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This typifies an ongoing, often unspoken battle
that goes on within the modern church. It is a divide that often goes
unaddressed but can definitely be felt. It is a division between the head
and the heart. Between knowing about God and actually knowing God. There are
many who have gained knowledge about God but there are few who have actually
come to know God. There has become a separation between the head and the
heart of the believers, but in order to know God there must be a union of
the two. The Baltimore catechism says that all believers were created to
know God, love God, and serve God in this world and to be happy with him
forever in heaven. The catechism puts these criteria in a fantastic order.
In order to be happy with God forever in heaven, we must first serve Him. We
will only serve God if we love Him. In order to love God, we must know Him.
But, it all begins with knowing God. It is knowing God that brings about
disputes.
Many believers feel that they have an infused
knowledge of God that came to them as soon as they gave their life to
Christ. This knowledge lies in their heart and gives them authority in their
personal beliefs and the right to act out on any conviction that they feel
is "of God." This is a beautiful sentiment in a perfect world, but in an
imperfect world with a fallen humanity these sentiments, despite their noble
intentions can lead down a dark road to confusion, division, and despair.
This mixture of zeal and lack of knowledge serves as a breeding ground for
false theologies. These theologies have taken many people, especially the
youth, away from the church and led to the growth of other religious sects.
To know God we cannot stop at a heartfelt conviction, there must be a truth
that will buttress that conviction.
There are others who focus so much of their
attention on the letter of the law that they become more Roman than Rome.
They know God's attributes but have no idea who God is. They have the
ability to theologically interpret scripture, they can discuss catholic
doctrine, they understand liturgy and sacraments, and they have memorized
the church councils, but when asked a simple question about God's love the
answer gets lost in a maze of church teachings and philosophical jargon.
They have a head full of rock hard catholic doctrine but lack the heart to
put that doctrine into fruitful practice in their lives and in the lives of
others. Their efforts and degrees should be commended but this falls short
of knowing God as well.
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