--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many Christians assume that we can just…" description: "\"“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience Go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_745904.jpg" --- # Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in… ![“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without knowing who he is, what he has done, and who you are in relation to him. Even our most basic Christian experiences and commitments are…” quote by Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_745904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_745904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_745904.jpg) > ““Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without knowing who he is, what he has done, and who you are in relation to him. Even our most basic Christian experiences and commitments are theological. “I just love Jesus,” some say. But who is Jesus? And why do you love him?”” [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding God requires knowledge of His nature, actions, and our relationship to Him; love without knowledge is superficial. **In simple terms:** Love God with informed devotion. Key Takeaway Know God before loving Him. Themes theology faith knowledge relationship Mood reflective serious Type theological educational When to use this quote - Bible study - church teaching - personal devotion - faith formation Key Concepts Christology doctrine spiritual formation Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to love God without knowing Him? - How can doctrine deepen personal faith? A Different Perspective Risk of intellectualizing faith, neglecting emotional experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Love Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-jesus/) [Personal relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-relationship/) ## Related quotes > [“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just-experience-god-in-a-personal-2/) [Michael S. 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