By: Dogara Ishaya Manomi
I have often heard people say, “Know God for yourself,” especially when responding to misleading teachings and unhealthy church practices promoted by some pastors, church leaders, and televangelists.
It is a common statement, and while it sounds harmless, it is important to ask what people actually mean by it.
Since the next topic in our “Add to Your Faith” series is KNOWLEDGE, it is helpful at this point to share my reflection on this common statement among Christians.
WHEN IS “KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF” WRONG AND UNBIBLICAL?
If “know God for yourself” means becoming a solo Christian, withdrawing from the fellowship of believers, refusing to belong to a local church, a Christian denomination, or a small group for prayer and Bible study, then it is wrong and unbiblical.
God never intended us to grow in isolation.
The Christian life is lived in community, where we encourage, strengthen, and sharpen one another (Hebrews 10:25).
It is a contradiction in terms to say you are a solo Christian.
The one true God you believe in does not exist in solo, but in Trinity, and eternally so.
WHEN IS “KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF” RIGHT AND BIBLICAL?
If “know God for yourself” means taking personal responsibility for your walk with Christ, refusing to depend entirely on the spirituality of your pastor or church, seeking God through sincere prayer, diligently studying the Scriptures, and learning from the wisdom of other believers through books, songs, and conversations, then it is absolutely right and biblical (2 Timothy 2:15).
WHAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE ARE WE TO “ADD TO VIRTUE?”
The experiential, relational and growing knowledge of Christ is the kind of knowledge Peter has in mind in our main text (2 Peter 1:5-8), which is why he indicates that grace and peace come through this knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:2), and that it is through this knowledge of Christ that we receive everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
It is this continuous and growing experiential and relational knowledge of Christ that Paul, despite his intellectual theological, philosophical and historical knowledge, said “that I may know Him…” (Philp. 3:10).
In a world filled with competing worldviews and anti-Christian claims about God, humanity, and truth, faith without knowledge becomes ineffective and unproductive.
This is the kind of knowledge we are called to add to virtue.
WHILE FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD (James 2:17), FAITH WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE IS INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE (2 Peter 1:8):
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
SUNDAY IMPULSE:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge…” (2 Peter 1:5).
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Dogara Ishaya Manomi
19.07.2026
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