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Dear Friend of Creation,
“I think, therefore I am”. So said René Descartes in 1637 in one of the most famous philosophical statements of all time. But is this truly the case? And what does it really mean to “think”?
The Bible says in Genesis 2:7 that man became a living person when God formed him out of the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life. Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) can take huge amounts of data and string together summary statements and advice with a certain data-driven creativity, according to the logic of words and sentence structure. It can “talk” like it “believes” what it is saying. Yet it cannot generate or express these sentiments from actual feelings! A.I. can write a love poem, for example, but it can only pretend to love. It can discuss pain or pleasure; express excitement, faith, or sadness. But A.I. cannot actually feel these manifestations of the soul. It can only pretend to do so.
Words and other “language tokens”, in A.I. terms, are critical to thinking. But the energy behind them is even more critical! God’s creation contains the design information content of all living things – for example, genetics contain the “language tokens” of DNA. But genetic biochemistry also contains the electro-chemical energy capable of selectively carrying out the instructions. And God’s word in the Bible not only contains information and instruction, it contains spiritual energy itself – because the “word” of God is “quick (living) and powerful”, and “God-breathed”, and of “the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). This is a transcending energy within the “language tokens”.
Modern science recognizes vibrational energy as the fundamental basis of sub-atomic particles which comprise all things. The brilliant Nikola Tesla, who developed alternating electric current (AC) generation, is famously reported to have said, “If you want to understand the secrets of the universe, you have to think in terms of frequency, energy, and vibrations.” And Einstein’s famous equation, e=mc2, says in reminder that all mass is equivalent to the vibrational energy within its atoms.
Furthermore, sound is essentially a vibrational energy, brought into the audible range. And the Bible says that such sound energy was powering God’s acts of creation. The phrase “And God said”, for example, is a phrase mentioned nine times in Genesis 1. Psalm 33 says explicitly that “by the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and the host of them by the breath of His mouth... For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6,9). In addition to instructions, God’s word also contains an energy at the root of all things, material and immaterial.
Not only is there power in the “spoken word” of God to create “ex-nihilo”, but there is power in the “heard” word of God! And this is the wonderful thing about being a Christian! Through faith, the Word of God (both living, as in Jesus, and written, as in the Bible) becomes alive to us – the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). It can edify us in many ways beyond mere rational understanding because it is “spiritually appraised” – infused with His Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
We can hear God’s voice through prayer, worship, spiritual songs, meditating on Him, His word, His beauty, the glory of God in the heavens and other created wonders, the fellowship and words of brothers and sisters in Christ, and by crying out to Him in our distress (Lamentations 3:55-57).
Indeed, there is power in the spoken word, and in the heard word. God can stir (vibrate) within us the fundamental spiritual energy which He placed at the very core of our beings. And which testifies to the truth of soul and spirit beyond mere logic and materialism! Feelings are critically connected to true thinking!
Today we understand that running from the esophagus to the rectum, in the inner lining and walls of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon, is what’s called the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). Our “2nd Brain” functions via gut bacteria and hormones and neurotransmitters connecting gut, heart, and brain in what is called the gut-brain-cardiac axis. The ENS has generated a whole new field of study called “neuro-gastroenterology”. Thinking involves not only words but intuition, an emotional sense, a gut-feel, a dream impression, a spark of insight that goes beyond words. This is why the Bible can say that the Spirit intercedes “for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (too deep for words)” (Romans 8:26).
When the original Greek or Hebrew says “bowels” or “belly,” we lose some truth if we revert only to the metaphorical meaning (as many modern Bible translations do). Something goes on in the inner cavity of our bodies that is more than what we have been able to rationally understand in all eras, including the modern one.
The apostle Paul writes about “bowels of mercies” (Colossians 3:12). He writes to Philemon in verse 20, “brother let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord”. And Jeremiah writes, “My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart” (Jeremiah 4:19). This kind of language is quite odd for us, because of our modern ignorance, which for years did not understand the truth of the ENS and the gut-brain axis. The Bible long ago repeatedly stated a truth that has been lost on modern science for many years, and which is only now being scientifically understood. We all need the check of the "gut feel", informed as it can be by the Holy Spirit!
Our physical bodies provide both antennas and repositories for soul and spirit – antennas and repositories for mind, will, and emotion, and for either hearing God or being influenced by evil spirits. Let me note again here that since it cannot truly feel, A.I. can only pretend to feel what it says, and thus there is an inherent methodology of deception in A.I. And deception is, of course, the devil’s purview (John 8:44). As technology advances with A.I., we should be prepared to practice ever-increasing levels of spiritual discernment.
The Holy Spirit indwells believers, and He helps us discern truth – in a way that connects with our mind and body. Indeed, the human body is not only irreducibly complex, but it is also “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139) by our great Creator – connecting us beyond the materialistic world of evolutionism to the immaterial world of human personality, and to the spiritual world of the great Supernatural Personality, who is our Creator and Savior!
Once again, we are so very thankful for you and for your prayer support and giving, so that we can continue to expand our worldwide outreach through multiple media channels and in multiple languages! God bless you with all the wonderful fruit of the Holy Spirit!
Yours in Christ,
Mark Cadwallader, Board Chairman
Image Citation: Enteric Nervous System, Natale, Gianfranco, Larisa Ryskalin, Gabriele Morucci, Gloria Lazzeri, Alessandro Frati, and Francesco Fornai, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
P.S., I’d love to recommend Guide to the Human Body. This resource delves into the complex construction of the cell, a baby's development in the womb, the mechanics of our hands, and more. As A.I. pretends to be human, grow your understanding of what it really means to be fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God! Awarded the blue ribbon by Practical Homeschooling magazine, this book features astonishing facts about the human body that young and old readers will find truly fascinating. We are custom-designed by a magnificent Engineer!
I’m also very excited to announce our NEW children’s book, God Made That! As featured in your newsletter insert, this back-to-school resource is perfect for kids, ages 8 and up. It’s the first of a series for young readers, adapted from Creation Moments’ radio broadcasts and Letting God Create Your Day: Vol. 1, written by Rev. Paul Bartz. Beautifully illustrated and intentionally crafted to reach your child with creation and gospel truth, awe and wonder, prayer and Scripture. Order today and grow your child’s love for our Creator, and have them spotting His wonderful works everywhere around them!
To receive both of these wonderful resources – or to make a donation of any amount – visit our online store. Or call us toll-free at 1-800-422-4253 during regular office hours (Mon – Th 8:30am-4:30pm CT).
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