Let’s take a moment to think about how we know what we know, especially when it comes to knowing that we are God’s beloved. As humans, we have two main ways of knowing: explicit (or head) knowledge and implicit (or gut) knowledge.

 

Explicit knowledge is the kind of knowing that’s logical, language-based, and easily explained—think of the stuff you learn in school. It’s rational and comes from the left side of your brain, where we process language. Implicit knowledge, on the other hand, is more intuitive and emotional. It’s the kind of knowing you can’t always explain, but you feel it deep inside—like knowing something is true without words. This type of knowledge often shapes our relationships, including our connection with God.

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Our implicit knowledge can be that massive part of an iceberg beneath the surface. It includes things like emotional responses, or when we “just know” how to do something, like riding a bicycle, without fully thinking about the steps. This knowledge is foundational for our relationships and how we attach meaning to them, including our relationship with God.

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The great thing is, that what we know explicitly and implicitly can be transformed by our relationship with God—new experiences with God, encountering God in fresh ways and by building new connections with others. These experiences can change how we perceive God’s love, helping know God's presence and love more fully in our hearts and being. 

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When it comes to ministry and leadership, the real power lies in our “being” and “relating” to others—not just in what we know or do. Often, we focus on gaining knowledge and applying it, but there’s a lot happening under the surface that can impact how we lead and connect with others. This site and the Being the Beloved curriculum aims to address that hidden layer—helping us grow in our ability to be present with others, to practice the ways of Jesus, and to relate to people with love and grace. We want to more fully integrate our ways of knowing so that what we know in our heads is actually lived out in our lives in our relationships and especially in our relationship with God, who calls us His Beloved.

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For further reading check out this book:Relational Spirituality by Todd W. Hall