Does Using AI Align with the Call to Love Our Neighbor?
- mikelewiscoaching
- Oct 18
- 3 min read
AI is no longer a futuristic concept: it’s part of our everyday lives. That forces a conversation about how we use it with wisdom and integrity. Do we retreat and stay "safe"? Do we jump in blindly and ignore the lines we could easily cross? Healthy growth usually lives in the middle, guided by caution, curiosity, and an open mind.
I won't pretend this post answers every ethical question. I think the wisest thing we can do right now is ask better questions and commit to keeping the conversation going.
Starting with the Core Question
For me, the key ethical filter is beautifully simple: How can I use AI and love people well?
This is a core call on our lives, rooted in the command to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). So, what does that look like when a tool can automate tasks, disrupt entire job functions, and even eliminate positions?
The truth is, AI is not going away. It isn't a black-or-white topic we can debate from the sidelines. If this technology is here to stay, loving people well means preparing them for the world they will actually live and work in.
Leaders, this is on us. Don't hide from the conversation. Talk about AI with your teams. Help them learn it. Train people to use it responsibly and skillfully. When your people grow their AI skills, they become more valuable and more marketable, not less.
The Honesty and Authorship Question
Another ethical question I constantly wrestle with is honesty. If I use AI to write an email, draft a blog post, write a book, design a graphic, or cut a video, am I being dishonest?
Here is how I process it:
Ask why it feels dishonest. Is the feeling rooted in the fear that it might misrepresent my effort or expertise? Am I afraid of being “found out”? Naming the specific concern helps you respond with genuine integrity.
Find a fair comparison. Think about an executive assistant. Many leaders have an assistant who drafts emails that go out under the leader’s name. We accept this because the ideas, the decisions, and the ultimate accountability still sit with the leader. AI can play a similar role. It can draft, but I still own the message, the intent, and the outcome.
Is that difference—human versus machine—big enough to make AI use unethical in every situation? I don’t believe there is a single clear answer. Context matters. Industry norms matter.
Three Practices that Keep You Grounded
Here are three key practices to keep you moving forward with integrity.
Grow your self-awareness. Notice your internal reactions to AI. Journal about what excites you and what bothers you. Pay attention to the values that sit underneath those feelings.
Ask five whys. I forget where I learned this strategy but I find it to be a solid one. When something feels off or complex, ask “why” until you get to the root of the issue. Five layers is a good rule of thumb.
Talk it out. Do not process this alone. Invite trusted people (mentors, peers, team members) to debate, disagree, and refine your thinking.” As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17, NIV).
A Practical Path Forward for Your Team
To move forward with clarity, put a few guardrails in place:
Teach your team how to use AI with clear guardrails.
Decide when to disclose AI use (e.g., in client work vs. internal drafts), and put that decision in writing.
Keep humans in the loop for judgment, relational connection, and accountability.
Measure impact on people. When AI saves time on a task, don't just fill it with more work. Intentionally reinvest the saved time in high-value, human-centered activities like relational care, deeper service, and creative development.
Ethical AI use is not about succumbing to fear or buying into the hype. It is about loving people well, living with integrity, and taking responsibility for the powerful tools we choose to deploy. If we can do that, we move forward with clarity and a clean conscience.
