From Digital to Divine - The Search for Eternal Life

 

June 22, 2022

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

 - I John 5:4-12 (NLT)

For thousands of years, humanity has tried in vain to live past its expiration date. The Bible tells us, “And as it is appointed for a person to die once, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). And, yet, with all we can muster, we try to push the boundaries of nature and destiny by doing all we can to prolong the inevitable.

Here are some things people have thought would bring them eternal life:
    1.) Eat a mermaid…(Not sure if they need to be baked or deep-fried)
    2.) Eat from the Peach of Immortality Tree (only ripens once every 3,000 years)
    3.) Drinking ambrosia (not sure if you have to be 21)
    4.) Touching and drinking from the Holy Grail (Indiana Jones beat you to it)
    5.) Find and attain the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter might still have this)
    6.) Drink from the Fountain of Youth (Ponce de Leon is still looking)
    7.) Make Jesus angry - (yep, according to legend a wandering Jew did this at the crucifixion and             Jesus cursed him to live forever on earth without being able to rest until the Second Coming)
    8.) Use scientific methods (break out your beakers and chemistry set!)

As for the last one, humankind is taking advantage of a plethora of medical breakthroughs. New medicines, combined with genetic research have led to serious applications. Experts actually believe that cell death can truly be prevented and immortality may only be a few decades away.

And yet, there is still another way humanity is attempting to achieve “eternal life.” Stop me if you’ve heard about this one: The 2045 Initiative, is a project started by Dmitry Itskov. Its goal is the creation of a human avatar into which a person’s consciousness would be uploaded to an avatar before the person dies. In this way the deceased person will keep on “living.”

The avatar will possess the person’s full personality, memories and will be able to talk and act like them - a digital doppelganger. The project, staffed with the brightest minds in medicine, computer science, technology, and even religion, was named Initiative 2045 because 2045 is the target year for achieving the Initiative’s stated goal of absolute singularity.

Just exactly how does this occur? You simply upload your consciousness to a computer. You will then “live” forever in the matrix - with Neo and Trinity (movie buffs will know) in whatever universe you desire. Yet, only wealthy people will be able to afford it…oh well…

Or, we could merge with robots and live on as cyborgs. Crazy? People over the globe are already using robotics to help them walk and surgeons use them to perform microscopic procedures.

So, what does all of this have to do with the Christian? Well, aside from biblical and ethical considerations, it should remind us that we have already inherited eternal life. We do not need outside help. We do not need money to pay our way for a fake immortality. The price is paid.

In his letter noted above, John specifically explains it this way: God has given us eternal life. This is through his Son, Jesus. And, there is no other way.

It’s as Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father - except through me.” No need to upload anything. No need to have money. No need to have the right connections. No need for a humanly created initiative. Nothing digital, only Divine.

Aside from the ethical dilemma this creates, the 2045 Initiative proves one simple fact - people want to be in control of their destiny. They want to captain their own ship. They want to have complete dominion and mastery of their lives.

What an illusion control is.

Not a single one of us can cure cancer. We cannot stop the drunk driver. We are unable to halt acts of violence. We cannot control the weather. We will not stop a virus. We have no control.

That’s why it is called faith: we believe; we hope; we trust.

For the believer in Jesus it is not about staying here on earth longer…it’s about the resurrection from the dead and life eternal. No more pain. No more issues. No more tears. No more death.

Paul put it this way: “But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. - I Corinthians 15:12-22 (NLT)

Memento Mori...

01-04-2022

For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth: 
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
I Peter 4:7-8

Tomorrow we will be “laying to rest” a beloved sister in Christ. She has lived a long and beautiful life. It was time for her to depart her earthly vessel.

In the last two years we have regrettably bid farewell to many of our family and friends. It is almost unbearable the amount of death we have seen during this epidemic. And, yet, the Bible expressly tells us…there is a time to die.

Perhaps you've heard the Latin phrase "Memento Mori" - simply translated, it means, "Remember, you must die."

And not just people. Things as well. Businesses have closed. Schools have been shut down. Athletic events canceled. Travel forbidden. And yes, some houses of worship have permanently shut their doors. There is a time to die.

Peter - a fisherman, husband, follower of a wandering homeless Rabbi and one who was not afraid to speak his mind - told the readers of one of his letters that “the end of all things is near.” And the homeless Rabbi he followed? He spoke often of the end.

Lately - and we have no intentions of being morbid here - it seems that the word “expiration” has been popping up more than we want it to. Milk expires. Bread expires. Your car warranty expires (but don’t worry, they’ll call you and let you know that). Churches expire. We expire.

But that should not shake us. Whether we use the term expired, closed down, closed out, shut down, phased out, turned off, promoted to glory, inherit our reward, extinguished, quelled, suppressed, silenced, or even folded…none of us escapes the truth that we will die. It is what it is.

But, is that bad?

This might be a good time to remind ourselves that those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ also believe his words, “Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”

Without making everyone upset…we don’t really know that much about heaven. Truth be told the Bible is not completely clear about what happens to us when we die. There are illustrations, ideas, thoughts, words, and interpretations galore. Yet, no one really knows…only the Designer, Creator and Architect knows. Yet, we believe. We have faith.

The wonderful Christian author James Packer writes about this dilemma in his book, “Your Father Loves You.” He says: “We know very little about heaven, but I once heard a theologian describe it as ‘an unknown region with a well-know inhabitant,’ and there is not a better way to think of it than that.”

Richard Baxter, the 17th century Puritan expressed the thought in these lines: "My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim, but it's enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with him."

To those who have learned to love and trust Jesus, the prospect of meeting him face to face and being with him forever is the hope that keeps us going, no matter what life may throw at us…and, not so ironically, especially when life ends.

Perhaps it was Ira Stanphill who understood it best:

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said,

And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

Well, guess this is the end…for this newsletter…


Steve and Missy

Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Immortality and You

10-20-2021

“The Father and I are one,” - John 10:30

“Though he was God, (Jesus) did not think of equality with God as something to cling to,” 

- Philippians  2:6.

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily..” Colossians 2:9.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth,“ John 1:1;14.

J. Oswald Chambers stated: “If Jesus is not God, then there is no Christianity, and we who worship Him are nothing more than idolaters...If He is not God, He is not even good.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, on Christ’s divinity: “If Jesus Christ is not the true God, how could he help us? If he is not true man, how could he help us?” C.S. Lewis, author of Mere Christianity, wrote, “Either Jesus is the Son of God or a madman or worse. But His being a great teacher? He’s not left that open to us.”

One of the unquestionable truths of the Bible is that Jesus is both God and human. Divine and flesh. It’s a very tough issue to discuss coherently and a much more difficult truth to comprehend...at least for us.

Now, why are we revisiting these statements regarding the validity of Christ’s divinity? Because, we are going to talk about AI (artificial intelligence) this week! Stop rolling your eyes…

Last week we looked at the (intended?) negative consequences of social media - especially in regards to the next generation. At the end of the newsletter we teased a possible look into AI. Well, here you go.

First, let’s look at the three forms of AI. Eban Escott, a writer for Codebots says this: “There are 3 types of artificial intelligence(AI): narrow or weak AI, general or strong AI, and artificial superintelligence. We have currently only achieved narrow AI. He continues: “As machine learning capabilities continue to evolve, and scientists get closer to achieving general AI, theories and speculations regarding the future of AI are circulating.”

There are two main theories: “One theory is based on fear of a dystopian future, where super intelligent killer robots take over the world, either wiping out the human race or enslaving all of humanity, as depicted in many science fiction narratives. The other theory predicts a more optimistic future, where humans and bots work together, humans using artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance their life experience.” https://codebots.com/artificial-intelligence/the-3-types-of-ai-is-the-third-even-possible.

The highlighted sentence above speaks volumes. In his book Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari - via humor, science, history and philosophy - speaks to the heart of the matter when it comes to AI and the desire of those who are proponents of said technology. His work examines possible futures of Homo sapiens. His premise is that during the 21st century, humanity is likely to make a significant attempt to gain happiness, immortality, and God-like powers. 

Why? According to Harari, technological developments have threatened the continued ability of humans to give meaning to their lives. Therefore, as AI grows Harari sees the possibility of the replacement of humankind with the "super-man", or "homo Deus" (Latin for human-God) endowed with abilities such as eternal life.” We will let you re-read the above paragraph a couple of times to contemplate it.

How does society create a symbiotic relationship between flawed humanity and AI through which human happiness and fulfillment is the goal? Harari argues that humanism, a form of religion that worships humankind instead of a god, is the vehicle to use. Its desire to put humankind and its desires as a top priority in the world, will be the only way to do it. Selfie anyone? FYI - humanists believe that ethics and values are derived internally within each individual, rather than from an external source. Cue John Lennon’s song, Imagine.

During the 21st century, Harari believes humanism may push society to search for immortality, happiness, and power. Their search will lead them to artificial intelligence and themselves as the ultimate answer in creating their own happiness and joy, fulfillment and realization. We become gods.

Now, go back and reread the verses at the beginning of this installment. In our faith, only Jesus is equal to God. Only Jesus is God. The Son and Father are one. Yet, in Yahweh’s wisdom (humans would call it foolish) God invites us to join Him in a relationship where we become one with the Son and the Father...through the Spirit of God. This process has nothing to do with us. Jesus stated in John 14:6 -“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Hey, medical operations are almost miraculous nowadays. Prosthetics are incredible. Planes can fly themselves. Text messages can cross the globe instantly. We can see a dear one’s face from across the miles in a matter of seconds. Facebook Live allows us to stream our worship services to those who don’t feel comfortable being with other people.

But, and this is a big but (he-he), technology and science, philosophy and human wisdom, cannot lead one to Divinity. AI may change the stoplight to green but it cannot change your life. AI may drive and park your car but it cannot forgive and restore. As Billy Graham preached: “Jesus Christ is God in human flesh, and the story of His life, death, and resurrection is the only Good News the world will ever hear.”

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go and read more about Dimitry Itskov, the founder of the 2045 Initiative. His organization is working with a network of scientists to develop 'cybernetic immortality' within the next few decades...the goal which is to download their brains into robots...and live eternally.

Mind blown,


Steve and Missy