Knowing God

The question is not whether we are good at theology, or "balanced" (horrible, self-concious word!) in our approach to problems of Christian living.  The question is, can we say, simply, honestly, not because we feel that as evangelicals we ought to, but because it is a plain matter of fact, that we have known God, & that because we have known God the unpleasantness we have had, or the pleasantness we have not had, through being Christians does not matter to us?  If we really knew God, this is what we would be saying, & if we are not saying it, that is a sign that we need to face ourselves more sharply with the difference between knowing God & merely knowing about Him.

~J.I. Packer, Knowing God