Cultivating A Christian Conscience

Always let your conscience be your guide. Most probably remember that line from Pinocchio. That is what the cricket preached to the wooden boy. But what if your conscience is seared? Personally if I followed my conscience from 10 years ago I would still be a selfish drunk who didn’t care about anyone else in the world. So take that line but put your conscience to the test. By that I mean to test it with God’s inspired word. 

My conscience from 10 years ago was significantly seared and corrupted by years of drinking and doing nothing for anyone else. Even if I did do something for someone else the motives in my head were selfish. I knew right from wrong but I didn’t want to acknowledge it. Drowning out that small voice of reason with alcohol and partying lead to ruined relationships and fake friendships.

1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

There was hypocrisy. I knew what I should be doing yet I continued to ignore those things. Dismissing my conscience as the weaker me and constantly drowning it out makes it hard to hear. It’s hard to hear until God’s word finds you. Slowly his word came through and I didn’t want to drown it out. Nor could I drown it out. It has become the governing body that rules my thoughts. And it is only by grace that I have been saved. Delivered from that corrupt conscience. 

Titus 1:15-16  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

We see the seared consciences of the secular world promoting their depraved ideas in every facet of our lives. The time for ignoring those things and just “living our lives” is not sufficient anymore. Standing on the firm foundation of Christ we need to make known our position on every issue that is being twisted and maligned.

“My conscience is captive to the Word of God,” he told his accusers. “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” These are the words Martin Luther said when he was asked to recant the statements he made against the Roman Catholic Church . Praise the Lord he made those statements and stood by them! 

So then we must do the same. Whenever the world promotes ideas that contradict Scripture we should be willing to stand against them. Stand firm knowing that the all powerful God of the Bible is behind us and for us.