Articles
The Conscience
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. . . Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. (Rom. 2:15)
In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (2 Tim. 4:1-2)
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One of the things that sets humans apart from the lower animals is our sense of moral responsibility. We are equipped with a sense of "oughtness," an understanding that there are some things we "ought" to do and other things we "ought not" to do. That inner moral compass we call our conscience.
In his description of the fallen state of the Gentiles in the opening chapters of Romans, Paul gave them credit for sometimes getting their moral choices right. Their thoughts either accused or excused them, revealing at least a trace awareness of "the work of the law" active in their hearts. Their consciences were guiding their moral conduct, even if imperfectly, and that was a good thing.
If we choose to knowingly violate our conscience--to go against what we "feel" in our hearts is wrong--we inflict damage on that internal censor, and set ourselves on a course of destruction. Paul warned of those who "have their own conscience seared with a hot iron." They flagrantly go against what they know is right, and that abuse eventually renders their conscience inoperative. This is how men become beasts. That's why, in responding to a question about eating meats that had been sacrificed to idols (1 Cor. 8-10), Paul tied his answer to its impact on the consciences of the partakers. We must never violate our conscience, nor influence others to do so. It's critical to our ability to make moral decisions.
So the conclusion is, in the words of Jiminy Cricket, "Always let your conscience be your guide," right?
Not so fast. Paul once claimed that he had "lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Ac. 23:1)--but that included a period when he was opposing Christ and persecuting His followers. His conscience had been conditioned to hate Christianity, and it took a dramatic confrontation with Jesus Himself to open his eyes to the truth and do a "reset" of his moral bearings. In other words, the conscience is subject to education and training. It serves its purpose best when we are committed to a search for a higher truth outside of ourselves.
Friend, your conscience is critical to your moral character; take care to keep it clean and functional. But more importantly, allow it to feed continually on God's word, so that its guidance becomes more trustworthy over time.
--David
