Continuing meditations regarding our conscience. Consider 1 Corinthians 4:1-5…
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Jiminy Cricket was wrong, it is not always wise to “Let your conscience be your guide.” It is entirely possible (Probable?) that the conscience can mislead a person regarding what is right or wrong. Even the Apostle Paul admitted as much… as a genuine believer! Truth is we all are masters of rationalization and justification. We are always able to give good reasons that what we said or did was right… to us. That is because our heart is deceitfully wicked and no man can know it (Their own heart!). The greater truth is we are not the final word on anything… God is.
With that being the case, it is the better part of wisdom to seek truth outside ourselves so that the conscience is informed by God’s objective truth… His Word and His Spirit. Without relying on God’s revelation it is possible for us to live in massive moral, ethical, and spiritual blind spots. So what are we to do?
Through prayer continually ask God to reveal to us our blind spots. Ask Him through His Holy Spirit to see things as He sees them. Ask Him to help us “examine ourselves rightly” so as to present a heart of wisdom. Consider what is written in 1 Cor 11:28-32…
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
There is much more to consider on the concept of conscience yet to come… God willing.