Why Knowing About God Isn’t the Same as Knowing Him
Somewhere along the way, we traded encounter for education.
Now don’t get me wrong—understanding Scripture matters.
Theology matters. Sound doctrine? Crucial.
But sometimes we act like the goal of faith is to pass a divine exam. Like if we get enough right answers, we win a golden ticket to heaven.
Spoiler: God isn’t handing out multiple choice tests.
We’ve settled for knowing about Him instead of actually knowing Him.
“You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.”
—John 5:39–40 (CSB)
Jesus said that to the Pharisees.
They studied the Scriptures day and night—and still missed the Son of God standing right in front of them.
Let that bake your theological noodle.
The Danger of Reducing God to an Idea
We love systems.
Formulas.
“5 Steps to a Better Prayer Life” kind of stuff.
Because let’s be honest—it makes us feel in control.
But God doesn’t fit in our grids. He refuses to be reduced to a theory or doctrine or a “good vibe.”
He is not a concept.
He is not a doctrine.
He is not a philosophy.
He is a Person.
And a relational one at that.
“The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend…”
—Exodus 33:11 (CSB)
Moses didn’t just learn about God. He met Him—in fire, on mountaintops, in the tent of meeting.
Paul? He didn’t get a certificate in divinity. He got knocked off a horse and blinded by glory.
John literally leaned his head on Jesus’s chest. Not symbolic. Not poetic. That was proximity.
Encounter Changes Everything
I’ve been in rooms where no one preached. No one played a note.
But the presence of God was so thick people were weeping, healing, collapsing in worship—with no production, no lights, no hype.
And I’ve been in other rooms where we had all the right words… but none of the wind.
When we prioritize encounter, we make space for the unexpected.
For moments that wreck pride, dissolve walls, and set hearts back on fire.
Because here’s the truth:
People aren’t starving for more definitions of God.
They’re starving to know He’s real, here, and reachable.
So… How Do You Encounter God?
You don’t need a PhD in Greek and Hebrew.
You just need hunger.
– Get quiet.
He speaks in stillness more often than storms. (1 Kings 19)
– Get real.
He meets the honest heart, not the polished one. (Psalm 51:17)
– Get expectant.
God wants to be found. It’s literally His idea.
“You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
—Jeremiah 29:13 (CSB)
He’s the whisper in your chaos.
The fire that won’t burn out.
The breath that fills your lungs when you’ve got nothing left.
We weren’t made for dry religion.
We were made for face-to-face moments with the living God.
So let’s stop treating Him like a theology textbook and start talking to Him like a Father, a Friend, a Fire.
Because once you’ve tasted His presence…
Once you feel Him draw near…
Once you realize He’s not just real—He’s tangible…
You’ll never be satisfied with anything less again.
Reflection:
What if this week you asked God to reveal Himself?
No filters. No agendas. Just… “God, I want to know You.”
He’ll take you up on it 🙂
break the mold 
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