Featured image: AI-generated illustration for editorial purposes.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common in everyday life, including among Christians and churches. But new research from Barna shows that pastors have serious concerns about what happens when AI begins helping people interpret the Bible.
According to Barna's latest research, 94% of Protestant pastors surveyed say they are concerned about artificial intelligence misinterpreting Scripture. The concern is also widespread among practicing Christians, with 83% expressing the same worry. Among U.S. adults overall, 74% said they are concerned about AI misinterpreting Scripture. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The findings come as Christians are increasingly using artificial intelligence for information, personal growth, Bible study, prayer, and other areas of life. The research raises an important question for the church: How should Christians use AI without allowing technology to become an authority over God's Word?
Why Are Pastors Concerned About AI and the Bible?
Artificial intelligence can quickly summarize information, compare different viewpoints, generate explanations, and respond to questions about biblical passages. However, producing an answer is not the same as correctly understanding Scripture.
Barna's research found that concern about AI misinterpreting Scripture is higher among pastors than among practicing Christians or U.S. adults generally. Nearly all pastors surveyed expressed some level of concern about the possibility. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
The concern is especially important when AI is asked to answer difficult theological questions. A generated response can sound confident even when the interpretation is incomplete, historically inaccurate, poorly contextualized, or based on assumptions that Christians would reject.
That creates a unique challenge. A person asking a difficult Bible question may not know enough about Scripture to recognize when an AI-generated answer is wrong.
Pastors Prefer AI to Show Different Interpretations
Barna also asked pastors and practicing Christians how artificial intelligence should respond when Christians disagree about the interpretation of a biblical passage.
The results showed a significant difference between pastors and practicing Christians.
Sixty percent of pastors said AI should present the major interpretations of a passage and explain how they differ without declaring one interpretation to be correct. Only about 10% of pastors wanted AI to identify the "correct" interpretation in disputed passages. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Practicing Christians were more likely to want AI to go further and identify which interpretation is best. Barna found that 26% of practicing Christians favored having AI identify the best interpretation, more than twice the proportion of pastors who preferred that approach. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
This difference reveals an important issue. People may want technology to settle difficult questions for them, while pastors are more likely to see the value of examining competing interpretations and understanding why Christians disagree.
AI Is Already Being Used by Christians
The concern about AI does not mean Christians are rejecting the technology.
Barna's wider 2026 research shows that artificial intelligence is already becoming part of the lives of practicing Christians. Nearly half of practicing Christians surveyed said they would trust AI with their spiritual growth. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Other Barna research found that 45% of practicing Christians say AI has helped them with Bible study, while 41% say it has helped them with prayer. Nearly half also reported using AI for personal growth. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Pastors are using AI as well. Barna reported in June that only 13% of pastors said they do not use AI at all. Among pastors who use the technology, applications include brainstorming, biblical research, graphic design, and other ministry-related tasks. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
The issue, therefore, is not simply whether Christians should use artificial intelligence. The more important question is how they should use it.
AI Can Be a Tool Without Becoming a Spiritual Authority
There is an important distinction between using technology as a tool and treating technology as an authority.
A Christian may use AI to locate passages, compare translations, organize notes, summarize historical information, generate study questions, or suggest areas for further research. Those uses can potentially assist a person's study.
But Christians should not assume that an AI-generated answer is true simply because it is detailed, confident, or well written.
Artificial intelligence does not receive revelation from God. It does not replace the Holy Spirit. It does not possess pastoral authority. And it should never become a substitute for reading Scripture carefully, praying, listening to faithful Christian teachers, and examining biblical teaching in context.
Why Scripture Must Remain the Final Authority
The Bible does not direct believers to place their confidence in human wisdom, technology, or any other created thing. Christians are called to test what they hear against God's revealed Word.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV
This principle is especially relevant when using artificial intelligence.
An AI system can provide information that is useful, but the information still needs to be examined. A Christian should ask whether the explanation agrees with the biblical text, whether the passage has been interpreted in context, and whether the conclusion is consistent with the whole counsel of Scripture.
The technology may help someone find information. It cannot remove the Christian's responsibility to discern whether that information is true.
AI Can Sound Certain Even When It Is Wrong
One of the dangers of using AI for Bible questions is that the response may appear authoritative.
An AI system can produce a polished explanation within seconds. It may cite biblical passages, mention historical background, and summarize theological positions. Yet none of those features automatically guarantee that the conclusion is correct.
This is why Christians should be especially careful when asking AI about difficult doctrines, disputed passages, salvation, the character of God, or questions where different theological traditions disagree.
Barna's research suggests that pastors are not necessarily opposed to AI helping Christians explore these questions. Instead, many pastors want AI to help users understand the disagreement rather than simply tell them what conclusion they should accept. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
What Christians Can Do When Using AI for Bible Study
Christians do not necessarily need to abandon AI. Instead, they should use it with discernment and humility.
First, read the biblical passage yourself. Do not begin with an AI-generated interpretation. Start with the text of Scripture.
Second, examine the context. Consider the surrounding verses, the book in which the passage appears, the historical setting, and the author's purpose.
Third, compare sources. If AI gives an interpretation, investigate it rather than automatically accepting it. Look at trustworthy commentaries, theological resources, and faithful Christian teachers.
Fourth, ask AI to show disagreement. When a passage is disputed, asking an AI system to explain the major interpretations can be more useful than simply asking it to give "the correct answer."
Finally, remember who has authority. AI is a tool. Scripture is God's Word. The two should never be treated as equal authorities.
The Church Has an Opportunity to Teach Christians About AI
The research also presents an opportunity for pastors and churches.
Christians are already encountering artificial intelligence. Some are using it for Bible study, prayer, personal growth, and everyday questions. The church therefore has an opportunity to teach believers how to approach this technology wisely rather than ignoring it.
Barna's research suggests that this guidance is needed. The organization has found that Christians are increasingly open to AI while simultaneously expressing concern about its role in spiritual matters. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Pastors can help Christians understand both the usefulness and the limitations of AI. More importantly, they can remind believers that spiritual growth is not ultimately produced by technology.
Christian maturity comes through knowing Christ, trusting God's Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, obedience, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
A Biblical Perspective on Technology and Truth
Technology changes rapidly, but the need for truth does not.
Christians have always had to distinguish truth from error. Artificial intelligence simply introduces a new tool into an old problem: people must still determine whether what they hear is true.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
— John 17:17, KJV
Jesus did not describe technology as the source of truth. He pointed His followers to the truth of God's Word.
That remains important in an age when information can be generated faster than ever before.
The Christian's confidence should not rest in the intelligence of a machine, the popularity of an online teacher, or the sophistication of a digital platform. Our confidence must ultimately rest in God and His revealed truth.
What This Means for Christians in 2026
The debate over artificial intelligence and Christianity is unlikely to disappear. As AI becomes more capable, Christians will face increasingly sophisticated tools for Bible study, theological research, prayer assistance, education, and personal guidance.
The question will not simply be whether Christians use these tools.
The deeper question will be whether Christians know where the tool belongs.
AI may assist with research. It may help organize information. It may introduce people to different viewpoints. But it should never become the final judge of biblical truth.
The latest Barna research provides a timely warning. Pastors are not simply concerned about artificial intelligence itself. They are concerned about what happens when a tool begins to take on authority that belongs elsewhere. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Final Thoughts
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of the Christian landscape, and the church cannot afford to ignore the questions it raises.
Barna's research shows a striking tension: Christians are increasingly willing to use AI for spiritual growth while also worrying that AI could misinterpret Scripture. Pastors appear particularly concerned about allowing technology to settle theological questions for believers. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
That concern deserves serious attention.
Christians can use technology wisely without giving technology spiritual authority. We can benefit from useful tools while continuing to test what we hear against Scripture.
The goal is not to become afraid of technology. The goal is to remain faithful to the truth.
As Christians navigate the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence, the responsibility remains the same: know God's Word, examine what you hear, and hold fast to the truth revealed in Scripture.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
— Psalm 119:105, KJV
Sources
- Barna Group — How AI Is Shaping Bible Interpretation
- Barna Group — AI Is Becoming a Spiritual Authority, Even Among Practicing Christians
- Barna Group — Four Trends Shaping Ministry Strategy in 2026
- Barna Group — Pastors Are Using AI More Than You Think
- The Christian Post — Majority of Pastors Worried About AI Misinterpreting Scripture
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