What are We About to See in the Future? – Remember Your Calling
When asked about the AI transformation of society as a euphoric adventure of the future, Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and bestselling American author, said,
“Here’s my big worry about AI. AI is all wrong, in the way people are using it, not just for their money but for their happiness. Here’s why. Your brain is hemispherically lateral. That means the left and right hemispheres do two different things. The left side does all your tasks and efficiency and analysis. The right side is the mystery, the meaning, and the happiness. People are using AI to try to find meaning in their life and they are not going to find it. AI is a left hemisphere tool. You should use it to answer questions that are tasks and then free up your time. Go spend it with your loved ones and go to church and do whatever you do to find meaning in your life. They are using AI for their lover and their friend and their therapist. That’s where the money is going to be and that is going to ruin our lives.”*
In this age of AI, polarization, disconnectedness has become normal. For many ministers, their calling doesn’t have the clarity that it once did. The most dangerous threat to your calling isn’t a severe setback or a failure–it’s the threat that succeeds at becoming more important than your mission. In other words, what has a bigger place in your heart–your success of tracked data or your calling?
Consequently, numbers, compilation of data, positive statistics, bigger budget and efficiency serve the mission, they don’t become it. Take my own calling to be a pastor. Simply put, it was to change lives and to introduce people to Jesus which promoted personal growth and discipleship. At the tender age of 17, I started with a burning desire to reach the people around me and was constantly tempted to manage groups and to govern. I learned to intentionally fight against the distraction to deviate from the calling. But the secret to overcoming this was to make Jesus relevant to myself, my congregation and to the community.
The uncomfortable truth is that your success and achievements can’t make disciples. Only people can. I’ve watched pastors sit in their office’s week after week, living out their calling as CEOs instead of being with the people. Energy devoted to and focused on property, programs and expansion plans are seductive (seems like strategic leadership) and bigger than your calling. I see this unfortunate tragedy taking place across America today.
Let me ask some tough questions:
- Is my leadership behavior serving the mission, or just serving church operations and staff?
- Are the numbers, programs, and finances serving our mission, or replacing it?
- Do I love crunching numbers and paying attention to financial and volunteer involvement issues more than the development and formation of disciples?
All of us are well aware that our current environment of polarization is full of distractions. Perhaps the distractions were present in Jesus’ day as well. People were caught between Roman domination and the politicized Jewish leaders of the synagogues. What were the people to do? Enter Jesus. He came to serve and not be served. He built a more caring world by stepping into everyday narratives to teach empathy, grief, and loving others who are different. His calling made the love of His heavenly Father relevant.
So, let me ask. What would happen if you made Jesus relevant to your church and congregation? Would they learn what Jesus taught his followers? Would they learn unexpected ways to care and build better friendships and more? Are you ready for the future and the coming challenges of AI technology? If so, REMEMBER YOUR CALLING.
*Source: Arthur Brookes, “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle” MSNBC www.tvinsider.com Episode 216, October 29, 2025
Article written and submitted by Rev. Dr. Barry E. Winders, author of The Mission Filter (2021) Westbow Press. Available at Amazon.com
