I have heard very few sermons or lessons on this subject through the years. I suspect this may have something to do with the verse in Scripture relating to the "defiled" conscience; so, inasmuch as it has been ignored, I will attempt to shed a little (Scriptural) light on this orphan subject, for in both my experience and belief, it is essential for both salvation and proper conduct. God willing, we will break this up into several posts, and you should feel free to comment; after all, weren't Baptists known for their stand in re the worship of God according to the individual's conscience?
Conscience, Pt.1 - Let's get a short definition in here first: "That part within us that decides, or draws judgement on our thoughts, words, and acts. It makes us aware - conscious of - the good in our conduct or motives - or - causes feelings of remorse for evil-doing." Its action is involuntary; it is our "built-in" moral compass.
ReplyDeleteOne more point: where the Scriptures (which we regard as infallible and absolute) speak, there really is no question as to what we must submit. The nature of Scripture, however, is "two-edged" (Hebrews 4:12); it can be wielded to HELP - or to HARM. It is in THIS area that conscience becomes MOST significant...
Conscience, though good and necessary, can also be twisted and becomes a powerful tool to oppress an individual. Such oppression comes in two ways: internal and external.
ReplyDeleteInternal oppression comes as a result of poor moral choices, and it generally manifests itself in two ways. The conscience thus wounded repeatedly can become callused, and it can fail altogether. Conversely the individual can become enslaved to his conscience. Feeling the depths of his depravity but unable to find relief, he begins self deprecation which most often leads to substance abuse, self-inflicted physical abuse, entrapment in abusive relationships, and even suicide. Most unbelievers will find themselves in various forms of these two extremes. Some believers as well, though I dare say not very many (they may manifest some of these same symptoms, but they stem from external programming, dealt with in the next paragraph).
External oppression comes in as those in authority or in a position to influence one's thinking abuse their trust and steer the victim's conscience into an unhealthy state. This happens in cults, as well as churches.
A pastor through his preaching wields tremendous influence over his flock. When guided by the Holy Spirit, the pastor bolsters and helps grow a healthy conscience in his flock. When moved by any force other than the Holy Spirit, the pastor can do terrible harm to his charge. By perverting the doctrine of Grace, the pastor can use his victim's conscience as a means to enslave that person or people to his will. This leads only to a gross abuse of power and leaves in its wake nothing but shattered lives.
Excellent insight, Jon!
ReplyDeleteChristianity stands somewhat apart from other "religions" in that the concept sin carries the definition "transgression" - a breaking of a code or laws. Indeed, the Bible tells us, that either with or without this knowledge, ALL are transgressors:
ReplyDeleteRomans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
We can see the consequences of ignoring our conscience!
Without conscience - again, the involuntary, instinctual ability to sense right and wrong, harm and help, I see no reason that anyone would ever feel the need for FORGIVENESS. Without this need, there is no cause for anyone to SEEK forgiveness; therefore, conscience is a gift from God, enabling us to seek that which He so freely gives.
So, in this continuing series on conscience, let's not "downplay" the role of this gift, but rather seek to apply it in the Biblical manner; if we do so, we will find ourselves with BETTER relationshps with both God and man.
Next: the UNAVOIDABLE offenses.
Another thought about conscience. I have encountered in my learning that about 90% of mental patience suffer mental problems because of guilt. Not knowing how to deal with it, and not knowing there is a cure, their minds break down or become warped. A number of different psychologists and psychiatrists say that about 90% of their patients would be cured almost instantly if the doctors could effectively pronounce on them that they are forgiven.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting thought.
A comment on Jon's post: a close friend had a family member who had suffered a nervous breakdown; their "take" on this was the same. The devil's goal is ALWAYS to destroy, whether you're saved or lost. How he accomplishes this or where he attacks - in the mental, physical, or spiritual realms matters not.
ReplyDeleteAs Christians, ONE of our goals should be to AVOID giving offense; I Corinthians 10:32 tells us: "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:". Acts 24:16 says "...a conscience void of offense toward God and men..."
ReplyDeleteOne truth we quickly learn is that the Gospel ITSELF offends many; it provides no place for religion or its works; no merit for the good deeds that the self-righteous would use to justify themselves; it provides only opportunity for those broken by the guilt of sin to throw themselves upon the mercy of God and the sacrificial payment He has MADE FOR US!!!
The self-righteous, or religious man, is offended by this; he has no place for the grace of God. It is UNAVOIDABLE!
This is the only "offense" that Christians may give as we seek to publish the good news to the world around us. And we are admonished to do so in "good conscience" - Ephesians 4:15 - "But speaking the truth in LOVE...".
It is incumbent upon us to do that which is right - in the right way!
More to come
Some are possessed of a "weak" conscience; this is described in I Corinthians 8:4,7:
ReplyDelete4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
These folk, through weakness of their conscience, cannot "allow" certain things in - or near - their lives without suffering GUILT. (The example given here is "meats offered unto idols", but is certainly not limited to this alone.)
So now we must CONTRAST the "strong" conscience, and delineate the responsibility that comes with having the liberty to avoid needless guilt; the rule becomes "don't destroy your brother with your liberty". Romans 14:15, 20, 21 spells it out:
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Romans 14:3,4 provide the answer:
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
The strong are not to despise ("lightly esteem") the weak; the weak are not to pass judgement upon the strong, but ALL are to consider the conscience of the OTHER, and thereby ALL are to please Him whom they have chosen to serve.
Sometimes it is NOT a matter of "right or wrong"; it is rather a matter of "weak or strong".
But I would venture that God would prefer strength over weakness.
The "strong" conscience is descrbed in I Corinthians 10:24-33:
ReplyDelete24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
If you TRULY have a strong conscience, then you understand and know HOW to apply v.23 as well:
" All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not".
And you proabably understand what Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" - means as to practical Christian living: Don't let anything CONTROL you! (Even GOOD things, when carried to extremes, can become ADDICTIONS; those things are almost universally DESTRUCTIVE!)
This is further borne out in I Corinthians 6:12 - "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.".
Understanding the LIBERTY of Christ and of grace - with the caveat that we are not to "wound" the conscience of the weaker brethren - (I Cor. 8:9 - "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak" and Romans 15:1 - We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.) - allows us to live life to the FULLEST: it is in this that we have "life more abundantly"!!!
The scariest of all is the “religious” conscience. This is exemplified in John Chapter 8:3-11, and it is my personal belief that this is the “defiled” conscience that is spoken of in Scripture. The passage:
ReplyDeletev.3 - And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
v.4 - They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
v.5 - Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
v.6 - This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
v.7 - So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
v.8 - And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
v.9 - And they which heard it, being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
v.10 - When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
v.11 - She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Here are the “issues”, verse by verse:
vv.4,5 – If she was “taken in the act”, the our first question gas to be “Where’s the guy?” The law says both were to be stoned, not just the woman! We have “caught them out”; either the guy was a friend of theirs, or they decided the woman was, in their judgement, of so little value that nobody would care if she died!
vv.6-9 – I’ve heard plenty of speculation in re what Jesus was writing, so I’ll just add my guess to everyone else’s: it was something that related personally to the men in that room, judging by their reaction in v.9.
What makes this scary is the manner in which they tried to get Jesus to adopt their conscience – their “value system”.
Of course, their error was assuming they were dealing with “just another man”; they could not accept His deity, so they fell into a trap of their own making. (We see this often in Jesus’ dealing with the Pharisees.)
Fanatics are almost always unaware of their own hypocrisy!
Then there is the conscience of the TRUE minister of the Gospel, II Corinthians 4:1,2 -
ReplyDelete1 - "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;"
It is imperative that one KNOW God's mercy FIRSTHAND, for it is the true strength of the one who ministers
2 - "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
All the ways of the world are REJECTED by those who are truly called; anything less is a REPUDIATION of both calling and ministry...
Here are the "earmarks" of the TRUE minister as found in I Timothy 1:3-7 -
3 - "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,"
The command is to teach Paul's doctrines and to hold to that which si known and orthodox!
4 - "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do."
To EDIFY, not confuse!
5 - "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:"
Love in action, without deception or hidden agenda!
6 - "From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;"
7 - "Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm".
Exposing those who would use the Law to decieve the elect!
Thank God for the plainness of His Word! It is the believer's PROTECTION!