In the previous parts of this series, we addressed our internal longing for morality, transcendence, and the Divine. In Part 4, we turn our attention to one of the most powerful and subtle deceptions of modern thought: the illusion of self-sufficiency. Many today assume that we can construct purpose, meaning, and morality independent of God. But can we? Let’s explore this through a theological, scientific, and rational lens.
1. The Illusion of Autonomy: “I Don’t Need God”
Autonomy means “self-law” — living by rules we define for ourselves. The modern world celebrates autonomy as maturity, freedom, and strength. But Scripture reveals a deeper truth:
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…” — Isaiah 53:6
The fall in Eden was not about fruit — it was about rejecting divine authority. The lie of the serpent was simple: “You shall be like God.” (Genesis 3:5)
To claim we don’t need God is to repeat that same lie — that we are enough in ourselves, moral in ourselves, purposeful in ourselves. But is that even logically or psychologically sustainable?
2. Logic: Can Meaning Exist Without Transcendence?
If we are merely biological machines, meaning is an illusion — a construct to make us feel better.
But this leads to contradiction:
- We long for love, but call it chemical reactions.
- We condemn injustice, but deny universal morality.
- We seek meaning, but claim life is a cosmic accident.
These contradictions reveal something deeper: we are not wired for a godless existence. The very structures of thought — justice, beauty, purpose — only make sense if something (or Someone) exists beyond us.
C.S. Lewis puts it this way:
“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning… Just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark.”
3. Science and the Fine-Tuning of the Universe
The universe didn’t just happen — it’s finely tuned to allow life. This is not religious rhetoric but established scientific observation.
- The gravitational constant, cosmological constant, and dozens of other physical values must fall within incredibly narrow ranges — or life would not be possible.
- Physicists, including non-Christian ones like Paul Davies and Stephen Hawking, acknowledge this.
If the universe is fine-tuned for life, the next rational question is: by whom?
“The heavens declare the glory of God…” — Psalm 19:1
The complexity and order of creation point beyond themselves — to a Mind, a Designer, a Creator.
4. Theology: True Freedom is Found in Surrender
Contrary to modern assumptions, needing God is not weakness — it is restoration.
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36
Christianity teaches that we were created to be dependent — not in a degrading way, but in a relational one. Just as a branch draws life from the vine, so we are made to draw purpose, identity, and moral clarity from God.
Rejecting God is not freedom. It’s disconnection. It’s a branch claiming it doesn’t need the tree.
5. Real-Life Crisis: The Price of Godlessness
Many modern societies have removed God from their collective consciousness — and are now battling:
- Rising mental health issues
- Meaninglessness and nihilism
- Moral relativism and social chaos
When God is removed from public life, the vacuum is filled with confusion. As Dostoevsky once wrote:
“If God does not exist, everything is permitted.”
We are watching that play out.
Conclusion: The God We Need Is the God Who Came
The question “Do I need God?” is not answered in mere emotion, tradition, or fear. It is answered in the core of human logic, the testimony of creation, and the longing of the soul.
And the greatest wonder? The God we need is the God who came.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” — John 1:14
God is not a distant concept, but a near Savior. Christ is the answer to the question you were born asking.
Next in Part 5:
We will explore how the presence of suffering reveals not the absence of God, but the need for redemption — and why Christ alone makes sense of both justice and mercy.
