As I mentioned in Part 1, there is no great need for most of us to explain that humans are Wonderfully Made, with all the intricate systems that work together for the body to function, we can appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship involved. However, for me, the first part of this Psalm 139 passage is a bit trickier to navigate due to associations made related to the root word fear. The Oxford definition is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain.” I do appreciate the fact that this definition includes the word emotion, but it’s the Hebrew word yare that David uses. Lori Roeleveld shares, “It is translated fearfully but isn’t about being scared but rather being in the presence of what is sacred. This type of ‘fear’ is like the sense of awe or astonishment that overcomes us in a magnificent cathedral, staring out over a great range of mountains at sunrise or when holding a newborn.”

To be Fearfully Made means “we aren’t cranked out on a human conveyer belt in God’s great soul factory. Each of us is ‘crafted’ by God in His image but also specifically designed to be who we are, to fulfill the purpose [or God-Given Space] God has planned for us,” adds Roeleveld. It is this sacred perspective that supports the stance that we are non-algorithmic, that because we are made in His image, we are created with a sense of humor, creativity, and emotions. In Non-Computable You, Marks offers, “Emotions that make us human will never be duplicated by a machine. These include compassion, love, empathy, elation, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, pleasure, pride, excitement, embarrassment, regret, jealousy, grief, hope, and faith. Properly defined, creativity, sentience, and understanding are also on the list. These and other non-algorithmic traits are evidence of a non-computable you.”

So, if the non-computable me, the sacred me, is an Image Bearer of my Creator, then I embrace a healthy perspective that I am a finite being, that I come with weaknesses and limits. Perhaps I cannot perform 24/7 on certain tasks and artificial intelligence can step in the gaps, but I can laugh at your use of puns and sarcasm, and I can share in the pain of losing someone you love. God created us to be in relationship with each other and Him, and it’s this idea of Analog Companionship that eclipses the tools we create which help us function in the world we live in today.

Therefore, what advice can be provided that equips us to live as if we truly are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made in a world of artificial intelligence? Roeleveld provides some suggestions: (1) remember life is sacred, (2) remember you are not hidden, and (3) respect that difference is part of our design. “Each person bears within them, like the signature or thumbprint of a great painting master, the image of God…It’s natural for us to feel [lost] at some moments in our lives…There is no place we can go, no situation that develops, no pit of sin so deep that our God cannot find us, be present with us, and lead us into His light.” And through healthy habits like the Habit of Awareness, we can appreciate the people who see life differently than we do. “Rather than complain about our differences, we should celebrate the great panoply of humanity, to which we belong…Together, we make a diverse and magnificent work of living art.”

To be Fearfully and Wonderfully Made means that I don’t fear where AI technology may take us. I will respect it, I will expect it to be held accountable, but I will develop a healthy and balanced perspective as to what role it will have in my life. I will recognize that it is indeed a tool that can be beneficial to living a flourishing life, but I will not allow it to become an Idol to be Worshiped. I will choose to place my faith in the Creator and those who are His Image Bearers.

Do you desire to add something to this idea of being Fearfully Made? Please consider continuing this conversation in the comments below.

References:

Marks, R. (2022). Non-computable you: What you do that artificial intelligence never will. [Kindle version]. Discovery Institute.

Roeleveld, L. S. (2022, November 10). What does Psalm 139 mean by ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ Christianity.com Retrieved from https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-does-psalm-139-mean-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made.html