An Evangelical Contribution to Magnifica Humanitias

Biblical principles have profoundly shaped Western civilization, and these same principles can preserve the West from the dangers posed by transhumanist visions and authoritarian ambitions.

Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, offers a substantive framework for people of goodwill to consider both the merits and misgivings of AI. This encyclical presents a stark contrast between a transhumanist vision of technocratic dominance and the Gospel’s vision of love. Pope Leo is to be commended for casting a biblical vision for human flourishing, rooted in Scripture and church tradition.

While his 42,300 words paint a beautiful picture of Christian anthropology, the true treasure of Scripture is that it is a living word — providing inexhaustible wisdom throughout eternity (Matt. 13:51-52; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). There is always more we can apply as we seek to harness AI for humanity’s good and our national interest.

The Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that “we have the mind of Christ” — a stunning indicative statement of what is true of every believer by virtue of their Union with Christ. This union is so intimate that Christians have genuine access to the thoughts, wisdom, and disposition of the living God. But St. Paul does not leave this as mere doctrine to be admired; the indicative demands a response. In Philippians 2:5, he issues the imperative that flows directly from it: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” What is declared true in Corinthians becomes a command in Philippi — a call to actively lay hold of what Christ has made available to us. This is classic Pauline structure: the gift precedes and grounds the obligation.

As we consider AI and its influence on the human mind, we must remember that what makes humans unique is our capacity to commune with God. Artificial intelligence is, by definition, artificial; it will never replicate what makes humans exceptional — our ability to listen, speak, and love God. However sophisticated its imitation, AI remains incapable of the one act that most defines us: loving God with our minds (Matt. 22:37). The transhumanist vision of replacing humanity is therefore ultimately futile — no technology can alter what God has ontologically declared about the human person, and no algorithm can simulate the soul’s orientation toward its Creator. The imago Dei cannot be extinguished or replaced.

This truth, however, does not mean we should abandon prudence when engaging with AI. The very fact that the human mind can commune with the living God imposes a moral responsibility to nurture and protect our mental faculties. Paul’s imperative — “have this mind among you” — stresses our duty to exert real mental effort in cultivating our minds. We must resist the temptation to use AI in ways that foster sloth and passivity, and instead redirect it toward new and richer ways of loving God and others with our minds.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit is equally important here. Not only does the Spirit guide the Church corporately, but He guides believers individually. God’s divine power, Peter writes, has granted us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3), and Christ promised that the Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). We can therefore rely on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment — both now and as new technologies emerge.

Nevertheless, the promises cited thus far belong largely to those in union with Christ. But this raises a practical question: how should we think about AI, given that many of its programmers and users — whether through unbelief or ignorance — do not have access to the mind of Christ?

Protestant Christianity’s doctrine of Common Grace teaches that God’s providence guides all humanity toward goods that benefit everyone, even when unbelievers are unaware of it. Isaiah 28:23-29, for instance, reveals that God guides the farmer’s mind and hand in knowledge and skill. As we consider the emergence of AI, we cannot dismiss the reality that God is at work — guiding and directing human creativity even now. While discernment remains essential, we must not become cynical or fearful, assuming that technological progress is inherently opposed to God’s purposes. God’s common grace can work through all people, using even those unaware of Him to bring about innovations that serve the common good.

A Protestant Evangelical perspective calls us to engage with AI thoughtfully, steward its capabilities wisely and ethically, and rest in the confidence that God remains sovereign over human creativity and technological development — and always will.