Christian Chat Bots, VR & the Gospel: Should Churches Have Tech Limits?

This past July, over a thousand social media influencers and content creators gathered at the Vatican for the “Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers.” The two-day event featured training sessions and individuals sharing their ideas and experiences as “online missionaries.”

Although this may have been the largest gathering of its kind, the Catholic Church is only one of dozens of denominations that have been enlisting the help of influencers, social media managers, and content creators to boost their presence on the internet, enhance church image, share denominational beliefs, and interest people in studying the Bible and joining local congregations.

As we live in an increasingly digital world, most churches have embraced an array of digital technologies for decades. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that. In fact, most would agree it would be wrong not to use these methods to disseminate Bible truth. Digital technologies are simply tools that can and should be used in appropriate ways to further the gospel.

By Any Means?

Many Christian believers understand that Jesus asked us to take His gospel of love to the whole world. We have been commissioned to wholeheartedly carry out His command. But should we use any means at our disposal to do so? Should there be limits?

For instance, what should believers do with newer, highly controversial technologies that have produced virtual reality churches and Christian chatbots? Should there be a place for these in outreach?

It’s interesting to note that more virtual reality (VR) churches have been popping up in cyberspace over the past few years. They offer a place for believers, non-believers (even atheists), and those who are just curious to meet, interact with each other, and listen to biblical—or, more often, pseudo-biblical—teaching or preaching.

Attendees wear a VR headset and use an on-screen avatar to move around in the “church” that has been created in the metaverse. The graphics and controls are unimpressive and somewhat awkward, but visitors can strike up a real voice conversation with other attendees milling about in the lobby, sometimes join a small group in a side room for Bible study, or enter the main sanctuary to take in the worship service. Some VR pastors also give visitors a chance to ask questions after the service.

It comes as no surprise that most attendees at these VR churches are young men, since they are the biggest consumers of VR technology and online gaming.

The value of VR churches, proponents say, is that many people who would never set foot in a physical church often are willing to give a VR church a try. Sometimes they eventually transition to joining an in-person congregation. Another benefit can be that people who live in an isolated area or who are disabled and unable to leave their homes can lessen their loneliness and isolation by attending a VR church and interacting with other Christian believers and church staff.

Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? But what if you learned that some of these “churches” even offer virtual baptisms and communion services? Many people find this fact highly offensive, considering it irreverent or sacrilegious. They have a point, don’t they? But does that mean the very idea of VR churches should be shunned? Some believe it should.

And what about Christian chatbots? One of the main objections to chatbots advising people on religious topics isn’t that they are imperfect (so are humans) but that AI has no moral compass and can sometimes give inquirers a distorted view of biblical reality. It can also be programmed by people with wrong ulterior motives. However, they can often be quite winsome and accurate.

For example, I recently asked CrossTalk, a non-denominational Christian AI chatbot, “What day is the Sabbath?” Braced for a skewed response, I was pleasantly surprised when my digital conversation partner answered, “The Sabbath is observed on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday. In the Bible, God rested on the seventh day after creating the world, and this day is set apart for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8–11). It is a time for believers to reflect on God’s creation and to spend time in fellowship with Him and others.” CrossTalk’s biblically accurate response was impressive.

Yet, conversing with a chatbot can be not only addictive; it can give people a false feeling of connection. While a bot might sometimes provide more complete and biblically sound answers than most Christians would, there is something—in fact, a lot—to be said for the human element in this.

As part of His mission to save us, Jesus interacted with people in person. He reasoned with them, sympathized with them, touched them, healed them. As His followers, churches must never lose this aspect of influence and witness.

Yet, Jesus wants His physical churches to thrive. That’s why He said, through a parable, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). While churches need to employ every reasonable technology in biblically compatible and appropriate ways to reach people with the good news of Jesus’ salvation and soon return, they need plenty of wisdom and guidance for success. And that can come only from God and His Word.

Want to know more about the return of Jesus? Read our Bible study, “Ultimate Deliverance,” click here.