Josh McDowell's Blog

One of the most common objections to Christianity is that God is not good. Critics point to passages of God’s judgment, his commanding the Israelites to engage in warfare, or a host of stories where God’s actions seem cruel or uncaring.

The attribute of God’s goodness is one of my deepest passions. It’s so critical that I have dived deep into these “problem passages,” even writing a book on them. After all, if we see God as good, we will give our lives to his purposes. But if God is not good, Christianity falls apart. No wonder this attribute has been subject to so much attack!

Yet despite the fact that we can discover God’s goodness when we dive deep, I believe such dives are not necessary to face this challenge. I’m serious. Keep reading to see what I mean.

 

Related Content: Attributes of God

 

The Unspoken Assumption Critics Make

Many people—Christians and non-Christians alike—read the Bible assuming they get to determine whether God is good based on his actions. This is understandable. We have a God-given moral compass, and we use it to judge the conduct of others. But using that same compass to judge God’s actions in the Bible falls into a clear-cut logical fallacy.

Here’s the rub: the same Bible that contains God’s severe judgments also explicitly teaches about God’s goodness. By my count, there are 63 verses that speak plainly to the goodness of God. Psalm 100:5a, for example, says, “for the LORD is good.” The Bible doesn’t leave room for us to make our own judgments about God’s character; the conclusion is already made. One may choose to disagree, but doing so undermines the very text they use for their argument!

 

The Logical Argument for God’s Goodness in Scripture

The error critics make becomes clear when spelled out in a simple deductive argument:

 

Premise 1: If the Bible is true, then everything it teaches is true.

This statement is true by definition.

 

Premise 2: The Bible teaches that God is good.

This is proven by dozens of clear teachings in the Bible, as mentioned above.

 

Conclusion: Therefore, if the Bible is true, God is good.

This conclusion follows logically from the first two premises.

 

Critics who use the Bible to argue that God is evil must first assume the Bible is true for their argument to have any weight. But once they assume the Bible is true, they are confronted with dozens of clear affirmations that God is Good! This doesn’t mean stories of judgment are false, but that a good God must have good reasons for those actions. This is the only possible landing point when the Bible is assumed to be true.

 

What If the Bible is Inconsistent?

Granted, one may argue that God’s actions in the Bible are so clear that there is no possible moral justification. That is a dangerously bold statement to make! (See Isaiah 55:9, Job 38–41, and Ezekiel 18:25.)

But even if that were the case, the best one could say is that the Bible is inconsistent with itself and therefore can’t be trusted. That is a different issue from whether God is good. An untrustworthy Bible would mean we must suspend our judgment of God’s goodness, not affirm that God is evil.

 

Related Content: Why Would God Ask Us to Fear Him

 

A Simple Truth to Remember and Share

As you can see, we never need to be afraid of difficult passages overthrowing our understanding of God’s goodness. While this doesn’t address every concern (like the problem of pain and suffering), it provides a solid foundation.

Again, I would encourage you to check out my book on the subject—Why Did God Do That?—where I show how God’s goodness is proclaimed even in the hardest passages. But as you have seen, it doesn’t take a whole book to confidently share this truth! Just commit the general argument above to memory. While you’re at it, commit one of my favorite verses to memory for these conversations:

“Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.” (Lamentations 3:32–33 NLT)

That verse is just as true as any challenging passage you might stumble upon in the Bible.

In the age of cancel culture and condemnation, as believers, how should we be responding and engaging?

 

The Culture of Condemnation vs. The Example of Jesus

In New Testament times, amidst a society which held to punitive action in response to wrongdoing, Jesus entered the scene – with mercy. That must have been earth shaking.

To the accusers of a woman caught in adultery who was about to be stoned, He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7). Imagine the angry, condemning people, out for blood. What must they have thought as they considered the words they just heard. One by one, the members of the crowd walked away.

Left standing alone with the woman, Jesus said, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on, sin no more.”

As believers, we have also been met by Jesus in this way – with grace, a charge to repent, turn away from our sin, turn back to God, and to lead one another on in love.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

– Ephesians 4:32

God has given us an immeasurable gift of grace and calls us to a high standard of doing the same for others as well.

 

A Higher Calling: 3 Steps for a Christ-Like Response

Three steps we can take to accomplish this are: 1) have a heart of gratitude for what God has done for us, 2) acknowledge that God loves and desires for everyone to be reconciled to Him; and 3) speak truth in love as we engage with others.

 

Step 1: Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

– Colossians 2:6-7

Gratitude is a critical component that positions our hearts to be in alignment with God. When we remember what God has done for us – remember where we were in our brokenness when He met us – how can we help but be grateful? If ever we forget this gift, we can begin to feel unappreciative, entitled, and judgmental.

These things are not in line with God’s character, and they grieve Him. It is humility, peace, and joy that He desires for us. The root of these is having a heart of gratitude.

 

Step 2: Acknowledge God’s Love for Everyone

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

– 1 Timothy 2:1-4

As easy as it is to take offense to what others do, God calls us to a higher perspective – one of love. God not only desires for us to draw closer to Him and grow in Christ-likeness, but He also desires that for everyone else too.

We are to be a light in this world (Matthew 5:14-16) and as Christ is our example, to follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21-25). He died for us all.

 

Step 3: Speak Truth in Love, Not in Anger

“… let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

-Ephesians 4:23, 31-32

Speaking truth in love through kindness and respect is a powerful force of healing and growth. We never know who we’re interacting with that may never have been spoken to in that way – or how they might learn from us. We never know how God will work in their hearts when we engage with them by His example.

 

Putting Grace into Practice

Imagine the ripple effect of extending grace with truth and love to those around us who have never experienced it before.

The judgment and condemnation of cancel culture is not in alignment with God’s character. As believers we have a higher calling – to, by our Christ-like example, show others what it looks like to extend grace.

 

Resources for Deeper Healing and Forgiveness

AUTHOR’S NOTE: In this article, we touched on the surface of grace. There are many different levels of wrongdoing and complexity when it comes to what it means to forgive. When personal trauma and/or emotional/psychological pain is involved, healing is also a significant part of the process. Although we are unable to address these things in this article, there are many resources available which do.

Online resources:

Forgiveness Does Not Require Trust: Friend of Josh McDowell and the ministry, Dr. Henry Cloud, distinguishes forgiveness and trust, a common misunderstanding about forgiveness.Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell: Josh McDowell’s personal story of forgiveness of his abuser.

Seeking professional help when needed is also very important to the healing process when needed. For believers seeking assistance from someone with a biblical foundation, it’s important to look for recommended and accredited Christian counselors.

The Cultural Double Standard on Morality

Why is it culturally appropriate for an individual to deem certain actions as wrong, but not others? When I look at our cultural climate, I see certain actions that are easily condemned such as racism, sexism, body-shaming, and cultural appropriation. At the same time, other actions are said to be unjudgeable such as sexual promiscuity, same sex relationships, abortion, transitioning, and even sometimes drug use. From a Christian perspective, all of these actions do not fall in line with God’s design, and thus are wrong. Why then are some condemned in culture and others not?

It seems that moral judgments are only allowed today when someone is seen to infringe on another’s freedom, identity, or self expression. And moral judgments are not allowed when someone exercises those freedoms in self directed ways. This leaves society in great moral ambiguity, as moral truth is reduced to what an individual feels is right for them. If that is the standard, how can we call someone else out for injustice or wrong doing? If they felt as if it was right, and was an expression of their freedom, identity, and self expression, who are we to say they are wrong? If we call them out, we risk being labeled a bigot, exclusive, or intolerant. But I don’t think intolerance is always wrong, and here is why.

 

Finding a Better Standard: God’s Objective Moral Order

I think there is a better moral standard than the cultures’ subjective and situational standard. If God created the world, which I believe he did and have good reasons for, that means all of creation is infused with a moral order based on His character and nature. This is the traditional Christian understanding and this standard of right and wrong applies to all people through all time. It’s objective and universal. A universal moral order provides something modern society’s standard cannot, which is a foundation to do justice.

 

Related Content: If God is So Loving, Why Can’t He Be More Tolerant of Sin?

 

Why Moral Relativism Fails the Test of Justice

If modern society is right and no one can infringe on another’s freedom, identity, and self expression, then we cannot judge their actions based on anything other than what they feel to be right. This means just about anything is permissible. It’s a terrible standard for justice. In contrast, a moral order outside of our opinion, or majority vote allows people to hold others to that same standard. Thus, it’s a source for doing real justice, rather than opinion against opinion. I once heard the story of a moral relativist professor who went to Africa to confront the male leaders of a tribe for abusing women in their community. But when speaking to the leaders they asked her, “why should we stop? In our culture, we feel it is right.” The professor, holding to her belief that moral truth is relative, had nothing to say other than she feels as if it was wrong.

 

An Objective Foundation for Human Dignity

In reality, it’s wrong to abuse women, not because of feeling or cultural standards but because it violates the truth that all human beings are created in the image of God and therefore should be treated with dignity and respect. To do justice and call people to live as they ought, there must be a universal moral standard of right and wrong for all people at all times. 

 

Redefining Tolerance: The Modern vs. The Biblical View

Now, calling others out for their behavior to a higher moral standard goes against one of the great virtues of modern culture today which is tolerance. One of the outworkings of the subjective and situational modern moral standard is that tolerance has been redefined from its traditional sense. Modern tolerance may be defined as all truths, all behaviors, all values, all practices are equally valid, and thus we respect and affirm everyone’s choices and beliefs. This is not how tolerance has been viewed through history, and is not a Biblical understanding. The Biblical understanding says that we are to recognize and respect others because they are created in the image of God and have value and worth even though we may not personally share their values, beliefs or practices.

 

Why Biblical Intolerance Can Be the Most Loving Action

When we speak truth and call out wrong behavior or injustice, we are being intolerant of anything that goes against the true moral order. And anyone who lives their life in a way that goes against God’s good design is walking a path of deep pain, suffering, and eventually death and separation. Thus, to be intolerant of someone’s behavior is to see value in the individual and call them to the life-giving nature of walking in God’s good design. In reality, being intolerant of certain behaviors is loving because it calls people to the life of God.

 

Speaking the Truth in Love 

As a Christian steeped in a culture that promotes tolerance as not just respecting others beliefs and behaviors but affirming them to be equally valid as my own, I wrestle with how to communicate God’s design in a loving way. I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:1 which says “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.” The relationship you have with others in your life is the medium over which truth is communicated and it must be characterized by love, mercy and grace. If it is not, truth will be rejected.

 

More From Cru: Family Life: Understanding Intolerance

 

A Real-Life Story: The Power of Loving Correction

I’m intolerant of behaviors which go against God’s moral standard which all of humanity shares. And I am intolerant because I love people, and desire to see them walk with Jesus and experience life in relationship with him. A good friend of mine once identified as gay and is now a follower of Christ. I’ll never forget what he told me about someone who spoke truth into his life. He said that someone “loved me enough to affirm my true value, yet did not approve of my behavior, called it out as wrong, and yet shared the path to life which involved the denial of myself.” And in reality, it was not in following his heart where he found true freedom and satisfaction, he found it while surrendered to Jesus.

 

Conclusion: How to Stand for Truth with Grace

In summary, if modern society is right and there is no moral standard apart from how one feels and expresses themselves, intolerance is wrong. But there is a moral standard and as loving believers in Jesus we should call people up to that standard because it is right and how we ought to live. But this must be done in real personal face to face relationships characterized by listening, love, mercy, and grace. After all, that’s how God interacts with us.

In today’s society, discussion around justice mostly involves either fair distribution of resources or punishment of lawbreakers. God’s justice reveals a bigger picture that involves how we treat one another, especially those in need, and how we deal with sin.

 

The Problem with a Human-Centered View of Justice

What it means to be just has been debated throughout the centuries across different cultures. From what I have learned, there are two aspects of justice that people are concerned about: distribution of resources and the punishment of lawbreakers. There are nuances between worldviews and cultures, but the general idea is that justice must be fair; unaffected by bias or personal agendas. So how can justice be fair? Justice is often couched within laws intended to be impartial, so that could keep things fair. Unfortunately, while laws are intended to be impartial, the people writing them are not and that allows for the possibility of partiality working its way in. Laws do not always serve the best interests of all affected people, and the law is always changing based on needs and cultural values rather than staying consistent with principles of morality.

 

Related: Three Crucial Truths when God’s Justice Seems Too Severe

 

Overall, standards of secular justice rely on humanity’s own limited rationale, culture, and sometimes even our desires. As a result, the distribution of justice can become arbitrary. No one is ever satisfied by an arbitrary justice though and so people continuously seek a form of justice that is good and pure. Why is this? I believe it is because we are all created in God’s image and pursuing justice for all people reflects our creator’s love and fulfills his commands. Without an ultimate standard in the creator, justice can only ever be poorly defined and warped by humanity. Justice determined by God is truly fair.

 

What Does the Bible Say About God’s Justice?

So what is truly good and fair about God’s justice? It rests on the idea that all are created equally in God’s image and that sin must be dealt with.

 

Justice as Right Relationships and Love

Romans 12:9-21 is a good description of what just behavior looks like. The apostle Paul wrote this passage to the church in Rome to remind the believers there of how they are to treat one another. According to him, just behavior is loving one another, rejecting evil, serving the Lord, humility, and living peacefully with others. It also involves doing good for all even if those that despise you. Going back to the Old Testament, before modern philosophy and political theories debated the topic of justice, God set his chosen people (the Israelites) apart by giving them a law that distinguished them from the corrupt nations around them and promoted truly just treatment for all (See Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The people were expected to share their resources with those in need and to not discriminate against others, like the poor and the resident alien (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 15:7-11). Godly justice emphasizes right relationships with God and with other people. This is achieved by obeying God’s commands out of love, not just obligation.

 

Justice as Righteous Judgment on Sin

Treating others justly is caring for them because they are made in God’s image, but what does it look like to deal with evil justly? In the Old Testament law, sin needed to be atoned for through more than just animal sacrifice, but also personal repentance. Sin needed to be confessed by the guilty and forgiven by God. Certain sins however were punished severely, like how Israel was commissioned by God to completely destroy the Canaanite peoples for their sin.

 

Related: If God is so Loving Why Can’t He Be More Tolerant of Sin?

 

Reconciling God’s Judgment with His Mercy

Though this is difficult to reckon with by today’s standards, the Canaanite nations surrounding Israel were aware of the true God for centuries and had refused to repent of their corrupt practices. Also, the Old Testament describes laws intended to protect “resident aliens” among the Israelites, suggesting that individuals who were once a part of these nations could repent of their sin and be spared like Rahab in Joshua 2:8-14. Isaiah 56:1-8 reflects this idea with the author telling the foreigners that if they follow the Lord’s commands and pursue justice, they will be welcome in the Lord’s house. Meanwhile, the unrighteous leaders of Israel are condemned as described in Isaiah 56:9-57:2 for their apathy and ignorance. Today, we are not called to launch militant crusades against the unrighteous – that was specifically a command for Israel regarding the Canaanites within their own historical context – but it does act as an illustration of both God’s mercy and his punishment.

 

Jesus: The Perfect Display of God’s Justice

Jesus himself pursued justice in his ministry by justly condemning sin. He did this by exerting his divine, authoritative power over consequences that stem from our sin (namely, the Fall). This includes healing the sick (Matthew 9:18-31), having compassion on those in need (Mark 6:30-44), giving salvation to the repentant (Luke 19:1-10), and condemning evil and corruption (Mark 7:1-13). All this was intended to glorify God, and to serve others, while also inspiring them to pursue justice themselves. Of course, the ultimate act of Jesus’ condemnation of sin is described in 2 Corinthians 5:21 where He takes on the wrath of God on our behalf. 

 

Our Call to Action: How to Live Justly Today

By giving his life and rising from the dead, Jesus provided redemption for all willing to receive it. For believers, God’s justice is reflected in how we show kindness to those in need without expecting a reward (Luke 14:7-14) and how we condemn sin and lead others to repentance through goodwill and faithfulness.

Every day we can choose justice by being kind to those we meet, sharing God’s message where we can, and condemning sin and injustice. Maybe you can volunteer for an event that serves the poor or even just choose to be kind to someone at the grocery store even if you don’t know them. To better understand God’s justice, you can study the Bible and pray about what you are called to do. I also recommend talking with wise Christians in your life about what it means to be just.

The Root of Our Insecurity: Unmet Emotional Needs

According to Dr. David Ferguson, we have 10 essential emotional needs that we are seeking to fulfill: Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Support, Encouragement, Affection, Respect, Security, Comfort, and Approval. 

Much research has been done to identify why people struggle with unwanted behaviors such as addictions and compulsive behaviors. At the core, these struggles are rooted in the lack of the healthy fulfillment of these basic needs. 

Perhaps you have experienced something similar to my friend who we will call Dave.

“I can’t walk into my office without feeling like an imposter. I’m constantly thinking things like: you don’t really know what you are doing here, if they knew my failures or lack experience, they would fire you in an instant. Or with my friends I’m constantly thinking, if they really knew who I was, they wouldn’t be my friend”.

 

→ Related: Do we Discover or Create our Identity?

 

These feelings of inadequacy and insecurity have been the driver of Dave’s sexual addiction and alcohol abuse. Through conversation, I’ve seen two things rise to the surface, Dave struggles with his identity, and Dave does not feel as if his emotional needs are met. God has created every human being with core emotional needs that he desires to meet. And He has designed life in such a way that these needs are met in healthy relationships as well. When these needs go unmet, we medicate them with whatever is easy and pleasurable. But when they are met in healthy ways in relationship with God and others, we thrive.

 

The 10 God-Given Emotional Needs We All Share

 

1. The Need for Attention

We all need people to think about us and convey appropriate care, interest, concern, and support for us. We want to be noticed, for someone to take interest in us. Unfortunately, many of us have experienced either the lack of this need, or selective attention for the benefit of someone else. I fear that many only receive attention due to selfish reasons of the giver. The lack of healthy attention from respected individuals can lead to poor self-image, being consumed with negative self thought, feeling like one lacks worth, and feeling unlovable. 

When we have the attention of someone else, it communicates that I am understood. Rather than feeling worthless, unworthy, consumed with your appearance or competency, when we have the attention of others simply because of who we are, we are free to grow into a healthy self-image, confident about our skills, willing to serve and more attentive to others needs. 

David reflects on God’s attention towards himself in Psalm 139:1-3 where he states:

“O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.”
We have God’s attention, and we have the privilege to give others our attention as well. 

 

2. The Need for Acceptance

We all desire to be accepted for who we are, and not what we do. Sadly, many grow up today believing the lie that love at its core is conditional, and they must perform for others’ acceptance.  Throughout scripture we read that God’s love towards humanity is dependent on nothing other than us being his creation. This is a love which is not dependent on our actions or successes. It is simply God’s desire to see his children receive the free gift of forgiveness he has offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

When we experience acceptance, it communicates that I am valued. Rather than feeling as if our value is based on our performance, insecure about our worth, defensiveness and having unhealthy motivation for work, when we experience healthy acceptance from God and others we become secure, confident, experience our true value and have a profound sense of peace about who we are.

Just as we are accepted by Christ, Romans 15:7 says that we are to “accept one another just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” 

We have God’s acceptance, and we have the privilege to accept others as well. 

 

3. The Need for Appreciation

We all desire others to communicate to us that they appreciate us and are grateful for our actions. Appreciation is to be thanked or encouraged for what you have done. While acceptance is about realizing that who we are matters, appreciation communicates that our actions matter. We long for someone to say, “well done” or “thank you” regardless of our performance.

When we experience appreciation, it communicates that I am capable. When this longing goes unmet, insecurity about our doing and self-doubt increases. But when someone expresses appreciation, we are motivated to do more, are affirmed of our doing, and experience a positive attitude toward our actions. 

Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:3-5 stating his gratitude for his sincere faith which is an act of appreciation. We have the privilege to appreciate others as well, no matter the outcome of their actions. 

 

4. The Need for Support

We all desire for someone to come alongside us and support us in difficult or challenging situations. Some of the loneliness times in life are experienced when circumstances exceed our ability to overcome them, and no one is there to help. 

When we experience support, it communicates that I am sustained. When this longing goes unmet, one may experience discouragement, a weariness towards life, fear of failure and timidity. But when we are supported, we experience the truth that we are not alone which leads to feeling encouraged, grateful, and empowered to give to others. 

We read in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” God is our support, and is with us, and we have the privilege to support others as well as Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

 

5. The Need for Encouragement

We all desire for someone to cheer us on, believe in us, affirm our effort, and fuel our motivation, and remind us who we are. We need people to inspire us with courage, spirit, and hope. Life can be overwhelming as expectations are placed on us at work, or in the home. 

When we are encouraged, it communicates that I can keep going. It shares that our effort matters. When this longing goes unmet, we can lack confidence, believe we are a failure, and have a defeatist attitude. But when we are encouraged, our attitude about the present circumstances changes for the better, we are empowered, and can face hardship or tasks with courage. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Encouragement breathes life into tired lives and motivates us to keep going. 

 

6. The emotional need for affection

We all desire to be cared for with gentle touch, and emotional engagement. Studies show that in addition to our physical needs being met, we also need healthy affection to promote a flourishing life. 

 

→ Related podcast: Beauty and Trust: Dealing with Anxiety

 

When we experience affection, it communicates I am loveable. When this need goes unmet, we can believe the lie that we are unlovable and worthless, experience a poor self image, and search for affection in unhealthy relationships or actions. But when we receive healthy affection, we build a sense of security and can receive and give affection to and from others. 

Romans 16:16 states, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”

 

7. The Need for Respect

We all need for others to hold us in high esteem and recognize our worth. We long to feel that our unique personality and contributions are needed and admired. 

When we experience respect, it communicates that I matter. You are worthy of being honored by others and being taken seriously. When this need goes unmet, we may experience feelings of unworthiness and inferiority, insecurity, a demanding spirit of others, a victim mindset, and an unhealthy intolerance of others. But when we experience respect, it allows us to experience our true value, our actions and presence are seen as meaningful, and we can develop a high self-worth. 

Romans 12:10 states, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” 

 

8. The Need for Security

We all need to feel safe. This goes beyond the common notion of physical safety which stems from adequate food and shelter to being financially secure, emotionally secure, and spiritually secure. We crave more than just being told that everything will be ok. We desire assurance and action from others. 

When we experience an assurance of safety, it communicates that I am secure. When this need goes unmet, one can experience great fear, insecurity, become controlling and possessive, and struggle with anxiety and worry. But when we experience security, it frees us to become confident, try new things and explore, and experiment without fear. 

God is our ultimate protector and provider, and we have the opportunity to make others feel secure as well. 

 

9. The Need for Comfort

We all need others to ease our grief and pain, as well as people who give us strength and hope. We were never meant to walk through suffering alone. One of the greatest acts of presence and comfort is the incarnation. When God became human in the person of Jesus. Because Jesus walked with us, suffered alongside us, and ultimately overcame death, we can find comfort in him. 

When we experience comfort, it communicates I am seen. When this need goes unmet, one can become bitter, fearful, controlling and possessive. But when we are comforted, we build a sense of competency and courage, feel safe to express our emotion, and experience our true value as we are soothed, consoled, embraced, and calmed. 

Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” 

 

10. The Need for Approval

We naturally seek the approval of those around us as we act and try to show our worth. We seek approval from others through the things we own, clothes we wear, or hobbies we partake in. Through scripture, we read that God actually delights in us. In Psalm 18:19, David expresses that God “delighted in me.” As Christians, we are approved of because Christ has forgiven us and set us free. 

When we experience approval, it communicates I belong. When this longing goes unmet, we may feel a deep desire to prove ourselves in everything, become performance oriented, work excessive amounts, and lack a healthy self confidence. But when we experience approval, it frees us to be produced, confident, and we experience a healthy self image. 

We crave for someone to celebrate us, choose us, cherish us, affirm us, and enjoy us. 

 

How to See yourself as God Sees You

If you feel the lack of any of these emotional needs, you are not alone. No one sails through life without experiencing some sort of lack, brokenness or pain. We all have moments when these needs were not met, and we sought out to meet them in illegitimate ways. It is possible to realign our view of ourselves to what is true, which is how God views us. We allow this transformation to take place with these three doable steps:

 

Step 1: Study God’s Character Through His Word

It’s a miracle in and of itself that we are loved, and even more so that we are loved by God himself. The significance of our needs being met by God is only seen in light of who he is, his character and nature, and what he has done for us. 

Further Study: The Attributes of God

 

 Step 2: Meditate on the Truth of How God Sees You

Pick out two or three bible verses which speak to your emotional needs, write them down, and carry them with you. Better yet, set them as your lock screen on your phone. As you view them, take moments to be quiet and receive God’s love. 

 

Step 3: Find Community with Mature Christians 

Each of the core needs are designed to be met by God. But God has also created us for relationships with others around us. In those relationships, we can experience these needs met in healthy ways as well. Surround yourself with brothers and sisters in Christ who see you for your true value, and love you like God does. 

The truest thing about you is what God says of you.

Staring at Screens, Not Stars

In ancient times people would look up at the stars at night. Now, we look down at our phones. Stars make the world feel big, screens make the world feel small. I wonder how this is affecting us? I remember seeing a recent post on X encompassing this idea and it stopped me in my tracks. We’re more connected than ever, have more information at our fingertips than anyone could have dreamed of, yet many are lonely, anxious, full of fear, and experience a felt absence of God.

Our broad culture in the western world shows similar symptoms as well. Unexplainable things are rationalized away producing a pseudo sense of control. People find meaning in materialism causing looming uncertainty. Relationships are governed by instrumental reason rather than sympathy causing fragility. Lives are all about the material, immanent, and pleasurable.

 

What Is Disenchantment?

These are all symptoms of what many call disenchantment. It’s a word to describe our culture where more and more aspects of human life are subject to calculation, measurement, and control. This is in contrast to wonder, awe, and mystery. It’s all too uncommon to marvel at the mysterious beauty of life. Living can feel dull, mundane, and gray. When deep questions about life surface, such as how we got here, why we are here, and where we are going, they are pushed away by immediate distraction. Instead we find purpose in the present, meaning in the material, and satisfaction in the sensual. With great advancements in science and thought over the past few hundred years has come a world we can grasp and measure, rather than a world of great wonder and awe.

 

How Did We Get Here? Two Paths to a Secular World

How did we get here? How did we go from viewing all life as enchanted by the Creator of the cosmos to a reductionistic material world? Paul Gould in his excellent book, “Cultural Apologetics”, offers two ways through which we have wandered into a disenchanted world as a culture.

 

→ Related: The Argument from Beauty: Does True Beauty Point to God?

 

Path 1: The Suppression of Truth About God

The first being a suppression of truth about God. This is what Paul describes in Romans 1:20-25:

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Failing to recognize God and the truth of reality distorts our thinking and provides unstable foundations. Reality is turned on its head. We cannot see the world clearly if our fundamental beliefs about God are wrong. To quote Paul Gould, “Our cultural beliefs regard God’s existence and nature are determinative factors in our culture’s ability to see reality clearly.” (Gould, Cultural Apologetics)

 

Path 2: Emptying the World of the Divine

The second step is emptying the world of the divine and sacred. Instead of seeing the magic and mystery of the world, everything is rationalized away as molecules in motion caused by the previous cause. Materialism replaced transcendent worldviews in the west over the past decades (although this is changing). Meaning is made and not given, purpose is whatever you want it to be! Life is not as the ancients believed, the battle of opposing forces and mythical adventures and value based actions. In the west, it’s rational, calculated, and materialistic.

 

My Personal Struggle with Rationalization

I notice this in my own life as I see a tendency to see the supernatural and quickly rationalize it away as simply cells working like they ought, or medicine, or luck. I try to explain away what could be divine intervention or cause. I’m often consumed by immediate gratification and the belief that the material world will provide what I ultimately long for. Rather than sitting in awe of the unimaginable God, I try to break Him down into bite sized pieces or or understand His will and workings to make Him more manageable.

This experience of disenchantment is like discovering a piece of art that captures your perception, or a poem which evokes emotion, or a short video that speaks to transcendent values. Yet, upon further investigation you quickly realize it was created by AI. That realization sucks the life out of it. It becomes not a thing of beauty but simply the product of a designed system which produces code based on probability. It divides it from true life and the work becomes bland.

 

When Wonder Breaks Through the Grey

But for all of us, in moments filled with dull and grey, wonder and mystery breaks through. It’s in moments like a movie portraying self sacrifice for the sake of others, or a poem that touches our longing for something more, or a song that speaks to the transcendence of the good and beautiful, or a sunset beyond description There is more than the materialistic and reductionistic world, but we have to look up and wonder.

 

A Scriptural Call to Awe

All through scripture we read of the beauty and majesty of God and humanity’s natural response.

Isaiah 6:1–5 Isaiah sees the Lord high and exalted; he cries, “Woe is me!”

Psalm 8:3-4 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 33:8 “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”

By suppressing the truth about God and emptying the world of anything other than the material, life becomes dull, purposeless, meaningless, monotonous, and unexciting. It becomes inhuman. Instead, we should look up. Wonder about the fact that this world would not exist without a cause, be in amazement of the fine-tuning and design which sustains fragile life, marvel at the beauty of creation, and be in awe of the God behind it all. The natural response to the majesty of God is awe.

 

→ More From Cru: Beauty and Trust: Dealing with Anxiety

 

3 Practical Steps to Re-Enchant Your Life

Here is what I have been doing to sit and wonder.

 

Step 1: Identify Your Material Distractions

First, I look for the ways in which my life is dominated by material things. It’s my phone, the clothes I wear, or the hobby and its accompanying things. These things distract me and cause my eyes to drift from wonder to worldly.

 

Step 2: Intentionally Seek Out Beauty and Connection

Second, I put myself in situations to encounter God and the beauty of His creation. I do this by reading a good novel, or going for a walk in a quiet place, sitting in front of a beautiful view, or speaking with a friend face to face.

 

Step 3: Meditate on God’s Word

Most importantly, I meditate on God’s word and marvel at who He is and what He has done. We have an incredible opportunity to meet with and experience the God of the universe. What can you do this week to move from a disenchanted culture to see the beauty of life?

Beauty is a concept that touches many different areas of our lives: art, nature, morality, etc. Beauty has historically been seen as whatever is good or whatever is pleasing to the senses. But what truly makes something beautiful? Most of modern culture sees beauty as best defined in the eye of the beholder. Whether it is in art, ethics, or appearance, beauty is seen as something to be determined by individuals or the culture one lives in. In an individualistic or humanistic society, people are often encouraged to pursue beauty through their own means. However, is this approach truly satisfying?

 

The Danger of Subjective & Pragmatic Beauty

The beauty defined by the world is a secular one. Beauty isn’t seen as a quality to be discovered in God’s creation, it is an idea to be defined according to one’s preferences. However, if beauty isn’t objective, then there isn’t anything about nature, harmony, or even justice that is inherently beautiful, because those standards are invented by either ourselves or the culture we are living in. Also, as culture changes, so will the standards of beauty, meaning beauty becomes a goalpost that is constantly moving with the times. There are still other ways people will try to define beauty in a secular manner. For example, in naturalist philosophies, beauty is pragmatic; a worldview that is explained in a chapter on beauty in “How to Know God Exists” by Josh McDowell and Thomas Williams. According to the naturalist view, the only beauty is found in the functionality of something. The mechanics of a thing are then viewed as its essence rather than any meaning it produces. From this view however, finding any meaning beyond the pragmatic becomes difficult. The central problem with these approaches to beauty is that they trivialize its meaning by suggesting that nothing is inherently beautiful. These perspectives often leave people jaded and cynical as they struggle to find the beauty in anything.

 

Finding an Answer in Objective Beauty

Rather than viewing beauty as pragmatic or an emotional response, what about viewing beauty as an ideal? In ancient cultures, beauty was viewed more objectively than how we might think of it today. The Greeks pursued beauty through mathematics and philosophy, seeing it as an objective ideal to be pursued similar to goodness or truth. Beauty was believed to be found or discovered in symmetry and order, and this worldview expressed itself through architecture and art. These designers and artists sought beauty as an objective quality and found it in the symmetrical and the orderly. The ancients were well aware that this order, symmetry and beauty were not happenstance, but intentionally put in place by a Designer.

 

Related: The Argument from Beauty: Does True Beauty Point to God?

 

The Intentionality of Beauty: A Sign of a Designer

Beauty has intentionality behind it. This shouldn’t be surprising to us thousands of years later, as we can still find beauty in the symmetry and order all around, in nature and in the art we make. There is an order to the natural world that is intended to be good and fulfilling. The Greeks found beauty in order, which they incorporated into their architecture. Without God, that natural beauty loses its meaning and nature is chaotic and purposeless. What is a testament to God’s glory becomes a mess of carbon and atoms that kind of just exist.

Beauty is more than function or personal taste. In Psalm 19:1-2, the Psalmist David writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.” Creation is ultimately a testament to God’s glory and goodness. That is what makes nature beautiful; it’s not the source of beauty – it gives a glimpse into the majesty of its creator.

 

Jesus: The Ultimate Source of True Beauty

Just as there is beauty in what God has created, there is also beauty in his goodness. Specifically, how he provides for our needs and guides us with his wisdom.

 

Beauty in God’s Provision and Character

Jesus promises in the sermon on the mount that those who seek the kingdom of God will not need to worry about anything (Matthew 6:25-34). Just as God provides for something as small as a bird or a flower, he will certainly provide for what he created in his own image. Many Psalms and poems in the Bible also praise God for his wisdom and power, understanding that he is the true source of goodness and strength. Psalm 118 is David praising the Lord for his protection and love in the face of difficulty. David, through artistic expression, recognizes the trustworthy and righteous character of God.

Beauty in Christ’s Perfect Example

To follow God’s commands and recognize his character through righteous behavior, especially toward others is to see the beauty in goodness and morality that can only be seen through God’s eyes. A beauty, according to Hebrews 1:3, that is perfectly exemplified in Christ.
Though secular views tend to characterize beauty as subjective, these views are unfulfilling. Beauty can truly be found by recognizing nature as God’s design and seeking him in our daily lives. Whether it’s in nature, the art we make, or even how we treat others, we find beauty by first seeing God’s hand in what he has created.

 

More From Cru: Teaching True Beauty to Kids

 

Bringing Beauty Into Your Next Conversation

Bring these ideas to life in the next conversation you have with a friend or loved one about the natural beauty of the world. As you discuss the sunset you saw on your last vacation; the awe-inspiring view of the stars on a clear night, or simply the beauty of a currently shared view; use beauty as a conversation starter. Ask a simple question like, “Have you wondered why we marvel at natural beauty?” or “Have you ever considered why scenery like this makes us catch our breath?” Let them share with you what they think and take the opportunity to share why there is an actual reason we see beauty in these things. It’s because they were designed to be beautiful and to point to the greater beauty of the Designer.  Talk through what makes something beautiful and why there is always intentionality and order in the things we find beautiful. From there, you can talk about God’s goodness and how he created a beautiful world for us to live in. Don’t miss an opportunity to take a simple moment and turn it into something beautiful.

If you’ve followed apologetics, you’ve probably heard the big three arguments for God’s existence—the cosmological argument for God, the fine-tuning argument for God, and the moral argument for God. These are good arguments, but is that all we have to make our cumulative case? Moreover, as culture changes, are we adjusting to it?

There are roughly ten arguments for God’s existence that have been carefully developed with philosophical depth and rigor. One argument for God, often overlooked, seems especially timely in this disenchanted culture that believes reality must be more rich, more “thick,” than the hollow picture provided by naturalism. It is called the Argument from Beauty.

 

Related: If There is a God, Why Does He Seem So Hidden?

 

Understanding Beauty Through our Senses

To understand the reality of beauty, we must first explore how we perceive it. Much like our primary senses of sight and hearing, the perception of beauty has several key characteristics:

It provides information: Perceptions give us information about the world around us. Without them, we wouldn’t have access to the world.It is a subjective experience: There is a “what it is like” to have a phenomenal experience.It is passive: Perceptions come to us without effort. (We don’t try to see a car in front of us.)It is taken as truth: When we see a car in front of us, we don’t feel a need to prove that a car is really there.

When I reflect on beauty, I can’t help but notice how beauty comes to us in the same way. We simply “see” beauty in things, and such a perception works like all of the others. Standing at the top of a mountain, we perceive many things—we see the snow-capped landscape, we hear the whispers of wildlife, we smell the pine air, we feel the cool breeze against our face, and we behold the beauty of it all. Beauty, then, seems to be another feature of reality that comes to us through our perceptions. But if beauty is perceived, there must be some objective feature of the world outside of us that is being perceived.

 

Addressing the Objection: Isn’t Beauty Subjective?

Let’s try a different approach. Imagine standing at the top of that mountain with all of those previous perceptions, but the “seeing” of beauty is an illusion. All of the other senses point to real things (like color and pitch), yet the human experience of standing on that mountain is no different from staring at a concrete wall. Without beauty, our experience of the world around us would be as flat as a computer’s. Is that really the right way to understand reality? I doubt it. In fact, I find it intellectually inconsistent to accept the reality behind some perceptions but not the reality of beauty.

One may object and say that beauty is totally subjective, and therefore not real. After all, two people can look at the same painting and one says, “This is beautiful,” while the other does not. But just because people disagree about their perceptions doesn’t mean what they perceive isn’t real. Many things in this world are not obviously beautiful, so people disagree. Other experiences, like beholding a mountaintop, are more obviously beautiful. If we stood on that mountain next to another traveler who simply went “meh,” we would think something was wrong with them! It’s not that such beauty is subjective, but that the unimpressed individual has become desensitized.

Furthermore, many would argue (myself included) that every human person is beautiful, regardless of their appearance. So the idea of objective beauty is closer to home than we may think, and it digs deeper than surface-level opinions.

 

How Does Objective Beauty Show That God Exists?

So yes, beauty really does exist. But where does it come from, and does it point to the existence of God? To answer this, let’s compare two worldviews.

 

The Nontheistic View: Is Beauty Just Chemistry?

At the risk of being overly simplistic, the nontheistic view of the universe claims that everything in reality can be reduced to physical things. For example, thoughts and feelings are said to be nothing more than physical events in our brains. Morality is said to be merely an expression of how we feel. So thoughts, feelings, goodness, and evil are not “real” in themselves, but merely physical phenomena. They all reduce down to atoms and molecules moving about. It’s all just chemistry.

Already, this view gives us a picture of reality that seems terribly off. How much more when we reflect on beauty? After all, if beauty is a real feature of reality, where does it come from? Beauty is non-physical. This makes it difficult to understand our universe unless we are willing to admit that there are more than just physical things.

 

The Theistic View: An Enriched Reality

If we hold to a theistic view of reality, however, beauty makes perfect sense. First, with God in the picture, reality is enriched with nonphysical things like love, joy, morality, meaning, and beauty. These are not just illusions or physical phenomena as the nontheistic view is forced to claim. Second, beauty is sensible and expected. A good God would want to bake beauty into his creation so his creatures could perceive and enjoy it. From a Christian perspective, we could add that our ability to create beautiful things is a reflection of God’s image within us.

 

More From Cru: Jesus Manifesto

 

From Philosophical Argument to Christian Worship

Although the Argument from Beauty takes much more time to fully defend, hopefully, we can see some compelling reasons that beauty exists, and the existence of beauty points to the existence of God. If we take this alongside the other arguments for God’s existence, we have a powerful cumulative case that God is real and alive in this world.

For Christians, however, beauty is not just a tool for showing that God exists. It’s an objective standard of God’s nature that excites our worship for Him. As Psalm 96:9 says, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (KJV). So, as you put to memory the main points of this article and share them with a friend, don’t forget to behold God in the process, inviting others to do the same. If we are willing to climb a mountain just to see its beauty, how much more should we be ready to worship the God from whom all beauty is found?

The “Usefulness” Trap of Modern Culture

 

We live in an age of consumerism and industrialization where things are made efficiently and disregarded the minute they break or are no longer useful. Their goodness to us, their value, is directly related to their usefulness for our pleasure or purposes. My fear is that we don’t only treat inanimate objects like this, but also people. When everything in our lives is defined by its usefulness for us, we tend to treat others in a similar manner. Friendships and relationships are foundationally transactional and evaluated based upon how they make us feel. I’ve heard many people say: I’ve moved on from that friendship because they were no longer “good for me.” The minute someone is no longer useful or providing the pleasure they once did, we move on. This is how society tends to treat people as well. It seems all too common that to a company you are only as good as your usefulness, or to a corporation you are only as good as your usefulness. 

 

Related: Doubting the Goodness of God

 

We must stop and ponder, if this is how we think about things and people, what kind of thoughts will we have for ourselves? What fundamental belief will we have for ourselves if we treat everything and everyone around us as useful? We are only as valuable as we are useful. 

 

How Performance-Based Value Affects Our Self-Worth

 

The ramifications for this belief are sobering. You are only as good as your performance, you are only as good as your ability to please, you are only as good as your desirableness for someone else, you are only as good as your ability to satisfy them. Thus, in search of our value we become consumed with striving to be useful to society or others. But deep down, we don’t actually believe this. We are not only as good as our usefulness, because something inside of us says our value is not based on our usefulness. The belief seems to go against the grain of how we actually live and long to think of ourselves. 

 

Culture says you are useful , but God says you are loved . 

 

The difference between being useful and being loved cannot be overstated. Every human being is born with the desire to be fully known and fully loved simply for who they are. What makes this being known and loved significant is who is declaring the value. Society has its own goals, and sadly they are not often for your benefit. Most of the time society is built upon people, and many of those people have the goal of personal gain at others expense. But God declares that you are known and loved, so why is that fundamentally different?

 The Foundation of Our Value: Understanding God’s Goodness

 

One of the characteristics about God is that He is good. When the rich young man approaches Jesus in Matthew chapter 19, He asks what good deeds he must do to have eternal life. And Jesus responds in part by saying there is only “one who is good” (v17). This is God. God’s goodness can be seen in two aspects. 

 

God’s Moral Perfection

First, God is morally perfect. We can think of goodness in a moral sense of what is right being good, and wrong being bad. In Psalms 92:15, the psalmist declares there is no unrighteousness in God. Thus, God is perfectly good and righteous. 

 

God’s Unfailing Love

Second, God’s goodness is deeply intertwined with his love. In Psalm 106 we read, 

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever!”

In Romans 5:8 we read of God’s demonstration of his love and goodness in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

 

The Ultimate Proof: Your Value Declared at the Cross

 

Valued in Creation (“Very Good”)

God, the ultimate standard of goodness, who is good himself, created humanity and called it “very good” in Genesis 1:31. God declaring it good meant it was all right in the world to have humans in perfect relationship with Him in the garden. Yet, the fall of mankind in Genesis chapter 3 and the resulting devastation across creation and the sinfulness of humanity shattered this. But God, in his goodness, sent His one and only son to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sin. The restoring of the relationship that was broken by sin is good, stemming from the ultimate source and standard of goodness, God himself. Your value is seen in Christ’s death on the cross for you. God was willing to send Jesus to die so that the relationship that was broken by sin could be restored. Second, God’s goodness, meaning morally perfect, means he cannot lie. And we read that God loves us. John 15:9 says “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” 

 

More from Cru: Five Bible Characters that Went from Bad to Good

Redeemed by Christ’s Sacrifice

Simply put, when God declared your value by sending Jesus on the cross, it was out of his goodness and for your good, and when God says he loves you, he does not lie. When he says you are his masterpiece (Eph 2:10), he speaks the truth. We can trust God because he is good. He does not have hidden motives and is upfront and clear in his revelation to you. 

The Christian story says you are valuable because God created you and has declared your value with Jesus’ death and resurrection. And because of your value and God’s love, He  chooses to use you on earth and invites you to redeem the broken world and share the Gospel with others. So you are useful, but the foundation is you have value and you are loved. Culture distorts this truth and flips it, you are valued because you are useful. That’s false. God’s goodness is the foundation to trust. 

 

How to Live in Your True Identity

 

Why does this matter? We tend to live our lives trying to prove our value to others around us. Instead, rest in your true value and God’s love for you. That is the only secure and satisfying foundation.

The Atheist’s Challenge: Moral Actions Without Belief

Several years ago, the late atheist Christopher Hitchens issued a challenge to Christians everywhere. In a short YouTube clip, he said, “If it’s to be argued that our morality… can be derived from the supernatural, then name me… a moral action taken by a believer, or a moral statement uttered by one that could not have been made or uttered by… a nonbeliever.”

Challenge. Personally, though, I don’t really care. For Hitchens or anyone to issue a challenge of this sort is to fundamentally misunderstand what Christians mean when we say that morality comes from God. To see this, let’s back up and ask this crucial question: Can I be Good without God?

Reframing the Question: Belief in God vs. The Existence of God

The answer to our question may seem obvious to you, as it seemed obvious to Hitchens and many others, both Christian or otherwise. Is it good to give money to a noble charity? Yes. Can a non-Christians give money to a noble charity? Yes. Therefore, a non-Christian can do something good. 

Problem solved, right?

Not really. In truth, the question, “Can I be good without God?” is kind of a trick question. Notice how it’s phrased. We are not asking if a person can do good things without believing in God. We are asking if a person can do good things without God. In other words, if God doesn’t exist, are we able to do good things?

Related: Why we Need to Trust God’s Goodness

The answer may still seem to be an obvious “yes.” We can perform the same moral actions (such as giving money to a noble charity) whether or not God exists. However, if God does not exist, it becomes impossible to say those actions are, in fact, moral. This is what Hitchens failed to recognize. Evidently, he wasn’t thinking well enough about what makes something morally good.

What is the Basis for Goodness in a Universe Without God?

Imagine there is no supernatural reality and God doesn’t exist. Everything in this universe is purely natural, composed of nothing more than atoms bound together in complex ways, moving about by various chemical and physical processes. Now, ask yourself: what makes something morally good?

Perhaps you think an action is good if it obeys the law. Or, maybe it is good if it feels pleasurable, or it brings the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest number of people. If you’re a die-hard Darwinist, you might say something is good if it helps a species survive or evolve. But of all those answers, what do any of them have to do with goodness? Why is following the law good? Why is pleasure better than pain? Why is survival better than death? At the end of the day, all of these outcomes would amount to nothing more than different motions and arrangements of atoms in the universe.

I could arrange Legos in any arrangement I want, but no arrangement is morally good or evil. Change Legos to anything else, like chemicals of pain or pleasure in the brain, and I fail to see how it makes any difference whatsoever.

More from Cru: What it Means to be Good

Why Objective Morality Points to God

Let’s face it: real objective morality in a universe without God would be weird, to say the least. This is precisely what J.L. Mackie, whom Time Magazine called “perhaps the ablest of today’s atheistic philosophers,” argued for in a piece he wrote called The Subjectivity of Values. It is also why many nontheistic philosophers argue that labeling something as “good” or “bad” doesn’t state any fact about the world, but rather expresses a person’s opinion about an issue.

But what happens when we bring God into the picture? With God, morality finally makes sense. First, we can say that our feelings are more than just brain events; they are real, meaningful experiences of the soul. Second, there is more to the universe than just a complex arrangement of atoms; God made the universe with value, enriching his creation with purpose and sacredness. It’s not that God randomly decided what is moral and immoral. Rather, goodness is part of God’s nature, and he constructed the universe with morality woven into its fabric.

Our Response: Living in a Morally Rich World

So, let’s return to our original question: Can I be good without God? If you mean to ask, “Can I be good without believing in God?” then the answer is yes, but that isn’t a very interesting or helpful question to explore. However, if you’re asking, “Can real, objective, moral goodness exist without God?” the answer is no. And since the answer is no, it’s not possible to be good without God. So it’s not that Christians believe they can do good things and their non-Christian friends cannot (as Hitchens seemed to think). It’s that when anyone (Christian or otherwise) does something moral, the action is truly moral because morality is grounded in God.

As Christians, we may feel pleased to know we can speak meaningfully about morality. At the same time, we are confronted with a piercing reality. The law of morality is just as real as the law of gravity. Take care, then, that you live accordingly, lest you fall and hit the ground hard. When God commands us to walk in purity amidst sexual temptation, to speak in gentleness to our difficult classmate, or to give generously despite another pay cut, these are not optional suggestions that we can weigh against our own desires. They are commands from the source of all authority, built into our conscience, and in accordance with the fabric of nature. Not only that, but they are genuinely for our good, because goodness is part of God’s very nature.