Is there information that a software program, like the artificial intelligence (AI) program ChatGPT, could be able to choose the true Christian church or at least give people information to be able to make that choice?
Although I have issues with artificial intelligence (AI) programs, sometimes they can be helpful when I do certain types of research.
On September 12, 2025, I asked ChatGPT the following question:
Can you do deductive logic to come to independent conclusions, or does your programming essentially force you to give answers within a general consensus of majority scholars?
I asked this because AI software is programmed to not look at facts, but to use consensus of views the programmers want to be considered as reliable.
Anyway, it’s response began with the following:
Great question — and the answer is nuanced.
✅ Yes, I can use deductive logic to reach independent conclusions.
After asking some items related to doctrine, I told ChatGPT, then, to do the following:
Compare teachings of the Continuing Church of God to those of the Roman Catholic Church.
It responded with the following:
Certainly. Below is a side-by-side comparison of the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) on a range of key doctrinal topics. These differences highlight fundamental theological and practical divergences.
🟦 Continuing Church of God vs. 🟥 Roman Catholic Church
(With Key Doctrinal Corrections and Clarifications)
Topic Continuing Church of God (CCOG) 🟦 Roman Catholic Church (RCC) 🟥 Source of Authority Bible alone (Sola Scriptura in practice; rejects unbiblical traditions) Bible + Sacred Tradition + Magisterium Godhead Binitarian: Father and Son are divine Beings; Holy Spirit is not a person, but the power/presence of God Trinitarian: One God in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) Sabbath Observance 7th-day Sabbath (Saturday) observed Sunday observed (based on resurrection and tradition) Biblical Holy Days All Leviticus 23 Holy Days kept (Passover, Unleavened Bread, etc.) Not observed; instead celebrates Easter, Christmas, etc. Unclean Meats Avoids pork, shellfish, etc. per Leviticus 11 Permitted; all meats considered clean Resurrections Three Resurrections: 1) Saints, 2) Rest of humanity, 3) Wicked for judgment and destruction One bodily resurrection at the end of time; souls judged at death (heaven, hell, purgatory) Afterlife No immortal soul; soul is mortal unless granted eternal life at resurrection Soul is immortal; immediate judgment to heaven, purgatory, or hell Hell No eternal torment; incorrigibly wicked are destroyed Eternal conscious torment in hell for the unrepentant Reward of the Saved Literal Kingdom of God on Earth during Christ’s reign and beyond Heaven as the final reward of the righteous Deification (Theosis) Believers will become literal children of God in the God family (glorified spirit beings) Saints “partake of divine nature” spiritually, but do not become God-beings Mary Respected as Jesus’ mother, but not venerated; rejects Marian dogmas (Immaculate Conception, Assumption, etc.) Venerated; teaches Immaculate Conception, Assumption, and many titles (e.g., Queen of Heaven) Purgatory Denied; not a biblical teaching Affirmed; a state of purification before heaven Church Hierarchy Hierarchical: Apostles → Prophets → Evangelists → Pastors/Elders → Deacons (Eph. 4:11) Highly hierarchical: Pope → Cardinals → Archbishops → Bishops → Priests → Deacons Clergy Titles Biblical offices only; no “Father,” “Monsignor,” etc. Wide range of ecclesiastical titles Ordinances / Sacraments Recognizes two ordinances: baptism (immersion), Lord’s Supper (yearly Passover) Seven sacraments (e.g., Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, etc.) Communion Annual Passover with bread and wine as memorial; symbolic Frequent Eucharist; teaches transubstantiation (literal body and blood of Christ) Salvation By grace through faith, but includes repentance, baptism, and obedience to God’s laws By grace through faith, with cooperation through sacraments and good works Birthday Celebrations Generally discouraged or rejected as pagan in origin Accepted and celebrated Christmas / Easter Not observed; seen as pagan-rooted traditions Central holy days in the liturgical calendar Tithing Mandatory 10% tithe of income Encouraged giving, but tithing not required Church History View Believes in a remnant Church that remained outside Greco-Roman orthodoxy Sees itself as the one true Church with apostolic succession Second Coming / Millennium Premillennial: Christ will return to reign 1,000 years on Earth Mostly amillennial; Millennium interpreted symbolically or spiritually
Before going further, let’s look at some of those points ChatGPT compared.
Topic (CCOG) (RCC)
Source of Authority Bible alone (Sola Scriptura in practice; rejects unbiblical traditions) Bible + Sacred Tradition + Magisterium
The Continuing Church of God rejects unbiblical traditions but bases its beliefs of the Bible.
Notice what Jesus prayed to the Father about true Christians:
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)
So, Jesus prayed that true Christians would be sanctified, set apart, by the word of God.
Regarding, tradition, Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day when they pushed what they considered to be “sacred traditions” as part of what they basically considered to be their magisterium:
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” — 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:1-9)
Notice that Jesus said it was vain to worship using traditions and teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
Regarding the Godhead, the Continuing Church of God holds to the original Christian view of it, whereas the Church of Rome accepted the trinitarian position of Roman Emperor Theodosius when they adopted it in 381 A.D. For details, check out the free eBook: Mysteries of God. What is God?
The writings of the Apostle Paul clearly state that doctrines/teachings that come from the Bible make one complete/fully equipped:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV)
16 All scripture is inspired by God and useful for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be upright. 17 This is how someone who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NJB)
The New Testament is clear that all a real Christian needs is teachings from the word of God to be fully equipped. It says nothing about relying on traditions that do not agree with the word of God.
Let me add that while Roman Catholics correctly point out that Protestants do not really believe in sola Scriptura, the Continuing Church of God is NOT Protestant as we had apostolic succession from the beginning of the church age and did not come out of Roman Catholicism. This is documented in the free eBook: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.
As far as the Sabbath as opposed to Sunday goes, all scholars realize that the original Christians rested and had church services on the seventh-day Sabbath, not Sunday. The Church of Rome teaches that it, and NOT scripture, was the authority to change from what the Bible teaches on this.
In the Old Testament, reference is made one hundred and twenty-six times to the Sabbath, and all these texts conspire harmoniously in voicing the will of God commanding the seventh day to be kept, because God Himself first kept it, making it obligatory on all as “a perpetual covenant.” (Senex. The Christian Sabbath. The Catholic Mirror. September 9, 1893, p. 10)
Nine times do we find the Sabbath referred to in the Acts, but it is the Saturday (the old Sabbath). Should our readers desire the proof, we refer them to chapter and verse in each instance. Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44. Once more, Acts 15:21; again, Acts 16:13; 17:2; 18:4. “And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and Greeks”;thus the Sabbath (Saturday) from Genesis to Revelation!!! Thus, it is impossible to find in the New Testament the slightest interference by the Saviour or his Apostles with the original Sabbath, but on the contrary, an entire acquiescence in the original arrangement; nay a plenary indorsement by Him, whilst living; and an unvaried, active participation in the keeping of that day and not other by the apostles, for thirty years after His death, as the Acts of the Apostles has abundantly testified to us. (Senex. The Christian Sabbath. The Catholic Mirror. September 9, 1893, pp. 13-14)
The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday. (Senex. The Christian Sabbath. The Catholic Mirror. September 16, 1893, p. 29)
So, the Church of Rome admits that Saturday is the Sabbath in the New Testament scriptures, but it changed the date to Sunday.
Regarding the Holy Days, the Continuing Church of God observes the ones that the Bible enjoins, which is also what Jesus did.
The Church of Rome changed the days and incorporated pagan worship practices.
Notice the following from a Roman Catholic writer:
Nov. 1st was the day of the Celtic Summer’s End feast of Samhain, the day when the dead returned to the earth. We have retained some of these pagan elements to Halloween, as is true of Christmas and Easter.
Why would a pope put the Catholic celebration of the dead on top of the pagans’ celebrations of the dead? Because the Catholic feasts are in continuity and fulfill the meaning of the pagan ones… (Killian Brian. Halloween, as autumn celebration, reminder God’s name is hallowed. Catholic Online International News. 10/31/06. http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21818).
But were Christians supposed to do that?
According to the Apostle Paul, the answer is no:
20 But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils. 21 You cannot drink the chalice of the Lord, and the chalice of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20-21, DRB)
Yet, the Church of Rome, as well as the Eastern Orthodox and Protestants have done that.
Regarding unclean meat avoidance, scholars know that non-early Christian believed it was inappropriate to eat biblically unclean animals.
While the Continuing Church of God still holds to that, the Church of Rome changed that for its people.
According to the Liber Pontificalis, this was changed by Bishop Eleutherius:
He also decreed that no kind of food in common use should be rejected especially by the Christian faithful, inasmuch as God created it; provided it was a rational food and fit for human kind (Book of the Pontiffs (Liber Pontificalis) 2nd edition. Translation by Raymond Davis. Liverpool University Press – Translated Texts for Historians, Liverpool, 2001, p.17).
According to Lopes’ book The Popes, Eleutherius was bishop of Rome from 175-189 AD. This book (which I purchased at the Vatican itself) states this about Eleutherius:
He dispensed with the obligations of Christians to follow dietary laws of Judaic origin (page 5).
The above book should have said the obligations of biblical origin as the dietary restrictions began with God and not Jews (the distinction between clean and unclean animals was known by at least Noah’s time, since God so declared in Genesis 7:2-3). Perhaps it needs to be stated that no one called of God in the Old Testament is ever shown to have consumed unclean meat. Hence the Roman Catholics (and the Protestants that follow this edict) are relying on a possible pronouncement of a bishop of Rome for justification of eating unclean meats more than they may realize. And this alleged decree did not happen until about 150 years after Jesus was resurrected. See also: The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats.
Another difference, but one that ChatGPT overlooked was that the Church of Rome as well as most of the world’s other churches, supports the idea of their members fighting in the military. Early Christians opposed this, as into the 3rd century did Hippolytus of Rome as did Lactanius in the 4th century. While Rome changed after being influenced by the Roman Emperor Constantine, we in the CCOG still do stand against Christians fighting in the military. An article of related interest is: Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?
So, there are many differences between us and the Church of Rome, including massively important ones related to salvation and God’s plan (see also the free eBooks Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation and The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?).
For its summary, ChatGPT put out the following:
🔚 Summary
Category Continuing Church of God (CCOG) Roman Catholic Church (RCC) View of Early Christianity Seeks to restore original apostolic teachings based on Scripture Claims unbroken apostolic tradition with authority to define doctrine Relation to Jude 3 (“faith once delivered”) Claims to preserve original doctrines that others abandoned Teaches that Church has authority to develop doctrine over time 🧭 Conclusion
From a deductive and doctrinal standpoint:
The Continuing Church of God claims continuity with early Christianity and rejects what it views as post-apostolic additions by the RCC.
The Roman Catholic Church asserts itself as the original, continuous Church founded by Christ, with authority to define doctrine through time.
Which one is “correct” depends on:
Whether you accept Scripture alone as the final authority (CCOG view),
Or you accept the authority of tradition and the Church hierarchy (RCC view).
🧭 Final Notes:
CCOG sees itself as a faithful continuation of first-century Christianity, without additions from Greco-Roman or pagan tradition.
RCC sees itself as the historical Church established by Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit through centuries of doctrinal development.
As far as continuity goes, both the CCOG and the Roman Catholic Church teach that they have continuity from the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
Both claim to have apostolic succession, starting with the Apostle Peter.
One difference is that the Church of Rome teaches that it had early succession by tradition–which was specifically the position of the late Pope Benedict XVI, whereas the CCOG asserts that it has true documented succession from the apostles.
So, which church did ChatGPT choose?
Well, it chose neither.
But, it did properly conclude that one would chose the Continuing Church of God if one believes in basing beliefs on the word of God.
ChatGPT suggested that those who prefer tradition would chose the Church of Rome.
So, what will you do about knowing this?
Will you repent and change and support the Continuing Church of God?
Or will you simply dismiss that as not being the case because many more support the Church of Rome?
Remember that Jesus said:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Are YOU willing to enter by the narrow gate?
Are YOU willing to take the effort to really know which gate that is?
The Book of Proverbs teaches:
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)
This article has answered sensibly about the differences between the two groups.
Will you accept that or are you wise in your own eyes, and lazy enough to not bother to do anything?
If you claim to be a Christian, remember that the Apostle Paul wrote: that you were to:
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV)
21 But prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21, DRB)
If YOU are willing to believe the Bible.
If YOU are willing to believe what the original early Christians taught.
Then you should be among those who will:
3 … fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3, NJB)
3 … contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3, NKJV)
That is what we in the Continuing Church of God do.
Now, our free eBook book, Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church, documents from the Bible as well as from historical sources accepted by the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches, what the original Christian doctrines were, who changed them, when some were changed, and why some were changed. If you are interested in church history and the truth about what happened with the original church, you really should read the book.
If you are Protestant, we would also urge you to read another free eBook that we have available: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.
YOU can be much more intelligent than ChatGPT — if you believe the Bible, you would chose the Continuing Church of God.
We also have the following related video:
Which Church Would ChatGPT Choose?
Could an Artificial Intelligence program like ChatGPT pick the true Christian church or at least provide information to assist people interested in knowing that. Dr. Thiel asked ChatGPT to compare the teachings of the Continuing Church of God to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It provided a summary of doctrinal differences and conclusions. Dr. Thiel read some of the doctrines and cited scriptures and historical matters to show which church held to the original beliefs. He also explained that the Continuing Church of God is not Protestant and has apostolic succession. He also referred to a variety of free eBooks available at www.ccog.org for those who want more details and information on many of the original Christian doctrines. Here is what ChatGPT stated as part of its conclusion: ” From a deductive and doctrinal standpoint: The Continuing Church of God claims continuity with early Christianity and rejects what it views as post-apostolic additions by the RCC. The Roman Catholic Church asserts itself as the original, continuous Church founded by Christ, with authority to define doctrine through time. Which one is “correct” depends on: Whether you accept Scripture alone as the final authority (CCOG view), Or you accept the authority of tradition and the Church hierarchy (RCC view).” Dr. Thiel then cited the words of Jesus, and the writings of the Apostles Paul and Jude and encouraged people to prove all things and contend for the original Christian faith. A faith that the Continuing Church of God teaches and practices.
Here is a link to our video: Which Church Would ChatGPT Choose?
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 160 different languages there.