Editor’s note: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping every aspect of society—including the church. In this special issue of the ChinaSource Journal, Where Wisdom Meets Faith, we explore how AI is challenging and transforming Christianity in China and beyond. Rather than offering easy answers, our goal is to equip readers with the theological insight, technical knowledge, and missional courage needed to shepherd souls in the digital age.
As technology continues to advance, Christians and churches face urgent questions: Is AI a threat or an opportunity for the church? How can believers faithfully navigate the intersection of technology and faith? This issue brings together voices from across the Chinese church and global Christian community to address these timely challenges.
Be sure to subscribe to receive the upcoming ChinaSource Journal straight to your inbox upon publication. This special issue offers crucial perspectives on how artificial intelligence is shaping Christianity—and what it may mean for the church’s future.
For more perspectives on technology and faith, explore our archive on technology and recent features on digital ministry.
As a preview, we’re pleased to share this editorial by Rev. Dr. James Hwang, which frames the issue with urgency and hope. His reflections mark the beginning of a rich conversation—one we hope will strengthen the global church’s witness in the digital age.
Artificial Intelligence at the Church’s Door
The arrival of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant whisper; it is a present reality knocking at the doors of our society, our homes, and our churches. For believers, especially within the dynamic context of the global Chinese church, this technological wave brings with it a cascade of urgent questions. Is AI a threat to be feared, a tool to be leveraged, or both? How do we embrace its potential for the Great Commission without compromising the integrity of our message or the essence of our humanity? This special issue, Where Wisdom Meets Faith, is curated not to provide easy answers, but to equip the church with the theological depth, technical understanding, and missional courage needed to navigate this new frontier.
What Does It Mean to Be Human in the Age of AI?
Our journey begins with the most fundamental question: What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines? In our lead article, Ximian Xu lays a critical theological foundation, exploring AI through the Reformed lenses of imago Dei (the image of God) and natura vitiata (our fallen nature). This framework helps us appreciate AI’s promise while clearly delineating its profound limitations in the face of human uniqueness.
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Technology
Building on this, we look to the past to inform our present. The article Would Aquinas and Zhu Xi Embrace AI? bridges millennia of thought, asking how figures like Thomas Aquinas and Zhu Xi might have approached AI. This piece is particularly relevant for the Chinese church, reminding us that engaging new knowledge with theological wisdom is a timeless Christian—and human—endeavor.
Christian Stewardship in AI: Ethics and Creation
From the theological “why,” we turn to the critical question of how this technology is built. Here, we are privileged to feature an article on Green Learning and the Christian Response to AI: Foundations, Ethics, and Stewardship from a top-tier academic researcher in the field—a rare and vital perspective from within the Chinese Christian community. His piece presents a compelling case for Christian stewardship not just in using AI, but in the very act of its creation, arguing that our call is to champion technologies that are sustainable, transparent, and ethically built from the ground up.
AI Tools in Evangelism and Discipleship
This crucial perspective on how to build responsibly provides the foundation for my own article, Great Commission to Chinese and All Nations—How Can AI Help?, which then shifts the focus to how to use these tools. My piece explores a framework for the real-world application of AI in evangelism and discipleship, focusing on mitigating the practical risks of data privacy, theological drift, and hallucination.
Voices from the Field: Innovators and Resources for the Digital Church
Looking to the horizon, our interview with Dr. Wei-Jing Zhu, the CEO of a Christian AI business, offers a glimpse into Empowering the Church with Code: One Physicist’s AI Journey for the Great Commission. His insights from the front lines of development provide a practical vision for how emerging tools, especially in agentic AI, will shape the future of digital ministry. Finally, our book review of John C. Lennox’s 2084 and the AI Revolution serves as an essential guide for every pastor and layperson, grounding the complex AI debate in biblical hope and equipping us to face the future with faith, not fear.
The Chinese Church at the Intersection of Technology and Faith
For the Chinese church, operating at the intersection of rapid technological adoption and unique cultural pressures, these discussions are not abstract. They are vital. Together, these articles form a conversation—moving from theology to history, from stewardship to strategy, and from current application to future hope.
Conclusion: Wisdom for the Digital Age
As artificial intelligence becomes ever more integrated into daily life and ministry, it is crucial for the church—especially the Chinese church—to respond with wisdom and courage. The articles in this issue encourage believers to look beyond simple binaries and discern how AI can serve the Great Commission, strengthen digital discipleship, and advance the gospel.
It is our prayer that this collection will help the church step forward with the wisdom to discern the difference, leveraging this powerful new era for the glory of God.
