Knowing God: Obedience > Study
A Conversation with an Old Friend
This past week I reconnected with some longtime friends I hadn’t seen in years. One of them has become something of a recognized expert in philosophy—specifically in algorithmic philosophy and the ethics of AI.
Early in his life, he was a zealous Christian with a deep grasp of theology, history, and doctrine. But as he advanced through the highest levels of academic study in the Ivy League, his faith began to wane. Despite all his brilliance, he now admits that his learning has not given him the kind of knowledge that truly satisfies his deepest questions about faith and the world.
I fear, as Paul warned, that he has “shipwrecked” his faith—or as Festus once declared of Paul, that “much learning” has driven him mad.
What Does It Mean to Truly Know?
Around the same time, I picked up a book I hadn’t read in a while: Personal Knowledge by Michael Polanyi. The book deals with epistemology—the study of how we know what we know. Polanyi argues that true knowledge of a thing is only possible when approached through the proper means of knowing it.
For example:
If you want to learn algebra, you have to engage with algebraic equations, not Shakespeare.
If you want to learn Shakespeare, algebraic formulas won’t help you.
Polanyi suggests that the same logic applies to knowing God. Many, like my friend, attempt to know God primarily through academic study. But that path often leads to disillusionment, because academic rigor alone is not the means God has given us to know Him.
Jesus makes this clear in John 8:31–32: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” According to Jesus, the way to truly know Him is not through study alone but through obedience.
Lessons from My Own Journey
This hits home for me. Early in my academic journey, I leaned heavily on scholarship, often neglecting my devotional life. I sought to strengthen my faith through study, but the deeper I went, the more disillusioned I became.
Eventually, I realized that study alone could not satisfy my hunger for God or bring the peace I longed for. What I needed was not more information but more obedience. I had to return to the basics: simple faith, trust, and daily obedience to Christ.
Over time, I’ve learned that obedience is not just the result of faith—it’s also the means of it.
Scripture’s Witness
The Bible reinforces this truth:
Malachi 3:10 – God invites His people to test His faithfulness by obeying Him.
Matthew 21:28–31 – The son who actually did what his father asked—not just the one who verbally agreed—was the one who honored him.
Ecclesiastes 12:12–14 – Endless study can weary us, but obedience fulfills the purpose God gave us.
The Pathway to Knowing God
Belief and obedience go hand in hand, but Jesus’ teaching suggests that obedience is not just the fruit of belief—it’s often the pathway to it. If we want to truly know God and experience His presence, the key is not more information but more obedience.
The bottom line: We don’t study our way into intimacy with God—we obey our way into it.
