Slow and Costly in a World of Fast and Cheap

First, the algorithms took over.

Some algorithms are beneficial. I enjoy seeing Amazon’s recommendations based on the purchases I’ve made. Sometimes I discover new accounts I want to follow. The algorithms are a serendipity machine, sometimes allowing me to discover things I wouldn’t have on my own.

However, we have lost something valuable within the algorithms. We’re not seeing what we’ve chosen to see. We’re seeing what social media wants us to see, and it’s not always beneficial.

Now, A.I. is taking over. Again, A.I. has its uses. It's easier now to create new words, images, videos, books, and sermons that are well-written but lack depth and emotion.

I’m worried about a world in which A.I. and algorithms are in control, and we’re reduced to passive consumers.

There’s a solution.

I heard this insight on the Stay Forth podcast, and I couldn’t agree more:

People are seeking things that are rare and valuable right now. In a world of cheap and fast, people desire slow and well-crafted."

Pastor: aim to preach a well-crafted sermon. Bring a manuscript to the pulpit that’s been stained with tears. Plead with God for your people. Love those God has called you to serve. Labor inefficiently for your people and for the good work God has given you to do. Go for long walks without headphones and pray through the issues that your church faces. Refuse to take shortcuts so you can become a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed of his work (2 Timothy 2:15).

Christians: look for people to love. They don’t need more screens. They need faces. Scan those who haven’t talked to a soul in days and give them your full attention. Don’t look over their shoulders for someone more important. Be all there and care.

Young Christian: cultivate offline habits. Read books. Ask people, not algorithms, for what to read next. Read old books. Strive to be an old soul by staying grounded and not getting caught up in current trends. Think in decades. Work your way slowly through Scripture. Meditate on it. Cultivate the kind of life that will bear fruit for decades. Pray in private where nobody can take notice. Memorize Scripture. Turn off the screens and work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Cultivate a close walk with God.

Writers: write slowly. Refuse to become a content machine. Play at it. Work at it. Enjoy it. Care about it. Learn the craft of writing over time, and surprise us with insights that delight and help.

Readers: don’t let the algorithm tell you what to read. Learn how to use RSS to follow the best blogs and stop following the rest. Read hard things without A.I. simplifying them for you. Read books, not just posts. Find a few favorite authors and read everything they write.

In a world of fast and cheap, choose slow and costly. You won’t see the payoff immediately, but the results, I’m convinced, will be worth it.