That's Not the God I Know: When Our Feelings Rewrite the Bible
Many believers respond to difficult biblical truths with the phrase “that’s not the God I know” or “God doesn’t judge in that way.” This reaction usually appears when Scripture confronts personal preferences, cultural trends, or emotional comfort — especially regarding topics like human sexuality, the existence of evil and suffering, or God’s holiness and judgment.
The real issue is that many reshape God to fit their own ideas of what is “compassionate,” “loving,” or “fair”, instead of letting God’s Word define Him. It’s our tendency to create a version of God that matches our preferences instead of submitting to the God revealed in the Bible. The result is not the God of the Bible but a god made in our image. This approach inverts the proper order: we are called to submit our minds and hearts to Scripture, not the reverse.
The Real Problem: Feelings vs. Biblical Authority
When someone says “that’s not the God I know,” they are often placing their own understanding above Scripture. The Bible warns against this approach. True knowledge of God comes from His Word, not from our emotions or cultural assumptions.
Martin Luther, the German Reformer, faced this exact tension at the Diet of Worms in 1521. When pressured to recant his teachings, he famously declared:
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”
Luther’s stand was sola Scriptura — Scripture alone as the final authority. Our consciences must be captive to the Word, not to our feelings or the spirit of the age.
John MacArthur, through Grace to You, consistently teaches that the Bible is clear and sufficient. On homosexuality, for example, he points directly to passages like Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1, showing that Scripture calls same-sex relations sin and an expression of humanity’s rejection of God. He challenges Christians to hold the line biblically rather than accommodate culture.
Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis emphasizes that biblical authority begins in Genesis. When people compromise on the early chapters of Scripture (creation, the fall, marriage as one man and one woman), it opens the door to undermining authority elsewhere — including on sexual ethics and the problem of evil. Ham notes that redefining marriage or affirming homosexuality often stems from this foundational compromise.
Common Examples Where This Phrase Appears
1. Homosexuality and “Compassion”
Many say, “A loving God would never condemn consensual same-sex relationships— that’s not compassionate.” Yet the Bible is unambiguous:
“You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. That is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22)
And in New Testament, Bible describes same-sex relations as a result of humanity turning away from God.
“For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.” (Romans 1:26-27)
True compassion does not affirm sin — it speaks truth in love.
True compassion, as modeled by figures like Charlie Kirk, means speaking truth to people enslaved by lies — not affirming sin that leads to destruction. Truth spoken in love is not hate; it is the most compassionate act possible because it points people to repentance and the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Evil, Suffering, and “A God Who Would Allow This”
Others claim, “A good God would never allow so much evil — that’s not the God I know.” The Bible explains evil as the result of human sin entering the world (The Fall of Man in Genesis 3). Ken Ham repeatedly connects this to the authority of Genesis: death, suffering, and disease are consequences of the fall, not part of God’s original “very good” creation.
Lee Strobel, in The Case for Faith, shows through careful investigation that the Christian worldview offers the most coherent answers to the problem of evil and suffering — pointing ultimately to the cross, where God Himself entered into human suffering. God is sovereign and good. He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Our limited perspective does not get to veto His character or purposes.
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
3. God’s Judgment and “The God I Know Doesn’t Judge Like That”
A very common objection today is: “The God I know is loving — He wouldn’t judge people, send anyone to hell, or condemn sin so harshly. That’s not the God I know.”
This view often stems from a one-sided understanding of God that emphasizes love while ignoring His holiness and justice. Scripture presents God as both perfectly loving and perfectly just:
“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Jesus Himself spoke more about hell and judgment than many modern teachers.
John MacArthur frequently reminds believers that a God who never judges sin would not be loving — He would be unjust. True love provides both forgiveness through the cross and righteous judgment for those who reject it.
When people soften or remove God’s judgment to make Him more palatable, they are again remaking God in their own image rather than accepting the full biblical revelation of His character.
How to Respond When Someone Says “That’s Not the God I Know”
Here’s a practical, biblical way to engage these conversations:
Redirect to authority — Ask gently: “What is shaping your view of God right now — feelings, culture, or the Bible?”
Point to Scripture — Quote clear passages in context. Let the Bible speak for itself rather than arguing opinions.
Address the root — Many objections trace back to a low view of biblical authority, especially in Genesis and the fall.
Speak truth with compassion — Confronting lies with truth is loving, not hateful. People need the real God, not a comfortable idol.
Invite deeper study — Encourage them to read the full context of Scripture and engage in discipleship.
Point to evidence — Emphasize intentional Bible study as the path to truly knowing God. Wes Huff defends the historical reliability of the Bible and the person of Jesus. Lee Strobel shows how honest investigation leads to faith.
Pray and persist in love — Ultimately, only the Holy Spirit can open hearts. Model the patience and kindness of Christ while refusing to compromise truth.
The God We Must Know
The God of the Bible is not meant to be reshaped to fit our comfort. He defines love, not us. When our ideas clash with the Bible, the problem is never with God. It is with us. the solution is never to change God — it is to let His Word change us. Let Scripture be the authority. Let the Bible define who God is.
The faithful response is repentance, humility, and a renewed commitment to let Scripture shape our view of God rather than the other way around.
May we have the courage of Luther to say with our lives: “Here I stand. My conscience is captive to the Word of God.” Let the Bible have the final word. That is the only path to truly knowing the God who is.
Ready to go deeper?
Start by reading the full context of the passages mentioned above and commit to letting God’s Word shape your view of Him.
FAQ: Common Questions About “That’s Not the God I Know”
What does it mean when someone says “that’s not the God I know”?
It usually means their personal idea of God conflicts with what the Bible actually teaches.
Is it wrong to say “that’s not the God I know”?
It becomes problematic when it means we are rejecting clear biblical teaching in favor of our own preferences.
How should Christians respond to this statement?
Respond with gentleness, point back to Scripture, and explain that the true God is the One revealed in the Bible — not the version we create in our minds.
What Bible verses address redefining God according to our feelings?
Key passages include 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Romans 12:2.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Romans 12:2 “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”