# What is a system prompt?

> Hidden instructions an app gives the model before your conversation starts. It sets tone, limits, and often theology.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/system-prompt
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

## Why it matters for Christians

The system prompt is where an app’s theology lives. Some Christian apps publish theirs.

## What to do

Ask a Christian AI app to show its system prompt or a summary of it. Look for what it says about Scripture, speaking for God, and crisis help.

## Related words

- [Prompt](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/prompt.md): The instructions or question you give an AI.
- [Guardrails](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/guardrails.md): Rules and filters that limit what an AI system will say or do.
- [Open source](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/open-source.md): Software, prompts, or models whose code or instructions are published for anyone to inspect.

Every word: [Christian AI glossary](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary.md)