An app makes it possible for you to chat with Jesus. The app, called Tezt With Jesus, already has thousands of paying subscribers, allowing them to ask questions to “Jesus,” “Mary,” “Joseph,” and nearly all the 12 apostles. But while some praise the app, it has also been heavily criticized.

On its website, the app Text With Jesus writes, “Discover a new, interactive way to engage with your faith through Text With Jesus, a revolutionary AI-powered chatbot app, designed for devoted Christians seeking a deeper connection with the Bible’s most iconic figures.”

According to SCMP, thousands of people are subscribing to the app.The user can create chats with many of the apostles, including Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Speaking with SCMP, the creator of the app, Stéphane Peter, said it’s a “new way to address religious issues in an interactive way.”

The latest version of Text With Jesus is based on ChatGPT’s latest update, which follows instructions more effectively than previous versions. Even though the app makes it clear it’s AI, the virtual version of Jesus and others don’t recognize it as such.

Founder Stéphane Peter said that while the app has been highly rated on both App Store and Google Play, many consider the app blasphemous. Still, speaking to Fox Business, Peter says many are embracing it.

“Text with Jesus”

“Since launch, most people have come to the app out of curiosity, and it’s been incredible to see how many want to try a conversation with biblical figures,” he said..

So, how could a conversation look like on the app? For example, one can chat with “Jesus” or “Moses” and receive AI-generated responses, such as scriptures. According to the website, for instance, a user expressing anxiety about work might receive a response like, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Another one asked for advice on kindness: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

“We expected some pushback, especially from those who worry about AI taking on roles tied to faith,” Peter told Fox. “But, overall, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The vast majority of users see it for what it is — a fun, accessible way to explore scripture and spirituality in a new format.”

The app has also added AI-generated pastors and spiritual counselors.

“They’ve quickly become a popular part of the app because they give people a safe, approachable way to ask questions about faith, scripture or life that they might hesitate to raise elsewhere,” Stéphane Peter added.

Minister criticize the app

While many have praised the app, others believe that AI will struggle to replace a meaningful spiritual role. The Vatican, for example, has warned people to be cautious about confusing AI with genuine wisdom. In July, Joel Berry, managing editor of The Babylon Bee, criticized the use of AI in a religious format.

“AI isn’t a source of anything. It’s a mirror — a twitching, mutated simulacrum, and all it can do is reflect our own depravity back to us. … For wisdom, the only legitimate source must be something transcendent, objective, outside ourselves. … The only real source of truth and wisdom is God’s Word,” he wrote.

Minister Ken Weliever wrote about the Text with Jesus app, questioning how accurate AI “Jesus” really is. He stated, “just open my Bible and read it for myself.”

Would you be open to chatting with Jesus as an AI? Please share your thoughts in the comment section of the article on Facebook!

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