Can We Be Good Without God - Tim Horman
Do you ever wonder where our ideas of right and wrong come from? Is goodness something we've collectively agreed upon, a product of social progress? Or is there a deeper, more profound source? This is the big question Tim Horman from One Church tackled in the latest sermon from our 'Questioning Christianity' series.
Based on the core idea in John 1:1-4 and Colossians 1:15-20, this post will dive into whether we can truly live a good, moral life without God in the picture. We'll explore the difference between moral feelings and moral obligations, and what that means for us today. You'll find some questions for reflection and discussion at the end, and you can catch the full sermon by listening or watching below.
For most of human history, people have looked to a divine or transcendent reality to figure out what is right and wrong. Whether it's the ancient Greeks with their concept of the logos or the Buddhist idea of dharma, the belief was that a moral order existed outside of ourselves, something we should align our lives with.
In this way, our modern secular Western culture is quite unique. As speaker and philosopher Charles Taylor points out, we are the first society to attempt to build a system of human flourishing and morality on the assumption that there is no God. But can this really work? Tim argues that it doesn't, because it leaves us with a fundamental problem: the difference between a moral conviction and a moral obligation.
A moral conviction is a feeling. It’s when we say, "I feel that racism is wrong" or "I feel that caring for the poor is the right thing to do." But a moral obligation is something more. It says, "Racism is wrong for everyone, everywhere, whether you feel it is or not." Without a higher authority, like God, who gives us a basis for that moral obligation, we’re left with just competing feelings.
"A moral conviction says, ‘I feel that this is wrong or I feel that this is right.’ A moral obligation says, ‘No, no, no, no. This is wrong or this is right. It is absolutely wrong for everyone everywhere.’"
If our morality is only based on what we feel, then we have no grounds to tell someone else their feelings are wrong. We can’t say "slavery is wrong" or "racism is wrong" as a universal truth, because it just becomes a case of "my opinion versus yours." We might create laws, but ultimately, without a shared foundation, our moral vision becomes fragmented and fragile. As the sermon highlights, the Russian philosopher Alexander Soloviev put it perfectly: "Man descended from apes by a process of the strong eating the weak. Therefore, let us love one another." That's not a logical argument, is it?
Connecting to Our Lives
The paradox is that, in many ways, our secular society holds incredibly high moral standards—valuing equal human rights, universal kindness, and caring for the vulnerable. But where did these ideas come from? Historian Tom Holland, who wrote the book Dominion, argues they aren't a product of science or reason. Instead, they are the direct legacy of Christianity.
The idea that every human being has inherent, equal worth was revolutionary. A Roman would have found it laughable. But it's a core belief of the Christian faith: that God created everyone in His image. When we remove God from the picture, we’re left with these beautiful, but ultimately unprovable, convictions.
So, how does this all apply to us today? Tim makes it clear that being a good person is not the same as being a Christian. Plenty of people who don't believe in God live incredibly moral lives. However, what Christianity offers is more than just a set of rules to follow. It offers a new heart.
The Christian faith isn't about simply following a moral code; it's about surrendering our lives to Christ. It’s about being transformed by God's grace and mercy. When we receive that gift, it changes us from the inside out and compels us to love others. The moral life becomes not a burden to be earned, but a gift to be lived out in gratitude.
"The call of the Christian life is not just be a good person, follow the rules... It is, no, submit your life to Christ and then he will make you into the kind of person who can do these things. Christianity is not a moralistic religion. It's a religion of surrender."
When we choose to live for ourselves and create our own truth, we are left to our own devices, and history shows that this often leads to violence and power struggles. But when we are shaped by Christ and His love, our focus shifts. The question is no longer "What's in it for me?" but "How can I best love and serve my neighbour?" That’s the kind of society we can all get behind.
Tim’s sermon reminds us that the moral values we often take for granted in the West—like equal human rights and universal kindness—are deeply rooted in the Christian story. Without a belief in a loving God who created us all in His image, these values become fragile and hard to defend.
Christianity doesn't just offer a moral framework; it offers a spiritual transformation. It’s about a relationship with a God who loved us so much He sent His Son to die on a cross for us, to reconcile us to Himself. When we receive that incredible gift of grace, it empowers us to become people who can live out goodness, not because we have to, but because we are so full of His love.
One Way to Live it Out This Week
This week, try to see the value in a person you might normally dismiss or disagree with. Acknowledge their inherent worth, and look for a small, practical way to show them kindness or respect, whether it's by listening to them or offering them a smile.
A Prayer for Your Week
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the source of all that is good, true, and beautiful. Thank you for making us in your image and giving us a moral compass. We pray that you would change us from the inside out, so that we may live lives of love and mercy, reflecting your goodness to a world that desperately needs it. Amen.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
For Personal Reflection:
How do you personally define "goodness"? Do you think our culture's definition of goodness is changing?
Tim talked about the difference between a moral conviction (a feeling) and a moral obligation (an objective truth). Can you think of a time when your feelings about something were challenged by an objective truth?
How does the idea that our moral values come from God, and not just from our own reasoning, change how you view your own life?
For Small Group Discussion:
Tim mentioned that secular Western society is the first to try to live without a shared, transcendent moral order. Do you agree that this is a relatively new experiment? What have you noticed in the world that either supports or challenges this idea?
What does the phrase "live my own truth" mean to you? How does this idea connect to the sermon's point about moral convictions versus moral obligations?
Do you think it's possible for a society to maintain values like universal human rights and equality if it moves further and further away from its Christian roots?
Tim mentioned that Christian values are often seen as counter-cultural, but in reality, they shaped our entire culture. What are some examples of Christian values you see reflected in our society today, even if people don’t recognise their source?
Read John 1:1-4 and Colossians 1:15-20. What do these passages tell us about who Jesus is and His relationship to the universe? How does this challenge the idea that morality is something we simply invent?
The sermon says that Christianity is not a moralistic religion but a religion of surrender. What's the difference between trying to be good on your own strength and surrendering to God to be made good?
The sermon concluded with a quote about the cross being the symbol of the Christian revolution. What about the image of Jesus on the cross is so powerful?
How does understanding God's grace—that we are made holy and righteous as a gift, not by our own efforts—change how we approach our own lives and our relationships with others? Let's pray for one another that we may all live more and more in God's grace.