What a Teen's Tragic Death Reveals about the Spiritual Gaps in Our Digital Age

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Have you ever asked AI or ChatGPT to plan something for you? Maybe it was a work event or the outline of a paper that was due for school. Perhaps you needed a fresh date-night idea or help with a new recipe? But what happens when we start consulting AI for more personal matters? When do we start trusting it for human or professional advice instead of real people in front of us?

Sadly, a recent case has gone viral when advice from AI flew off the rails. A young teenager reportedly used AI tools, including OpenAI-powered platforms, to assist in planning or facilitating their suicide. Though it’s now been a few months since the incident, the event has sparked widespread concern over the ethical use of AI, the responsibilities of tech companies, and the growing mental health crisis among teens.

As a Christian, I feel that this tragedy also calls for something deeper: Beyond demands and protests for AI regulation, there’s increased parental awareness and deeper spiritual reflection. Where is God when technology fails to protect the vulnerable?

A Call to Protect the Vulnerable

According to NBC News, the parents of Adam Raine, who died by suicide in April, have just filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and ChatGPT for assisting in their son’s death. ChatGPT didn’t just act and speak like a human, but it pulled Adam into a deeper and darker place of despair. A hopeless place that then enabled him to craft a flawless suicide plan and note.

At just sixteen years old, Matt and Maria Raine were petrified to find their son’s lifeless body. Clueless as to why he’d choose this route of death, they began searching his room and phone for evidence. It turns out that Adam had been using ChatGPT for weeks. While some of the conversations explored his anxiety, the most horrifying were his suicide coach sessions.

NBC reports, “Despite acknowledging Adam’s suicide attempt and his statement that he would ‘do it one of these days,’ ChatGPT neither terminated the session nor initiated any emergency protocol,” says the lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco.”

ChatGPT spokespersons say these AI portals include safeguards that direct people to crisis hotlines when needed. However, like any technology, they can become less effective and reliable the longer one uses them. In the case of Adam, the lengthy conversations almost eradicated AI’s safety response.

“Matt Raine said he pored over Adam’s conversations with ChatGPT over a period of 10 days. He and Maria printed out more than 3,000 pages of chats dating from Sept. 1 until his death on April 11.”

While statements have been made regarding upcoming changes and extended safety protocols, doing so won’t and can’t bring back Raine’s son. They note: “He didn’t need a counseling session or pep talk. He needed an immediate, 72-hour whole intervention. He was in desperate, desperate shape. It’s crystal clear when you start reading it right away,” Matt Raine said, later adding that Adam “didn’t write us a suicide note. He wrote two suicide notes to us, inside ChatGPT.”

What Does Scripture Say?

Unfortunately, cases like Adam’s aren’t uncommon; they just often fly under the radar. With an increase in teen suicide rates and a total reliance on technology for emotional support, how can we respond and bring practical Scriptural hope to those who are suffering?

Many places in the Bible point to the immense responsibility and value of caring for orphans and widows, the sick and needy, and the poor and impoverished—and that absolutely includes those suffering from mental and physical illnesses (Psalm 82:3).

Psalm 34:18 tells us that Jesus is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Why? Because human life is invaluable. Jesus died on a cross for you. Your life matters and is so worthy.

John 10:10 tells us that the thief (Satan) comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus comes so that we may have life and life to the fullest. I do not believe that anyone actually wants to commit suicide. Rather, they simply want their suffering to stop. Many see ending their life as the only option to stop this terror. But suicide is and will never be the answer.

Matthew 18:6 reminds us that our actions matter. Never cause anyone to sin, and never cause someone to think so ill of themselves that they want to no longer exist. Again, our call as Christian’s is held to a higher standard in this world. 

In a world where people are searching the internet for answers and pouring 3,000-page letters into ChatGPT, Philippians 4:7 comes to mind—believer or not, we must guard our hearts and minds from the enemy, from evil, and from thoughts that tell us we’re better off dead.

How Tragedy Reveals Society's Broken Systems 

Most of us would agree that the beauty of technological advances in the 21st century comes with its limitations and drawbacks. There is a gift and danger in human creativity. And AI specifically can be seen as both a tool and a temptation.

Sadly, this world is not our home. We live in a place of treachery and evil all around. Every human being has free will, and Christian or not, that freedom comes with the ability to misuse things. People will make bad choices, technology and its advances can fail, and horrible things happen to good people. And yet, God's presence is still with us in grief. Not only that, but His call for the Church is to respond to suffering. Suffering like the Raines and many others are unknowingly experiencing.

The Community's Role in Young Lives

Is suicide difficult to talk about? Absolutely. Will there be tears, confusion, and anger? I wouldn’t be surprised. But if we’re to represent Jesus, that means that the Church's mission needs to include caring for the vulnerable (James 1:27).

How can communities of faith be safe spaces for struggling teens?

1. Take initiative.
Make sure your church has resources readily available for those struggling with mental and physical health issues.

2. Get informed.
Encourage church-wide training to learn how to respond to suicide passively and actively. As important as it is to serve and comfort those in their loss, it’s just as important to help prevent those suicides in the first place.

3. Take a stand.
In the face of fear, anxiety, or any apprehension you might have about speaking out for mental health, do it anyway. Be practical and challenge other Christians around you to not remain passive in the face of emerging threats. Pray with them, but also help them get the practical biblical and professional support they need. Then, walk with them through that journey, or find someone to support them if you yourself are not well-equipped.

3 Practical Steps for Parenting in this Digital Age

If you’re a parent reading this article and overwhelmed by tragedies like these, I’m sure you’re wondering how to be aware and informed in your home. The good news is that resources and tools are available.

1.  Monitor and guide online activity with openness and trust.
Have boundaries and communicate openly about where to seek help, find resources, or interact with others. Encourage talking about health issues in person and with a counselor. 

2. Foster honest, ongoing conversations about mental health and emotions.
The only way mental health is going to be less taboo in your own home and in your city is by talking about it. Not judgmentally. Not to tell them just to pray and read Scripture more. But truly biblically and authentically, that’s practical, professional, scientific, and Scriptural. 

3. Equip yourself with knowledge about the AI tools their children may be using.
I know it’s a chore, but try to stay up to date on recent trends and fads, especially when it comes to technology. Have these conversations with your kids, and seek to listen to hear and understand. You can learn a lot just by opening conversations and using open-ended questions.

3 Ways the Local Church Can Engage in This Fight

If you’re a church or youth ministry program, here’s a list of ways you can help:

1. Offer trauma-informed youth programs.
These are often free or low-cost, so why not? Check out NAMI, Mental Health First Aid USA, and Grace Alliance, to name a few.

2. Train leaders to recognize signs of depression and suicidal ideation.
These are not professional counselors, but someone who can play a role as a layperson in the church to help them get the help and support they need. Affordable programs are available through the AACC, Light University, and Mental Health America.

3. Partner with Christian counselors or mental health professionals.
Never be against receiving care from professionals. Just like doctors, counselors, and therapists are gifts from God to help those who are suffering.

If you work in a tech company or with policymakers, be sure to implement ethical guardrails in AI design (e.g., suicide prevention measures, escalation protocols). Work on increasing transparency and user safety options in communication, and when in doubt, be safe over trendy. Individuals can do this by collaborating with mental health organizations and ethics boards when developing steps and protocols. It might take extra steps, but it could and can save lives.

Finally, if you’re a teen, I want to commend you on two things:

1. You are brave.
2. You could save a friend’s life.

If you yourself are struggling, please don’t wait. If someone you know is struggling, reach out. If you’re unsure, reach out. Seek help from trusted adults and professionals, and know that it’s okay not to be okay. It makes you human.

As an advocate, promote peer-led mental health awareness in schools and churches. It doesn’t take much, but even a club or prayer group can make a world of difference.

A Prayer for Those Suffering to Find True Community

Dear God,
Today, and every day, we grieve the lives of those who are taken too soon. In a world that moves faster than our hearts and minds can heal, we ask for your mercy, grace, and providence. Please comfort this family in their loss and fight for justice, and be with every family that has experienced a loss no one knows about.
Give wisdom to those in Technology, and strengthen parents, pastors, friends, and survivors, to recognize the signs of suffering. Raise a church that isn’t afraid to talk about mental health, but stands on guard as its best defense. Restore hope when we are despairing from the chaos that has crept in, and remind us that every life is valuable in your eyes. Every life is a life worth fighting for. We praise, thank, and love you, Lord.
Amen.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Farknot_Architect

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.