Discerning to Digest – Insourcing Wisdom in a World That Feeds You Answers

Content Consumed

The World Wide Web has developed and progressed beyond what was initially, perhaps, foreseen and planned to become. We live today in more and more challenging times, where Artificial Intelligence is developing at a fast pace and beyond what is discussed at large about job security and the impact of change on certain industries. AI has also become a threat to the quality of content creation. What is more, the young generation is turning to the Internet for advice, guidance and even sources of Wisdom. AI and multiple human influencers are posing a stature as if all can be known and life can be navigated easily ‘if’. That ‘if’ is rather a life-changing one; even ‘if’ people do what is suggested, most situations end up disappointing to the content consumer.

The world seems to be a strange place and the times unrecognisable. However, beyond what is pictured in the media and on the Internet, notably there is a lack of discernment, and what technological advancement produces is end users who consume what is given. It may sound like a crisis; however, I would dare to say it’s worse than that. Because it affects all generations today, and there’s a competition and conflict between the length of days and the glorious crown of grey hair¹ and technological advancement.

Inherently, a machine can do as much. An influencer can speak at large about a topic in a 60-minute podcast. However, decisions are made for a lifelong journey; therefore, what is out there as advice and guidance will never compete with the wisdom coming from above.²

Which is which?

I am daily reminded of the wealth of Wisdom found in the Bible. I have had recent challenges in my life which I could only navigate by contemplating God’s word and in prayer. I have observed that, as a regular user of AI tools either for work or Bible study, if unaware of what the Internet and AI can and will provide, the end user will rather be a simpler taster of information. Digesting whatever is on the plate without knowing what is on the plate. This poses a greater risk than what seems to be on the surface.

What I am not saying is that all that is on the Internet, either as a podcast, or a blog post, or an article, or a short video, is wrong. There are well-intended content creators who are honestly discussing topics to know the truth as it is. Or are writing on a topic, doing meticulous study and preparation before posting an idea in cyberspace. What is more, the Internet is not the only one, but Television posed the same threat to thinking and discernment. It’s just that the Internet has taken over due to accessibility and costs for both production and the end user. Fewer restrictions and control over the published content.

What I am saying, though, is that knowledge was overtaken by information and wisdom by format and performance. Laying therefore to the persona watching and easy to understand and digest episode of what seemed to be knowledge. Picturing and creating a comfort to which one always goes, giving the impression it is safe and can be reliable. Comfort of mind which can be trustworthy. And once trust was earned becoming pleasure which satisfies curiosity and the mind. Comfort can become a threat to one’s wellbeing and quality of life. Especially when it is served, and more is given as an overflow of wealth and unending peace.

Adversity and hard times created strong people. Strong people created peaceful times. Peaceful times create weak people. Weak people produce hard times. It seems to be a never-ending cycle. But that’s not the case anymore, because once that reality was understood, the cycle broke. What is more, let’s not forget that history is linear and time flows one way only. Therefore, we ought to discern what we see and observe.

The Outsourcing of Discernment

There is a fundamental issue with judging that someone else can do the thinking for me. Not just technological advancement has produced the outsourcing of cognitive processes, but also the personality culture which can be identified in all strands of Christianity and at all layers of society. Starting with government to the entertainment industry. There seems to be a mindset to introduce within discussions and debates the argument from authority. Or the argument of belonging to a group, or a category of people. It seems that the mere fact someone has a degree and owns knowledge on a subject is an argument against critical thinking and disagreeing with what is said.

Oftentimes I find myself being opposed by such argumentative opposition and even challenged if an expert on the topic. Or, what qualifications do I have to challenge and oppose a line of thinking? We are all ignorant to a certain degree. Objectively speaking, we cannot know the truth. However, what the Bible promises is that once a believer, I can have a personal encounter and relationship with the incarnate Truth and Word of God, Jesus Christ. Therefore, fundamentally, a child of God is protected from outsourcing discernment and empowered with Wisdom, which dwells in prudence and finds out knowledge of witty inventions.³ Wisdom which increases strength of understanding and metacognition.⁴

Not a Question

I find it rather sad to see people eating whatever is served, without ever questioning why something is on their plate. Discernment is just like cooking what you eat. It’s that process, just like any meal, when ingredients are selected, technique is used to mix the ingredients, and patience is required to follow the recipe. Heat to prepare it at the safe serving temperature. Creativity to arrange the food on the plate and on the table. In the end, resulting not just in a good meal, but in knowing what will nourish the body. How much more important should the mind and the heart and soul be. Yet, it seems, society is characterised by digesting what was already ‘discerned’ by someone or something else. It is becoming a challenge even finding a good book to read. We lost the era when a book was a book.

Notice that the issue is not the consuming of content and information and knowledge. But what is the content, what is said about something, what is displayed as knowledge and knowing. It may all sound well and good and enticing. Perhaps that’s the purpose of how it ought to be. However, is it useful and fulfilling and intended to be so? Is it further displaying the need for personal study and motivating to know the truth? Or is it displayed as if the truth is known and there’s nothing outside of what was already said?

The Wisdom to Discern

With the Bible is not so. I find it to be very interesting and thought-challenging. Unresting and even hurtful, to the point it settled the mind, the heart and soul. I find this often when reading the Bible. Not because it intends to provoke a storm and then provide peace; it wins the reader. However, I noticed that I come expecting to know something about the Bible and Jesus Christ, the incarnate Truth. I bring into the Bible my presuppositions and assumptions. Then striking statements such as “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good”⁵ come as a lighting. Because, when this is said, the Bible doesn’t exclude itself, but it rather says to start with the Bible. Without placing the emphasis on the prover. But on what is proved to be good, bringing him to face one decision: reject or accept the good.

Therefore, at this point we can see what the Bible says Wisdom is. Depicted as a person by Solomon in the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is precious, desired to have and more useful than any academic degree or AI machine. Solomon, in his wisdom given from above, revealed that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom⁶. Another striking statement, which without saying states that it is without end. Looking therefore, beyond earthly existence into eternity. What is more, once given, Wisdom inherently changes the mindset, the heart and the soul. Then discernment develops alongside Wisdom, not on its own or in isolation from knowledge. Discernment is rather displaced inwards and relies on the Giver of wisdom, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1. Job 12:12; Proverbs 20:29 ↩︎
2. Proverbs 1:7; James 3:17-18 ↩︎
3. Proverbs 8:12 ↩︎
4. Proverbs 1:6 ↩︎
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ↩︎
6. Proverbs 1:7 ↩︎