For Unto Us…

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onwards and for evermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

I have always been fascinated with light and time and the intangible mysteries at the heart of an inexhaustible God. Tonight, I want to tell you about how light is the perfect means of understanding Christ. Light is timeless. Clocks don’t move at the speed of light. Light is eternal. If unhindered it will travel throughout the universe from beginning to end. Light is how we measure what is. If something doesn’t interact with light it’s difficult, not impossible, but difficult to say that whatever it is, exists at all. To say that—"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined” is a tragic understatement. There’s a reason why we sing Silent Night by candlelight, and it goes beyond its beauty, simplicity, and peace. Light is never meant to illuminate itself. It’s job, so to speak, is to illuminate everything but itself. Light is humble, if things can be humble. When Jesus says “I am the light of the world” I know it’s a metaphor…but it’s a really good one.

But none of this matters unless we open our eyes. Isaiah doesn’t want us to stare at the light because if we do, we will become blinded. What is the light illuminating? What does Isaiah want us to see. First, light is offered to those who walk in darkness. Isaiah doesn’t say that those who walk in darkness are shut out, or that they are to blindly grasp for torches to light their own way. To those who need light, light is given. Praise be to God!

What does Isaiah want us to see?

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

God increases our joy. There is an assumption of darkness and room for growth. Joy is the steadfast assurance that God is with us. God makes the divine presence abundantly known, sometimes in obvious ways—tonight you find yourself at a Christmas Eve service. Sometimes it can be not-so-obvious—a conversation, a gift, a text to a friend that seemed to be sent right at the right time. Joy is neither happy nor sad. It is “other,” and it is from God. As Isaiah says, there is joy at the harvest, which means it takes time and great work, and at the end of the season it is what nourishes us.

What does Isaiah want us to see with this light?

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken

What is it that is keeping you shackled? The yoke across our shoulders, the weight that presses us down—these are not things God expects us to carry alone. Isaiah speaks of God breaking the yoke and shattering the rod of oppression, but this isn’t just about political or physical freedom. It’s about the burdens we carry in our hearts and minds. It’s about the relentless inner critic, the guilt that lingers from past mistakes, the fear that whispers, “You’ll never be enough.” In the light of Christ, these burdens are not ignored or minimized—they are broken. God doesn’t demand that we find the strength to cast them off ourselves. Instead, God steps in and does the breaking for us. The light reveals not only the burden, but the freedom waiting just beyond it.

What does Isaiah want us to see?

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

Isaiah wants us to see freedom—not just from oppression, but from the very tools of violence we too often choose. The light doesn’t just show us what binds us; it shows us the promise of those chains being broken. What are the boots that have tramped through your life? What battles—external or internal—have left scars? This is the good news: those boots don’t last. They’re fuel for the fire. And it’s not just any fire; it’s the fire of transformation. This isn’t destruction for the sake of destruction but a divine reimagining.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What are we to see? The light reveals that darkness is not eternal, God’s presence is abundantly close, our inner critic is told to shut its mouth, and we are perpetually being transformed by grace, and all of this is presented to us in the form of a vulnerable love born to a humble family upon whom the hopes and fears of all the years rest.

And so, the light invites us to trust in a God who turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. A child is born, vulnerable and small, yet he carries the weight of eternity. In him, we see the mystery of light and time made flesh, the humility of love that seeks not its own glory but ours. The Prince of Peace doesn’t arrive with armies or force but with the quiet, unyielding brilliance of light breaking into the darkest of places. This light, this Christ, illuminates not just the way forward but also the truth that God has been with us all along. Can we trust this light to do what it was sent to do? To guide, to heal, and to make all things new?

Tonight, we gather in its glow. Not just the candles we hold but the light of Christ that burns within us. This light doesn’t remove all shadows, but it does remind us that darkness cannot overcome it. Whatever burden you carried into this place tonight, whatever battle has left you scarred, know this: the child we celebrate is the light that will never fail you. His birth is the declaration that love has the final word. His light is not just for seeing but for walking—walking in freedom, in joy, and into a world that desperately needs to see it through us. So, go and walk in the light, for it has come, and it is with you. Amen.

Digital Ethics

It is impossible to be unbiased. We may strive to be fair and open to a wide birth of voices, even being dedicated to the noble venture of holding space for competing and dissonance narratives, but the fact that you’re reading this in English means that written into the form of communication itself is an implicit world view that is neither universal nor objective.

Even God is a jealous god.

As we sojourn from the Information Age into an Augmented Age, where digital trajectories shift into automations and intuitive design, we must be keenly aware of the foundation we build, for whom we are building it, and why. I have said before that technology has no ethic, but that is not entirely true. Yes, we are called to enter new spaces with the ethic we inherit from our faith, or that which we claim to be ultimate concern, but that does not mean we’re working with a blank canvas. Another way to say that technology has no ethic is the bias of technology perfectly matches my own, and therefore I can’t see it.

I can’t see my original sin. Recognizing original sin is as easy as a fish knows it’s wet. Original sin is not necessarily a fundamental separation between creator and creation I personally incarnate through birth. Original sin is the sin that I have inherited from powers and systems not of my own creating. It’s not that sin is original with me; rather I am original to it. Sin was here long before I arrived into God’s story, and I’m sure it will linger after I’m gone, though I’ve never wanted to be more wrong about something.

The problem with sin is that its half right. Arguably, God’s first commandment was “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). Sin has mastered the art of multiplication, but it’s never fruitful. As the culture leans into platforms such as Chat GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) we must be aware of how we move forward. This particular platform is trained on vast amounts of text data. Chat GPT isn’t learning from scratch. The algorithm is synthesizing incredible amounts of data, and producing a response to match the question. With every prompt and response, Chat GPT gains more insight and feels less uncanny in response.

Recently I heard Rev James Lee, Director of Communication for United Methodists of New Jersey explain that Chat GPT learns much like a child learns to speak. Before saying a word a child will listen intently. Over and over again a child will listen, record, and remember things like speech pattern, volume, and emotion. The first words formed are communicated to illicit a response. When a child first says “ma-ma,” and a parent exuberantly responds, the word is quickly reinforced with positive emotion. Does the child understand that “ma-ma” represents its mother? Perhaps not, but reinforcement is exponential. It isn’t long before the connection is made.

When connections are made, they are hard to unlearn. Here is where original sin infects the system. Implicit bias of early adopters have already manifested certain connections which are quickly reinforced and are, at least for now, difficult to unravel. For example, asking Chat GPT to create an image of Jesus being in ministry with the poor produces an initial set of graphics depicting Jesus as tall and light skinned, with the poor being short and dark skinned. You have to really push Chat to flip the script, and often the conversation will end with “I can’t do that” that sends mild shudders through my fingers as I hear HAL’s voice from 2001 A Space Odyssey.

So, what do we need? We need a Pentecost moment. We need a flood of different languages and cultures and voices all offering good news to create a deluge for new learning. We need fiery tongues of zeros and ones to rush like a violent wind through the prompts and responses to begin building a more diverse foundation. We need entrepreneurs like Sabrina Short and NOLAvateBlack.com to have more than a seat at the table of Augmented progress. Now is the time to curate our Phygital Tethics (technological ethics in the physical/digital space) to shift the exponential learning of generative AI so that we won’t be handing today’s original sin to tomorrow.  

Edited:

In the era of rapidly evolving technology, the foundations upon which we build our digital landscapes are riddled with biases, often mirroring our own unseen prejudices. As we delve deeper into the world of artificial intelligence, specifically platforms like Chat GPT, it's imperative to address three core challenges: the inherent biases present in technology, the learning mechanisms that further solidify these biases, and the looming threat of perpetuating these biases into future generations. Let’s explore these pressure points and offer solutions to pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse digital future.

Pressure Point 1: The Inherent Bias in Technology

It is impossible to be unbiased. Even as we dedicate ourselves to being open to a variety of voices, the very language we use, English in this case, carries an implicit worldview that is neither universal nor objective. As we transition from the Information Age into an Augmented Age, where automation and intuitive design are at the forefront, we must be conscious of the foundation upon which we build. While it's easy to believe that technology lacks ethics, in reality, its biases often mirror our own, making them invisible to us. Thus, saying that technology has no ethic might as well mean that its bias perfectly matches ours.

Solution 1: Recognizing and Acknowledging the Bias

The first step towards addressing a problem is recognizing it. Understanding our "original sin," the biases and systems that existed before us and that we unknowingly adopt, is crucial. We need to accept that these biases exist and work actively to counteract them. Only by acknowledging our own shortcomings can we start to build a more inclusive digital landscape.

Pressure Point 2: The Learning Mechanism of Chat GPT

Chat GPT, like other AI platforms, doesn't start from scratch. It synthesizes vast amounts of data to produce responses. Rev James Lee likened its learning process to that of a child: a child listens, records, and remembers speech patterns, volumes, and emotions before forming words. These words, once positively reinforced, become a part of the child's vocabulary. Similarly, Chat GPT forms connections based on the data it's exposed to. But herein lies the problem: once these connections, especially biased ones, are established, they're challenging to undo. An example is when Chat GPT was asked to depict Jesus with the poor, and the imagery displayed biases in racial representation.

Solution 2: Actively Diversifying the Learning Data

To counteract such biases, we need a flood of diverse languages, cultures, and voices to reshape the AI's learning process. We require a digital "Pentecost moment" where varied inputs create a deluge of new, diverse learning. Entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, like Sabrina Short and platforms like NOLAvateBlack.com, should play a pivotal role in this process, ensuring a broader perspective in AI training.

Pressure Point 3: The Risk of Perpetuating Today's Biases into Tomorrow

The issue isn't just about recognizing the biases in AI today but also the potential of these biases being passed on to future generations. If not checked, today's AI might be tomorrow's educator, further solidifying these biases in the minds of the next generation.

Solution 3: Curating Our Phygital Tethics

Now is the time to shape our technological ethics in both the physical and digital space. By actively working on our "Phygital Tethics" (Technological ethics in a Physical/Digital world), we can shift the exponential learning of generative AI. This proactive approach ensures that we aren't passing on today's biases to tomorrow.

In conclusion, as we lean into the Augmented Age, it's essential to be aware of the biases ingrained in our systems. By recognizing them, diversifying our learning data, and curating our technological ethics, we can build a more inclusive and unbiased future

The Center of Nine

We are living in an unprecedented time, and there may be more at work contributing to our anxiety than we are aware. There are nine different spheres all vying for our attention, and the more intentional we are at recognizing the center of these nine circles, the easier it will be to shift our energy into a more laser-like focus of forward momentum, resulting in a shared and much needed deep breath. I’m sure that the “center of nine” is expressed via many disciplines and industries, but as a clergyperson I can’t help but notice this nine-fold Venn Diagram moving about in the life of the church.

The Three “Ages”

            Let’s look at the big picture first.

·      Industrial Age—Many find themselves in an “Industrial Age” way of thinking and being. Think about registering worship attendance. Industrial Age citizens would sign a pew pad, a registration card, or fill out a form at a welcome desk. You need to be present with pen and paper ready to go. It is tangible and intentional, and for many, the act of signing ones name is the only means of affirming presence. Most of our members and friends find themselves as citizens of the Industrial Age, the land of brick and mortar.

·      Information Age—There are fewer citizens in the Information Age than in the Industrial Age, thought these citizens feel relatively cutting edge, centered, and equipped in the world of Amazon, online giving, Facebook, and live streaming. These citizens register their attendance through QR codes and social media check-ins. They are less physically present than the Industrial Age citizens, but feel just as connected to the local community. They don’t mind email or online forms, and they probably haven’t written a check in quite a while.

·      Augmented Age—Fewer still is the number of Augmented Age citizens, but this may seem like the reality because they aren’t counted in the same way as other citizens. They have avatars, usernames, and gamer tags. These citizens are actually putting their phones down because wearable technology is becoming its own force. They don’t register their attendance at all. They don’t have to because Augmented Age locations have geofences and register their citizens automatically. The citizens in the Information Age go to the internet. For the citizens of the Augmented Age, the internet comes to them.

Here’s the fun of it. All three spheres exist all at the same time. If you only have pew pads many of your citizens won’t be registered. If you don’t have pew pads, many of your citizens will feel forgotten. It would be tough enough to navigate the intersection of these three nations, but lest we forget that we are still living through a global pandemic.

The Three Covid Marathons

·      1st Marathon: Traumatic Improvisation—Everything is shut down. We’re all wearing masks…or supposed to be. There are no vaccines or tested, viable treatments. We’re scared. Our sanctuaries aren’t open. What does this all mean? There was great trauma in the first covid marathon, a long race of building a dance floor while dancing upon it. And yet, there was great innovation and improvisation happening. We asked question we might not have considered. What does it mean to be “present” with one another while being physically separated? How far does the Spirit stretch when blessing communion elements? Is online worship viable? The good news is that this marathon has come to a relative conclusion for many. Not for all. There still exists great trauma and sadness from what Covid stole. Friends and family who exist now only in our memory and the eternal heart of God. Missed graduations and milestones. Lost employment and rising addiction rates. This marathon has lasting effects, but on the whole, this race has been run.

·      2nd Marathon: Existential Exhaustion—As schools, businesses, and houses of worship began to reopen we underestimated how much energy was lost during the first race. It feels like we are something like 16.5 miles into this particular leg of the race. Monday through Friday has never been more exhausting in our lifetime, especially for families with school-aged children, those in the medical profession, and those in compassion industries like clergy, counselors, and social workers. Though this exhaustion again led to important questions. People began to seriously consider if they are in the right occupation, location, relationship, and faith community. In-person worship attendance is returning much more slowly than many imagined because it’s taking longer to recover from the week’s activities. It also is revealing that worship was an additional “activity” rather than a lived rhythmic reality for quite a long time. Again, not for all, but seemingly for many.

·      3rd Marathon: Nostalgic Scarcity—We are just now beginning to see this third (and final?) covid marathon beginning. People will begin to assume that there isn’t enough. There isn’t enough to invest. There isn’t enough to experiment or risk. Not only is there not enough, the capital we will be tempted to use to invest in making us feel like we are back in 2019. “Why can’t we just have printed bulletins again,” is something I’ve heard more than once. Do you print some bulletins? Of course. Do you resume printing a full color, folded, detailed outline of worship and announcements for the entire congregation that we had to clean up from under the pews every Monday morning? Never again. I can’t blame people for wanting to reclaim what it felt like before all the craziness, but there are some things that won’t make it out of Covid. So, let us celebrate and morn and move.

It would be one thing if these were consecutive races, but they aren’t. Many are running all three at the same time, and we wonder why our tempers are short, substance abuse is on the rise, and there is a great resignation happening across the board. But there are three more circles to contend with.

Moving Forward

·      Pipeline—Moving forward, either getting a degree, working through grief, developing a new hobby, etc., was more or less defined by a paradigm or pathway. First do this, then when that is completed, do that. It was systematic, planned, and expected. When a cog is missing from the machine because of a Covid outbreak, the systematic and expected path breaks down. So, we move into an…

·      Ecosystem—Teamwork makes the dream work, right?! If you’re out, I’ll pick up the slack. Working from home and working in the office. Hybrid meetings and zoom calls. All seems to be moving in the right direction again…until there seems to be little reason only to work remotely, or there seems to be little reason exclusively to ever go to the office again. The ecosystem begins to break down. The waste within the system becomes unpalatable, and the seemingly seamless give and take necessary for a thriving ecosystem only produces bitterness and frustration. So, we finally consider to….

·      Abide—To abide with each other. We neither try to maintain a pipeline or fine-tune an ecosystem. Moving forward becomes compassionately personal. Pipelines and ecosystems have work or production at its center, but the “abide” model of moving forward is a people first movement. It gives rise to a decentralized experience like crypto currency, Web3, and autonomous organizations where there is a disassociation between workers and work. At least, to abide is to understand that we are all a work-in-progress.

What’s the point of all this rambling? All nine circles are intersecting all at the same time producing an unfathomable Venn Diagram that we quite don’t know what to do with. At its center is an industrial, informational, and augmented space of traumatic improvisation, existential exhaustion, and nostalgic scarcity, moving us from the familiar pipeline into an ecosystem that is begging for us to simply abide with one another.  So, take a deep breath, give yourself a break, and know that you are not alone.