AI "ARTIST" TOPS CHRISTIAN CHARTS: Soul-Less Algorithm Beats Real Worship, Sparks Debate
Solomon Ray, an AI-generated artist, currently holds the top Christian album on iTunes with "Faithful Soul" and the top two Christian songs with "Find Your Rest" and "Goodbye Temptation".
Ray is the first AI artist to have the No. 1 album and song on any iTunes chart. On Billboard, he has the No. 1 and No. 5 songs on the Gospel Digital Sales chart.
Ray is an AI persona created by Mississippi-based artist Christopher Jermaine Townsend. Ray's Instagram page explicitly identifies the musician as an "AI voice" while indicating that the performer has taken on a persona as an African American man from Mississippi.
Christian artist Forrest Frank warned his followers in an Instagram video, stating "At minimum, AI does not have the Holy Spirit inside of it. So I think that's really weird to be opening up your spirit to something that has no spirit".
Frank added "I already don't listen to secular music, and I'm sure not gonna be listening to AI Christian music".
Christian hip-hop artist Derek Minor weighed in, pushing back on Frank's concerns by noting that many Christian songs are written by non-believers or have contributors who are not Christians. "There's a lot of Christian songs that people love today that had people that weren't Christians write the songs, that helped with the songs," said Minor. "Or it could have been that people who were not Christians played guitar on the songs, or bass or drums".
Townsend responded to criticism by saying
"In his view, the question of whether AI can deliver a spiritual message isn't for any one person to decide. Who am I to say what God will or won't use to get the message His people need to them?"
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
An algorithm topped the Christian charts. Not a worship leader. Not a musician. Not even a human. An AI named Solomon Ray.
Number one Christian album. Number one and two Christian songs. First AI artist to top any iTunes chart.
And Christians are debating whether this is acceptable.
Here's the answer: No.
Forrest Frank nailed it. AI doesn't have the Holy Spirit. You cannot worship through something that has no spirit. You cannot minister through code.
Worship isn't just sound waves arranged pleasantly. It's the overflow of a redeemed heart. It's a soul connecting with God. It's humanity responding to divinity.
An algorithm can't do that.
Derek Minor's defense misses the point entirely. Yes, non-Christians play instruments on worship albums. Yes, unbelievers sometimes write songs Christians sing. But those are tools in the hands of humans. Not replacements for humanity itself.
There's a difference between an unsaved session musician and an AI pretending to be a person. One is a human using gifts God gave them. The other is a simulation of humanity.
Solomon Ray's creator says "Who am I to say what God won't use?" That's not humility. That's avoidance.
God uses broken people. Imperfect vessels. Flawed humanity. Not artificial intelligence.
This isn't about technology assisting worship. It's about technology replacing worshippers.
And Christians are buying it. Literally.
TAKE ACTION
Support Real Christian Artists
- Stop Streaming AI "Worship" – Delete Solomon Ray and all AI-generated "Christian" music from your playlists
- Support Human Artists – Purchase music directly from Christian artists like Forrest Frank, Derek Minor, Brandon Lake, and Lauren Daigle
- Demand Platform Labeling – Contact iTunes and Spotify demanding clear AI disclosure on all music
- Share Real Worship – Promote actual human worship leaders and artists on social media instead of algorithms
- Educate Your Church – Warn worship teams and congregation members about AI-generated "Christian" music infiltrating charts
- Choose Authenticity – If it doesn't have the Holy Spirit, it's not worship. Period.
DEUS VULT
