Everywhere you look, it seems, artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in fresh and intriguing ways. While I’m not against AI, it’s crucial to carefully consider the potential disruptions it may introduce into our society. Yes, there are concerns about AI potentially replacing human jobs, but we should also view AI as a means for people to engage in tasks they might not have been able to before. AI both challenges and expands human creativity, prompting us to reflect on how technology can either restrict or liberate our creative capacity. It makes you wonder—how can AI push the boundaries of human creativity even further?
AI is redefining the landscape of human creativity, which in turn compels Christians to reflect on how these creative acts mirror God’s reality. A recent example is Telisha “Nikki” Jones, who created Xania Monet using Suno, showcasing how AI can unlock new avenues for human creativity. Xania Monet is an AI-generated persona created by Jones to transform poems into songs. Notably, Monet became recognized as “the first notable AI artist to gain enough radio airplay to debut on Billboard’s radio charts.”
Though Jones utilized AI to help create music and establish her persona, it’s important to note that AI didn’t compose the music itself. Despite AI’s assistance, Jones retained her creative control. As a poet and songwriter, she clearly possesses talent and creativity. She took the time to learn how to effectively use the available tools, including AI, and has become quite proficient in the process. Even when AI-generated avatars are involved, human creativity still shines through.
So, how should we view AI’s new capabilities? How can it empower people who previously felt limited in their creative abilities? Before diving into these questions, it’s essential to develop a biblical and theological framework for understanding creativity—something we should focus on as we move forward.
Human Creativity
It’s often suggested that human creativity relates to God’s act of creating the world, yet this connection is mostly inferred from Genesis. A more concrete instance is found in how God equipped Bezalel with the skills needed for the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11; 35:30-35). God filled him with “the Spirit of God, ability and intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship” (31:3), allowing Bezalel to craft the tabernacle as per God’s design (31:11).
This creativity of Bezalel operates under divine guidance, aligning his God-given talents with God’s instructions. Human endeavor and technology can yield results, but these outcomes are not on humanity’s terms.
When pondering human creativity, it’s vital to refrain from detaching creative efforts from reality. Our creative expressions should fit within God’s order. One ongoing concern is that human creativity can promote narratives that distort or deny God. While there are various concerns, Christians must not separate creativity from the boundaries of divine order.
This principle is crucial for understanding human creativity, as it is fundamentally rooted in theological foundations. A genuinely creative act mirrors the world as God created it, as revealed through Jesus Christ and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. To disconnect human creativity from reality isn’t imagination; it’s delusion.
Creativity and Reality
Viewing human creativity through a theological lens could offer new insights into using technology in creative pursuits. Take the music industry, for instance. There are understandable worries regarding copyright and intellectual property. I, among others, have noted that as we embrace new technologies, we risk sidelining essential aspects of humanity, creating greater distance between us.
Yet, we must not overlook more foundational issues. When human creativity isn’t anchored in divine reality—the essence of the Triune God—it can enchant both creators and audiences, skewing their perception of reality. Thus, human creativity can indeed alter our reality and the manner in which we exist in it.
For example, consider Zania Monet’s song “Let Go, Let God.” From what I gather, the lyrics penned by Terisha Jones echo a deeper truth: “You need peace. You need rest.” While God grants us less than what our transgressions deserve (Job 11:6; Ezra 9:13), claiming we merit more than we have can lead to theological misinterpretation. We can experience a peace that transcends understanding, but it isn’t something we earn (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; Acts 25:11; 1 Timothy 5:18; Revelation 16:6).
It might seem trivial to critique a single line in a song. I’m not aiming to undermine the song or its lyrics but to illustrate how fragile human creative endeavors can be and how easily our creations can misrepresent reality. If our creativity must align with reality—meaning it should faithfully reflect God and His order—we must meticulously identify and resolve contradictions. This task requires strength and courage but also humility and gentleness.
Creativity and Technology
How exactly will AI impact human creativity? For starters, it has the potential to overshadow what we typically consider human creative efforts. AI itself is a product of human ingenuity, but it can also make traditional human artistic pursuits seem obsolete. This concern resonates strongly among those in music, art, and writing.
Secondly, AI broadens access to creative opportunities. Take Zanier Monet as an example. While Telisha Jones may not be a singer, she can utilize AI to generate vocals and music. It’s valid to view AI vocalists as a challenge to conventional musicians, given that one of the barriers to the music industry used to be the ability to perform. AI is allowing those without traditional musical training to engage creatively, shifting the focus from performance to technological proficiency.
Lastly, technology creates a rift between people and human creativity. When we listen to Zania Monet, we encounter Terisha Jones’s creativity, yet we remain distanced from her. Apart from her interviews, she remains relatively anonymous. Each artist tends to project facades. Think about painters; we mostly know them through their creations, not necessarily through personal interactions. Similarly, singers often craft personas that may not reflect their true selves. This is a natural part of the creative process. However, as AI vocalists rise, we risk moving further away from genuine human interactions and towards virtual substitutes, avatars instead of real beings.
Technology may not be erasing human creativity, but it’s certainly transforming it. We now face the question: do we welcome this change? Is it subverting something vital about being made in God’s image, or does it enrich our experiences of each other? Change isn’t neatly categorized as good or bad; it inherently involves some degree of loss. Transitioning to new methods means relinquishing what came before. While we may wish to preserve aspects of a pre-AI world, we shouldn’t assume that AI will completely eliminate human creativity.
Several theological considerations arise when we assess AI and technology in general. As we think about using human creativity alongside AI for music, literature, art, and more, it’s essential to reflect on why these forms of expression matter to begin with. They stem, at least partially, from human experiences and the lives we lead. Enhancing human creative efforts with technology isn’t a new concept, and while it can be complicated, I don’t find it inherently troubling. However, completely replacing human effort or bypassing the messy, inconvenient, and inefficient processes that shape human personality with technology is another story entirely.
Human creativity certainly holds commercial and economic significance, but it remains just one facet of a multifaceted human creative experience. I suspect that while losing some economic value might be disappointing, it’s something we can adapt to. For Christians, the theological importance of human creativity should be prioritized. It’s vital to recognize our ongoing need to utilize and honor the gifts God has given us while glorifying Him. Economic success can be beneficial, yet it doesn’t erase the theological implications of human creativity. As long as Christians remain dedicated to loving God wholeheartedly and loving others as themselves, there will always be room for creativity.
First publication date is November 18, 2025.
