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This story is part of Cedarville Magazine’s summer 2026 issue: Why AI? Biblical Wisdom for Bold Change. You can visit the Cedarville Magazine webpage for the full issue.

In late summer 2025, Cedarville became the first evangelical Christian university to adopt ChatGPT Edu campuswide. I have never been so convinced about a decision that received such a mixed reaction. I quickly learned that AI generates more than data — it generates strong emotions, both positive and negative.

I get it. Some people fear change. Others worry about ethical dangers, environmental costs, the threat to human dignity, job loss, or the unknown. Among Christians, AI rightly raises profound questions about what it means to be human. At Cedarville, our response is neither fear nor uncritical embrace but humility seeking discernment rooted in a biblical worldview.

Why We Acted

By adopting a campuswide solution, we chose engagement over avoidance. Our closed-network environment within ChatGPT gives us greater control over our data, protects our intellectual property, and allows monitoring to encourage academic integrity. Certain image generation features that would not honor the Lord have been disabled. Our focus from day one has been simple: access, training, and humility.

During my own deep dive into AI, two things became undeniable: AI is not going away, and employers are already demanding AI competency. The voices from the marketplace are unambiguous. Consider the words of Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart: “AI is going to change literally every job.” Stephen Squeri, CEO of American Express, warns of “the growing disconnect between the skills that CEOs are prioritizing … and how colleges and universities are preparing their students.” A recent employer survey found that 77% expect new hires to have AI experience, yet 58% believe universities are not doing enough.

Direct conversations with leaders at JPMorgan Chase were equally clear:

• “We expect everyone to have some level of competency for AI.”

• “Higher ed does not move at the speed of business.”

• “Faculty and staff are eliminating jobs for their students if they do not teach their students how to use it.”
  

If we reject AI, we fail our students. AI literacy paired with integrity, critical thinking, and people skills will distinguish Cedarville graduates in a competitive marketplace. We know many résumés will be reviewed by AI before reaching human eyes. We must equip our students accordingly.

Yet higher education is more than workforce preparation. We are forming students for lifelong faithfulness, wisdom, and service. Information is not formation. Critical thinking, creativity, moral courage, and spiritual maturity remain central to our mission.

Our Biblical Pillars

From the beginning, we established biblical pillars to guide our engagement with AI tools. These guidelines will grow and mature over time, but this is a humble attempt to ground everything we do in a biblical foundation.

We Worship the One True God. No human invention, including AI, will replace genuine worship. AI is a predictive tool, not a soul. It cannot repent, worship, or love. Genuine discipleship requires perseverance through trials over time. This relates to our core value of Love for God.

We Value People. Every person bears the image of God. AI must never diminish human dignity or replace human relationships. God designed us for community. In an age of digital interaction, people skills matter more than ever. AI raises questions about what it means to be human, and we want to think deeply about these big questions. This flows from our core value of Love for Others.

We Promote Truth and Embody Integrity. We reject plagiarism, deception, deepfakes, and every form of academic dishonesty. We pursue transparency and take responsibility for our outcomes, understanding AI's limitations and our own. This flows from our core value of Integrity in Conduct.

We Demonstrate Faithful Stewardship. God calls us to steward all resources wisely, including technology. We refuse to let AI weaken our intellectual development, bypass our strategic thinking, or replace our hard work. We embrace the goodness of work and reject laziness. We strive to enhance the common good while resisting wasteful or harmful applications. This relates to our core value of Excellence in Effort.

We Engage With Biblical Discernment. Not everything that can be done should be done. We challenge bias and falsehood, advocate for the vulnerable, and approach AI with humility, justice, and love. In this way, we are standing for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

We Walk in Wisdom and Humility. AI reflects finite human knowledge and is therefore fallible. We must not place ultimate trust in AI or in ourselves. Because technology shapes our habits and our thinking, we intentionally cultivate virtue alongside skill, and we seek to use AI in a way that pleases God.

Looking Ahead

Only our sovereign God knows what the future of AI in higher education will look like — but I am certain that the institutions that engage it wisely, guided by conviction rather than convenience, will be the ones best positioned to serve their students with excellence.

I can envision different disciplines aligning with different models, AI tutors supplementing coursework, a GPT created for every class, and academic support available 24/7. For now, ChatGPT Edu integrates best with our learning management system, so we will use it while evaluating continually.

As I write this, I have three AI models open in various browser tabs. I am learning in real time and seeking wisdom from above for decisions that will shape our students’ futures. The landscape is changing quickly, but while technology evolves, our foundation does not.

We do not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. And that confidence allows us to move forward — not recklessly, not fearfully, but faithfully.