4 Ways To Knowing God

I have been following, and participated in comments to, a post by Alan Hirsch entitled, "Worshiping An Idea of God?"

One participant is questioning the existence of God.  Here's an excerpt:

"How do I know there is something or someone out there? How do I know He cares/is a personal Being? How do I worship something if I don’t know how? What do I do? Do I get on my knees and say ‘n few nice thingies, or do I sing or is God a thought in my head? How would anybody know if it is me creating something, or talking to something that I fabricated, or Someone out there? What will happen to me if I cannot connect with it? Would I die and burn in hell, or would I still be able to see my budhist buddies?"

Alan Hirsch's response lists 4 ways (or paths) to knowing more of God in our lives.  I want to highlight them here (as taken from Alan's comment) because they can equally apply to the person who has been follow God for 2 minutes or 2 decades.  Perhaps it will help you in your intimacy with God.

1. Via Negativa (the Way of Negation and Unknowing).  This approach or perspective says that God is way beyond human knowing and therefore all attempts to frame our understandings in human terms can (and do) become impediments to the actual knowledge of God. One of the most consistent and beautiful expressions of Via Negativa spirituality is in St. John of the Cross’ famous "Dark Night of The Soul". The process by which everything is stripped away and the soul is left naked before God.
2. The Positive Way (the search for active knowledge and understanding).  This is also necessary and here I would recommend you read C.S. Lewis as a great example of a spiritual adventurer (Surprised by Joy, Pilgrims Regress, Mere Christianity, etc.)
3. The Via Creativa (the Way of Creation).  This means that being creative and finding God in creation gives one insights into the nature and being of God.
4. Via Transformata (the Way of Activism).  This means actually getting involved in transforming the world.  You can meet God there because that is what God is doing.

In doing all these you will see God in many different Ways.  Add to your profession a vigorous pursuit of God and you'll be Serving Strong!