Chapter 3: What This Book Seeks to Accomplish: The Right Knowledge of God
The purpose of this book is to help believers develop a true, deep, and transformative knowledge of God—a knowledge that is not just intellectual but relational, leading to genuine love and worship.
There are three possibilities for how a person’s understanding of God can develop. Two of these lead to spiritual weakness or deception, while only one leads to true faith and transformation.
1. The Danger of a False Concept of God
The first possibility is that a believer may hold a false concept of God, shaped by:
False teaching
Personal imagination
Life experiences (especially negative ones)
Cultural influences
Scriptural misinterpretation
This results in a believer worshiping a God who is not the true God—but rather a distorted image formed by human ideas. This danger is warned against in Scripture: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” (Rom. 1:21–23).
Paul shows that humans have a tendency to create their own versions of God rather than seeking who He truly is. Even in the church, this happens when:
People take select Scriptures out of context and build entire theologies on them.
Believers form an emotional or cultural version of God rather than knowing Him as revealed in Scripture.
People define God based on their personal needs or desires rather than allowing Him to define Himself.
Story to Illustrate
Imagine a group of people in a completely dark room trying to describe an elephant by touch. One, feeling the trunk, says, “An elephant is like a thick snake.” Another, feeling a leg, declares, “No, an elephant is like a tree trunk.” A third, holding the tail, insists, “You’re both wrong; an elephant is like a rope.” Each has a piece of the truth, but their limited experience leads to a distorted, incomplete, and ultimately false concept of the whole elephant. Similarly, if we base our understanding of God on limited experiences, personal preferences, or out-of-context Scriptures, we end up with a caricature of God, not the true and living God revealed in the entirety of His Word.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for this very problem: “‘You do not know me or my Father,’ Jesus replied. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also’” (John 8:19). Many today pray to, worship, and serve a God they do not truly know. The result? Their faith is weak, their prayers are ineffective, and their walk with God lacks intimacy and power.
APPLICATION: WEIRD PRACTICES AND CONCEPTS OF GOD
Sometimes, peculiar or unbiblical practices in churches can stem from a distorted or incomplete understanding of God’s character, His will, or His ways as revealed in Scripture.
Discussion: Without naming specific churches or individuals in a judgmental way, can you think of some general categories of “weird practices” or teachings within parts of the Christian world?
Analysis: How might such practices reflect an underlying false or imbalanced concept of God? (For example, an overemphasis on prosperity might reflect a God seen primarily as a cosmic vending machine; extreme legalism might reflect a God seen only as a harsh judge, ignoring His grace and mercy.)
Self-Reflection: Are there any aspects of your own understanding or “concept” of God that might be more influenced by culture, personal desire, or past experience than by a comprehensive view of Scripture?
2. The Danger of Mere Intellectual Knowledge
The second possibility is that a believer receives correct teaching about God but only in their mind—without it transforming their heart. This type of knowledge is mere mental assent, an agreement with facts about God rather than a relational knowing of Him.
This is the knowledge that even Satan and demons have: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19). Demons know who Jesus is, but they do not love Him or submit to Him.
This type of knowledge is often seen in:
Theologians who can explain doctrines but lack a living faith.
Churchgoers who agree with sermons but remain unchanged.
Christians who understand the gospel but have no passion for God.
Even demons recognize the truth about Jesus—but they do not love Him. “When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!’” (Luke 8:28).
Many in the church today are in the same danger. They know about God but do not know Him personally. They can defend doctrine but lack devotion. They have correct beliefs but no intimacy with God. This is why many theologians can study Christianity for years and yet remain unbelievers. They agree with the facts but do not trust and love God.
Jesus warned: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). The result? This kind of knowledge leaves a believer unchanged, dry, and without true life in Christ.
Story to Illustrate
Consider someone who has memorized every fact about a famous historical figure—their birth date, accomplishments, famous quotes, and family tree. They can win any trivia game about this person. However, they never met the person, never had a conversation, never shared a moment of joy or sorrow. Their knowledge is extensive but purely academic. Contrast this with a close friend of that historical figure, who might not remember every precise date but knew their heart, their dreams, their fears, and shared life with them. The first person knows about them; the second knows them. Mere intellectual knowledge of God is like the trivia champion—full of facts but lacking a living, transforming relationship.
APPLICATION: KNOWING VS. KNOWING ABOUT
There’s a profound difference between knowing about someone (like a celebrity or historical figure) and truly knowing them personally (like a spouse or close friend). The same applies to God.
Distinction: In your own words, what is the core difference between knowing about God (intellectual knowledge) and knowing God (relational knowledge)?
Paradox: How is it possible for someone to agree with God’s teachings in principle (e.g., “love your neighbor”) but consistently act contrary to them in practice? What does this reveal about the nature of their knowledge of God?
Self-Examination: Are there areas where your knowledge of God is more academic than relational? How can you move from merely agreeing with truth to allowing it to transform your heart and actions?
Discussion Questions for Chapter 3
- Can you share an example (from your observation or experience) of how a “false concept of God” can negatively impact a believer’s life or faith?
- Many “can defend doctrine but lack devotion.” Why do you think it’s possible to have correct theological knowledge without a passionate, loving relationship with God? What’s missing?
- How can a believer guard against both the danger of a false concept of God and the danger of mere intellectual knowledge?