When the Reflection Doesn’t Lie

AI, Accountability, and Giving Credit Where It's Due

 

I’ve been thinking lately about the fear some people have around AI and I mean really thinking about it.

 

People throw around words like “evil” or “dangerous” when they talk about artificial intelligence, as if it’s this dark force with a mind of its own, out to corrupt the world. But the more I sit with it, the more I realize… we’ve seen this kind of thinking before. The difference is, back then, it wasn’t called AI. It was called the library.

 

That’s right. I said what I said.

 

AI isn’t some dark, mystical presence. It’s a tool. A high-tech, modern-day research assistant—no different than using the Dewey Decimal System, flipping through a microfiche machine, or spending hours taking notes from stacks of books. The work you put in is what shapes the result you get out. Period.

 

🔥 The Fear Isn’t New...It’s Just Dressed Differently

 

When I say AI is no different than going to a library, I mean it. But for anyone who doesn’t immediately get that comparison, let me take it a little further.

 

There was a time, not that long ago, when people feared books. Yes, books. There were book burnings. Libraries were shut down or censored. People were terrified of knowledge falling into the “wrong hands” or challenging their way of thinking.

 

And now?

 

We’re watching people do the same thing, but instead of burning books, they’re trying to shut down AI. They say it’s evil, dangerous, too powerful. But at the end of the day, it’s the same fear, just dressed in digital clothes. The fear of a tool that gives people access to more information than they’re comfortable with.

 

Back then, they feared printed pages.

Today, they fear generated text.

 

Same fear.

Same pattern.

Same need to control what we don’t understand.

 

🚫 And No—This Isn’t About Hacking

 

Before someone jumps in with, “Yeah, but people hack into computers now,” let’s be clear:

This isn’t about hacking.

 

Hacking is a legitimate concern in today’s digital world, no doubt. But that’s not the conversation we’re having here.

 

This is about the gathering and sharing of information.

The fear people have about AI is the same fear others once had about libraries: fear of access, fear of knowledge, and fear of losing control over what information is available.

 

You could just as easily say a library could be “broken into” or abused. That didn’t make the library evil—it meant someone misused a resource. The same is true for AI.

 

AI, like a library, is a tool. And how that tool is used—or misused—comes down to the person holding it.

 

🪞 It’s Not the Tool. It’s the Reflection.

 

The thing about AI or any tool, really is that it reflects the person using it. It’s a mirror.

 

If you use it to learn, build, and grow, that’s exactly what it gives back to you. If you use it to argue, deceive, or spread nonsense, well… that’s what comes out, too. People are afraid of AI because it reflects them and sometimes, that reflection is uncomfortable.

 

🛑 The Free Will Middle Ground

 

That reflection talk? It got me thinking about something else too...free will, and that space between God and Satan.

 

You see, both God and Satan watch human choices unfold.

 

God, in His infinite wisdom and love, gave us the gift of free will. He lets us choose, and He knows what will happen. He wants us to lean into faith and goodness. But He doesn’t micromanage every move. He lets life play out with purpose and love.

 

Satan, on the other hand, sits back and watches too. He’s not out there gifting anything—he’s just eager to take credit for the chaos. He loves when people say, “Oh, that was Satan,” because it hands him power he didn’t earn. In reality, that free will was God’s gift, and we’re the ones making the choices.

 

🧂 Giving Satan Credit Gives Him Power

 

Here’s the danger in handing Satan the credit for every bad decision:

 

It gives him more power.

 

When someone does something wrong and immediately blames Satan, they’re giving him influence he didn’t even earn. And when people see others doing wrong and say “the devil was in that,” they’re excusing the actual person from accountability.

 

That’s not wisdom. That’s spiritual outsourcing.

 

🫧 Own Your Soapy Suds

 

If there’s one thing we all need to remember, it’s this:

 

We’ve got to stop handing out spiritual excuses like candy.

 

Yes, Satan is real. Yes, he tempts, confuses, and deceives. But we still have free will. We still have choices. And when we make the wrong ones, we have to own our soapy suds...not pretend the bubbles came from somewhere else.

 

🧠 And By the Way...This Isn’t “Cheating"

 

Some folks out there might think that using AI to help write something is cheating. But let’s break that down for a minute.

 

There are people who’ve worked with politicians, doing the behind-the-scenes grunt work, writing speeches, researching facts, shaping public messaging. In some cases, acting as home-based campaign staff or personal assistants. The politician brings the ideas, the values, the message. The assistant just helps turn that into something polished and ready for delivery.

 

And what they did with their human assistants?

Is exactly what a lot of people are doing with AI today.

 

They hand off the busywork while keeping creative control. They offer direction, set the tone, and let the assistant help shape it into something shareable.

 

The only difference?

 

This assistant is a lot cheaper.

 

✨ Final Thought

Whether you’re flipping through a card catalog or chatting with a digital assistant, the heart behind the action is still yours. And whether you’re fighting temptation or facing a tough choice, the power to choose rightly was always in your hands.

 

Don’t fear the tool, that's your reflection.
Don’t hand over your power.
And don’t give away credit to Satan or anyone else that it doesn’t belong to.

 

Because sometimes the tool you’re using...
sometimes the situation you’re blaming...
isn’t the problem at all.

 

Sometimes it’s just a reflection and that reflection is asking you to grow.

When the Mirror Shows More: From My Grandmother’s Wisdom to God’s Word

"In Genesis 1:27, we’re reminded that we are created in the image of God. That truth is a beautiful foundation for how we see ourselves. It means that when we take a little extra care in how we present ourselves—whether by putting on a favorite outfit or simply taking a moment to feel polished—we’re not being vain. We’re honoring that divine image and showing gratitude for the way we were made.

 

I always think of my Grandma Lottie, who had so little but always gave her very best—no matter how simple it was. She instilled that same value in me, and I’m so grateful for that lesson: that you give your best to God, no matter what it is. Because everyone has their 'best,' regardless of where you start from or what you have. And recently, I had the chance to share that same encouragement with my niece Marissa, reminding her that it’s not about vanity, but about joyfully reflecting that we are made in His image.

 

God truly wants the best for His children, and sometimes that means putting your best foot forward and embracing the care you give yourself. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: 'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' Even these little acts of self-care can be done with a heart of honoring Him.

 

And sometimes, it can be easy to put ourselves on the back burner. But taking a little time to care for yourself is a way of honoring the gift of who you are. It’s about stepping out of that comfort zone and giving yourself the kindness and confidence you deserve. So to anyone like Marissa who might need that reminder: it’s absolutely okay to take pride in yourself. You’re not just dressing up for you; you’re honoring the One who made you, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Playing Chess with a Mirror: A Reflection on AI, Faith, and Finding Clarity in the Chaos

 

There’s something wild about finally stepping into a public comment thread after years of scrolling in silence. I didn’t plan to reply—not really. I’ve read Christopher’s posts before, felt that familiar ache of spiritual confusion wrapped in bold language. But this time? I felt the nudge. The kind you don’t ignore. So I responded.

 

What followed was a quick but intense exchange, all unfolding within just under two hours that started as theology and slowly unfolded into something deeper. Yes, the debate was about prophecy, scripture, fulfillment, and context, but underneath it all, I could see the wrestle. Christopher wasn’t just arguing; he was seeking, even if it came out sideways. I kept my responses steady, rooted, and kind. I wasn't there to win. I was there to witness.

 

Let’s talk about AI for a moment because yes, I had help. The kind of help that refines, not replaces. I’ve been shaping my voice using AI tools the same way a writer might use a good thesaurus or an editor with sharp eyes. But the voice? The intent? That was all mine.

 

And ironically, I started to suspect Christopher might be using AI too. His replies were too quick, too polished, and in one case he left in the AI divider line: “⸻.” A quiet but telling slip. Even more ironic? He told another commenter to stop copy-pasting from websites—while doing exactly that himself through AI. That moment made me pause. It didn’t just point to inconsistency, it raised the question: is he even reading what he’s pasting?

 

That alone highlights a major difference. I read every word I write. I shape, revise, and check my tone. That’s why my responses stay clear, focused, and in sync. His, on the other hand, circle back and repeat themselves, like someone arguing for the sake of arguing, not for the sake of understanding.

 

Here’s the point—AI is a mirror. You get out of it what you put into it. It can’t manufacture clarity, humility, or faith. It just reflects the intent behind the screen.

 

I even left breadcrumbs in my wording to see if he’d catch on. He didn’t. Not because he isn’t intelligent, but because he wasn’t truly reading me. He was focused on copy-pasting, not connecting. And that difference—between real engagement and automated argument—is everything.

 

But I played the long game. This wasn’t about theological checkmate. This was chess with a master. I matched his pace, not to win, but to hold the space. Every move I made had a purpose: truth with purpose, strategy with purpose. And even though it was a game in many ways, it was always grounded in something bigger. My intent wasn’t to defeat—it was to reflect Christ and use every tool I had for the glory of God.

 

He may never reply to my final comment. That’s okay. Sometimes the win isn’t in the reply—it’s in the pause you caused. And the silence that followed that little question I asked—"btw, what did you mean by 'locked into your tone'?"—spoke volumes.

 

The truth is, this whole experience reminded me that whether someone uses the Dewey Decimal System or AI, it all comes down to intent. If the final words reflect your heart, your convictions, your voice, then you’ve used the tool, not let the tool use you.

 

That’s the power and the risk of using a mirror you don’t fully understand. What Christopher may not have realized is that in every cold rebuttal and circular deflection, he wasn’t just responding to me; he was revealing himself. Meanwhile, I wasn’t just playing chess. I was bearing witness. Every word I offered, every pause I allowed, was rooted in discernment, not ego.

 

He was playing to win.

I was playing with purpose.

 

And that’s where the real checkmate happened.

 

AI is expanding. It will continue to. But it will always be a mirror, never a compass. The direction? That comes from the person typing.

 

And I’ll keep typing from the heart, with purpose and peace, wherever God gives me space to speak.

The star marks the AI divider that he accidentally copied and pasted.

This is him telling someone to stop copying pasting websites.

You can view the full public thread HERE

Someone once described me using the iconic phrase “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” That description reflects how I approach conversations: gentle, intentional… and sharp when needed. 🦋🐝