AI-Generated Music Raises Ethical Questions in Christian Community
In late 2025, two songs attributed to “Christian Artist” Solomon Ray, titled “Find Your Rest” and “Goodbye Temptation,” surprisingly soared to the top positions on Billboard’s Gospel Digital Song Sales Chart and iTunes’ Christian Music Songs Chart.
His Southern Revival style and deeply emotional, scripturally rooted lyrics have struck a chord with Christians globally. In just a matter of weeks, Ray’s tracks amassed hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify, millions of streams, and significant view counts on YouTube.
However, there’s a catch. Solomon Ray is not a real individual; he is a product of artificial intelligence.
Ray’s rapid rise in popularity has incited serious ethical and theological discussions within the Christian music scene. Some, like artist Forrest Frank, have voiced concerns about authenticity, the absence of a spiritual presence, and whether AI can genuinely evoke faith and soul in worship music.
During an episode of Strange Encounters, Rick Burgess explored these pressing issues.
Rick acknowledges the debatable nature of the topic but confesses that, “something in my mind just doesn’t seem…right.”
“The first thing we need to recognize is that Solomon Ray doesn’t possess a soul. His images are not real—it’s akin to viewing animated characters,” he remarks.
While he concedes, “It’s a good song,” Rick fears that Christian artists involved in this music may be catering to something unsettling.
Nevertheless, defenders of Ray’s work argue that the identity behind the lyrics matters less than the message itself, which was penned by Christopher “Topher” Townsend, a conservative Christian hip-hop artist who conceptualized Solomon Ray. In their view, AI represents “the next evolutionary step in music.”
But Rick counters this perspective.
“That might be true, but there’s also something disingenuous about it,” he asserts. According to Ray’s Spotify bio, he is a “Mississippi-born soul singer bringing the Southern soul revival to the present day.”
“No, it’s not,” he states bluntly.
“We’re beginning to blur the lines between reality and truth.”
Rick echoes the sentiments of Forrest Frank, who cautioned, “At least AI lacks a Holy Spirit. Opening up your spirit to something absent of a soul seems really odd to me.”
If AI continues to find its niche within the realm of Christianity, Rick is apprehensive about the implications on our consciousness.
“How many sermons will eventually get produced without true inspiration? Rather than seeking divine guidance through prayer, people could just turn to a computer to whip up a message for Sunday,” he ponders.
He mentions Pastor Todd Korpi’s book, “AI Comes to the Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence,” emphasizing that the primary threat posed by creative work influenced by AI is its tendency to fuel our desire for consumption and rapid advancement. AI-generated music can be produced far quicker and with less effort than a traditional studio album, which relies on authentic musicians, songwriters, and sound engineers—potentially deepening our disconnect in favor of expedience.
Rick resonates with Korpi’s concern, asserting, “When it comes to AI music, we’re dealing with something intangible. It feels like something malevolent to me.”
“The adversary and his demons love to twist the Bible,” he cautions, alluding to stories from the garden of Eden and Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness.
“The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when individuals—pastors, musicians, and singers—would cater to the desires of the audience rather than deliver messages that challenge and uplift according to scriptural teachings,” Rick reflects.
“I’m genuinely concerned that AI-generated messages and music won’t inspire awe or reverence for God, which is ultimately what leads me to worship. If I want to manipulate scripture or theology, AI certainly presents an easy means to do that,” he concludes.
For more insights from Rick, be sure to watch the complete episode above.
