Cultivating Discernment in a World of Artificial Intelligence
By Dr. Joel Muddamalle
In James 3, James asks, “Who among you is wise?” (James 3:13). He then connects our wisdom to our actions and the source and motivation of those actions. If we have bitter envy or selfish ambition in our hearts (James 3:14), this is an indicator that the wisdom that informs our lives has a source from below. In fact, James clarifies that this wisdom is not neutral but rather is “unspiritual, demonic.” However, there is a different kind of wisdom that produces peace, gentleness, mercy, and good fruits. This is a wisdom that comes from above and is in stark contrast to the wisdom that comes from below. The wisdom that comes from below has a goal, and that goal is self-obsession, self-gratification, and self-exaltation. In other words, the goal of this wisdom is to magnify the self.
The goal of the wisdom from above, the wisdom of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30), doesn’t discount or deny the self. It rightly orders the self in light of God and other image bearers of God. The goal is to establish peace because we cultivate peace through our decisions and discernment. James says it this way:
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
James 3:18 (CSB)
The source of our wisdom matters because it directly impacts our discernment.
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