I woke up to a new week. Sunday was very challenging because I had great trouble breathing. My pastor asked me to give the message, in addition to leading worship. I was almost in tears as I struggled to focus on supporting my notes and keeping accurate rhythm on my guitar. Surprisingly, our deacon, Fred, complimented my singing and mentioned the anointing he felt. I just shook my head in humble gratitude that I could even get through the service. I was expectant and hopeful that today, my breathing would be more relaxed and I could record some more demos of my new worship songs.
As I was enjoying my first cup of morning coffee, I picked up a CD by a beautiful Messianic artist, Carlos Perdomo and started to read the credits of his album. I noticed the name Lynn DeShazo. I remember many worship songs she wrote in the late eighties. I decided to look her up via Google and saw that she is now retired. I went to YouTube to see if there were any videos of her. A video drew my attention, titled, “What a Beautiful Name.” A beautiful dark-haired man, who looked like Jesus, was holding a microphone. Of course I had to check it out being that I covered that song many times leading worship. The first thirty seconds began with the man declaring the glory of God’s kingdom. He was dressed in a beautiful white suit and had a commanding voice. A sweet violin wafted as his powerful voice projected. Accompanying images showed close-ups of people crying, praying and looking stupefied. The beautiful music was so compelling I lifted my hands in worship. The song was not the HillSong version of “What a Beautiful Name,” but was divinely anthemic. Then I looked closely at all the details of the video as the song progressed. The performance looked like it was taking place in an amphitheater packed with thousands of people. I was a bit bedazzled. I also scrutinized the close-up shots of the singer and the syllables did not exactly match the position of his mouth and tongue. This happens with inaccurate lip-syncing. At the end of the video, two people were shown surrendering their lives to Jesus.
As I quietly pondered the video, I felt compelled to research his music website and his Wikipedia bio. I did notice that there were several of Elias Grace’s You Tube videos. They were all very similar, looking perfect and a bit surreal. As I Googled Elias Grace, I found not one Facebook or personal website. I also clicked on the link of his Spotify and the music was from a soulful Black artist. I became very suspicious and I immediately realized that all of this beautiful hoopla was AI generated.
I praise God for all the precious people who do sincerely accept Christ as their Savior after watching this video. God can use anything, including AI for His Glory. However as a purist and worship artist myself, let us always remember that satan comes disguised as an angel of light.
I am noticing that musically-talentless people are jumping the bandwagon of AI to create their musical compositions. I am not impressed…at all! I am a purist. I remember the days when I would drive to Belmar Boardwalk on a sunny afternoon with my ministry cat, Baby-Baby, and my Taylor guitar and just sing and strum away to the children and passerbys. A young guy approached me after singing a song. He replied, “I have never heard such a pure voice.” He gave me his email address as he wanted to get to know me better, lol.
I remember recording my first album with a local, talented producer, Ernie Wilkens. Mariah Carey was the rage and I practiced with her CD every day to strengthen my lungs and increase my vocal range. I was a caregiver to a precious, elderly stroke victim who became a grandfather to me. When “Pop” went to bed, off I’d go to the garage to practice my challenging vocal scales in my Toyota. After I finished recording my first album, “I’ll Fly High, I connected with a talented and very sweet man, Jeff. My spiritual mom, Winnie, saw him at a jewelry booth at Collingswood auction and asked if he was a guitar player. He affirmed. Winnie told him that I needed a guitarist to accompany me and he asked if I had any music. I just happened to have a copy of my CD and he bought it on the spot. When I got home, his message on my answering machine was, “That voice, that voice. You need to learn guitar and accompany yourself.” Jeff had only gotten to my third song, “Tell Me, Tell Me.” I was amazed.
The next thing I knew, Jeff asked to come over as he wanted to show me how to play the guitar. He taught me the basic chords and left his guitar. “Get comfortable with it every day” he smiled. I fell deeply in love with the guitar and wrote my first song. Several months later, bored with basic chords, I bought a Jazz chord book and experimented with the beautiful and unique sounds. That year, 2001, I composed worship songs for my second album “Devotion/One Small Warrior.” I also happened to grow in my repertoire of learning jazz standards and top 40 songs to sing at the area restaurants and coffeehouses. God so blessed my new gift where I was able to support myself without a live-in roommate or man.
So, the reason I am addressing this AI generated video is that it is a precursor of platforms to come. We Christians must be wary and discerning regarding news, world events, entertainment and politics generated by AI. This is not a trivial matter. The book of Revelation: 13:13-15 describes great and mysterious manifestations. I will not go into detail about the complexities, manifestations and power of AI because there are innumerable articles from Christian journalists, scientists and pastors. We all need to soberly pray and fast about everything we see and encounter online or in the news. The Bible tells us that if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived. Mat 24:24. Jesus told his disciples, “Take heed that no man deceives you.”
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of Good. Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I checked out more comments under the videos from “Elias Grace.” I saw not one one person doubting or even mentioning the AI generation. My pastor, Augusto Perez, shared on his podcast last year that he had a dream about a beautiful and gentle man coming out to the world and being lauded as the Messiah by the masses. Papa Augusto said that the Jesus in his dream needed rest from all the traveling and meetings. Papa Augusto immediately knew that this was not the real Jesus because Jesus now abides in a perfect and glorified body that never tires!
My friends, I beseech you all to meditate on the scriptures day and night. Ask Holy Spirit to increase your discernment because the antichrist will come like a gentle lamb, beautiful, mesmerizing and supernatural. I also ask musicians and especially worship artists to ask holy Spirit to purify your worship gift. Jesus is a purist and he hates artificiality. I refuse to mix my divine artistry with AI technology. Christian artists, you need to fast and pray about using AI. Remember the anointing which ensued from the old testament Psalmists and even the Hymn writers. Get back to the pure basics, practice, commitment and Holy Spirit anointing.
One last thing. Ask AI if he wants to acknowledge Jesus Christ, Yashuah HaMachiah as Lord and Savior?
