Alex Koh

This excerpt is from Ex Fonte’s upcoming issue, “Your Move, Humanity,” which will explore technology and the church’s role in navigating and redeeming it. Subscribe to read the full article!

In 2015, I traveled to Yangon, Myanmar, with my brother in Christ, Kian. Kian had felt a profound calling to serve the underserved and at-risk orphans in the community, and he envisioned doing so through his growing ramen business, already finding success in Singapore. My role was simple yet significant—to walk alongside him in this journey of discovery, to witness, and to discern how this venture could become a mission for Christ.

The bustling streets of Yangon greeted us with a mix of chaos and charm. The golden spires of Shwedagon Pagoda shimmered in the distance, a constant reminder of the spiritual heartbeat of the city. Yet, beneath the surface lay stories of poverty, resilience, and struggle—stories that Kian felt compelled to address.

Kian’s vision was bold—to establish a ramen business that would not only serve delicious bowls of noodles but also provide meaningful employment and training for orphans with few opportunities. We encountered inevitable challenges—navigating local regulations, securing funding, and finding partners. But by God’s grace, doors began to open. The venture was approved, funding flowed, and our focus turned to the heart of the operation. Noodles.

We needed a machine to produce them efficiently yet authentically. Japanese vendors showcased sleek technologies promising speed and precision. As Kian listened intently, he turned to me: “What do you think?”

I paused. “We need to stick with the one that is the least automated and most manually intensive.” Kian answered with a furrowed brow. “Why?”

“Because,” I replied gently, “we want to hire and train as many orphans as we can. . . .”

So, what theological principles should guide the Church’s response to AI? This demands a nuanced approach as AI transitions from being a technological phenomenon to becoming a cultural force. I believe H. Richard Niebuhr’s foundational book Christ and Culture provides an invaluable lens, offering several models (discussed below) to evaluate how Christians can engage AI not only as a tool, but also as a shaper of truth, identity, and society. . . .

Christ Above Culture and Christ Transforming Culture: How Might AI Serve Kingdom Purposes?

Combining Niebuhr’s “Christ-Above-Culture” and “Christ-Transforming-Culture” models offers a framework for redeeming AI for higher purposes. Technology, as part of God’s creation, can glorify him when approached with discernment. AI enhances ministry but has limits. Worship and a relational communion with God are unique to humans. Pastoral care requires empathy that AI lacks. Faith trusts in God’s unseen work (Hebrews 11:1), which algorithms cannot replicate. Understanding what AI cannot do clarifies the distinctives unique to human ministry.

Redeeming AI aligns with the functionality described in Acts 6, where deacons were assigned to handle mundane tasks so that apostles could focus on prayer and preaching. AI can help automate schedules, which frees time for ministry; it can tailor Bible plans and enable churches to effectively target specific audiences through social media algorithms.

Such integration requires transparency—informing congregations about AI use to preserve trust, technological expertise to navigate its pace responsibly, and ongoing discernment. The website ChurchTechToday.com suggests developing a church-wide position on the use of AI, ensuring biblical alignment.

Christ and Culture in Paradox: Navigating the Tension

Niebuhr’s “Christ and Culture in Paradox” acknowledges that we live in two kingdoms—temporal and spiritual. In the temporal, AI offers efficiency and serves practical purposes—managing operations, analyzing needs. In the spiritual, however, it falls short, lacking relationality, compassion, discernment, and faith. Churches can affirm benefits while rejecting over-dependence. Balancing innovation and integrity requires ethical frameworks rooted in Scripture, transparency, and education for leaders.

The 2024 “State of AI in the Church” survey shows that 87 percent support AI use, from research to administration, yet highlights barriers—lack of expertise (41 percent) and ethical concerns (26 percent). We’re called to be active stewards, ensuring AI aligns with God’s purposes. Our response should reflect what it means to be human: created in God’s image, called into relationship, entrusted with creation. Innovation must serve purpose, pointing to the one who is the source of wisdom.

Efficiency tempts convenience over depth, but faithful ministry prioritizes relationships. As Kian and I discerned in Myanmar, God’s work was as simple—and sacred—as making noodles by hand, with a little help from technology.

Dr. Alex Koh is the author of the upcoming book Bloom: How to Make Profitable Faith-Driven Investment Decisions as a Team. His life blends faith, business, and social impact. From leading digital transformation as vice president of strategy and CIO at Gordon-Conwell to founding social enterprises, he merges strategic thinking with spiritual discernment.

Additional Pieces in June Issue’s Exploring Technology

  • “Your Move, Humanity: A Conversation with Grok”
  • “Two Cities: One that Creates and One that Cannibalizes,” by Sean McDonough
  • “The Screen as Sacred Ground: Mister Rogers and the Holy Possibilities of Electronic Media,” by Wendy Murray
  • “AI is Bad News for Atheists: A Conversation between Sean McDowell and John Lennox”
  • “Beware of Dancing Cats: Resisting the Algorithmic Harvest,” by Bradley Howell

Also in this issue:

  • “Christ in the Rubble: From Syria to Libya, Mideast Christians Face Extermination,” by Timothy C. Morgan
  • “The Black Church in the American Protestantism,” by Nicholas Rowe
  • “Shroud of Turin Resurfaces in News,” by Anne Shearer 

Don’t miss our next issue: Subscribe today!