So yes, I hate the world. And by that, I mean the darkness, the forces of darkness. I love people. Even if they can be foolish and blind at times. Human ingenuity is in a league of its own. Unfortunately, there are two forces at work on this planet, and it is our task to choose which one we will take hold of. Do I give up using AI and creating unnecessary photographs that will be of no use to my descendants, thereby leaving capacity available for AI to be used for something like cancer screening?
Using AI Responsibly as a Christian
It is difficult. I, too, have created AI images, if only for this website. Many of you will have noticed, however, that I do not constantly create new images but keep using the same ones. That is precisely why. I use it as a tool, not as entertainment. A small image library is enough. I have consecrated all of this to God and to the work of His Kingdom. Once this article is written, I will roll out my yoga mat and move my body while worship music fills the room.
Even though I can feel the hatred growing, I will still do my part and bring light. Many of you have probably guessed that I have also been thinking about this very website. Yet it was created through God’s guidance and for His work, so I will leave it standing.
The Christian Calling: Bringing God’s Light into the World
If we stopped taking tools from the darkness and putting them to work for Heaven, darkness would win. We cannot simply lie still, keeping our mouths shut. The Lord has placed us in this time, and with His help, we will plant our own seeds. We cannot prevent this moment in history from unfolding. But we can declare that, in our own lives, only the will of Heaven shall prevail.
As an act of protest against the world, I wrote this very article. May God bless it, in the name of His Son 💛
Whatever we do in this life, let us do it from God. He breathes life into whatever is meant to flourish.
Christian Discipleship in a World of Darkness
Yet today, in this very moment, I can understand why so many enlightened Christians have chosen to live very modest lives. Living here is painful. The less we play the world’s games, the better. Each of us has our own cross to bear, but thankfully, we do not carry it alone.
Discipleship is not easy, but it is rewarding. In today’s world, we do not take up physical swords like the knights of the cross once did. Instead, we take up these earthly weapons, each according to the capacity we have been given.
Flourish, my beloved, abiding in Christ ✨
I pray that the will and justice of God may be fulfilled in your lives 💛
This The Chosen ad caught my eye today. While the world believes He was taken by force, the truth is that He was given. The truth lies in our motives and in Who sent us.
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