Intelligent Faith: What kind of FUTURE do we want?

City Church San Francisco

In this sermon, Pastor Joshua reflects on the story of Babel from the Bible, emphasizing the theme of listening as central to the passage. He draws parallels with the art of acting, quoting the late Alan Rickman who believed that great acting is rooted in intense and accurate listening. Pastor Joshua suggests that the story of Babel is not just about the diversity of languages but also about the failure of the builders to listen and respond to God. He proposes an experiment in listening to the passage in three ways: the words of the builders, the inanimate objects (building materials), and God's response. The human builders, representing all nations, are criticized for using their newfound technology for self-preservation and fortress building rather than responding to God's vision for humanity. The sermon highlights the purpose of language not only to describe the world but also to envision a better future, echoing the creative power of language in the Genesis creation narratives. The sermon explores the significance of technology, symbolized by the building materials, in revealing human deficiencies. Using examples like criminal risk assessment algorithms, Pastor Joshua emphasizes the importance of understanding what AI and tools reveal about human biases and shortcomings. He encourages the congregation to see confusion as a grace and stresses the importance of listening in the age of AI, where polarization and distractions make discerning truth challenging. The sermon concludes with a call for the spiritual discipline of listening, envisioning a community that learns to listen well in order to speak prophetically and evoke wonder and new life.