The Conscience-A Good Guide?

I assume that most who read this article have heard the old saying, “let your conscience be your guide.”  Usually such is uttered as advice when someone has difficult decisions to make.  However, we should be careful in such instances.  Is the conscience really a reliable guide for our lives?  The answer depends upon how well we have trained our consciences.

Paul once said, “…Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).  This statement might seem to some as if Paul had lived justly and properly all of his life.  That is not the case.  In fact, Paul had committed many heinous things, yet his conscience had not allowed him to believe that he was guilty.  He acknowledged this when he claimed, “ I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9).

This Paul is the same man that many knew as Saul of Tarsus.  Saul of Tarsus had developed a reputation in the first century A.D.  He had become known as an avid persecutor against Christianity.  “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3).  “…And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:  it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5).

Saul was a man directly responsible for persecuting the church of Christ.  His conscience led him to believe that he was doing that which was good/right.  At that point, Saul’s conscience was not a good guide!

Thankfully, Saul of Tarsus/Paul learned an important lesson that some still have not learned.  Even though one’s conscience may “tell” him that doing a certain thing is alright, that person’s conscience can be trained improperly.  There can be no doubt after reading Paul’s statement in Acts 23:1, that he later realized this fact .

How many individuals live their lives in similar ways today?  How many feel fine with their actions simply because their consciences do not convict them?

Consider our subject again.  What would have ultimately happened to Saul of Tarsus/Paul if he had continued to persecute the Lord and His church without violation of conscience?  Would Saul of Tarsus/Paul have been saved in his ignorance?  Would the Lord simply say to Saul/Paul, it is okay because I know that you thought you were doing that which was right?  The obvious answer is no.

If we want consciences that are useful in our lives, then we must do what is required to accomplish such.  A diligent, and thorough, study of the Bible will allow mankind to know what things are pleasing to God (2 Tim. 2:15; Psm. 119:11).  It is only when we know what is right that our consciences can be invaluable aids to us.  If we are honest and sincere, our trained consciences should not allow us to do wicked things without shame and remorse.

Once Saul/Paul learned the truth, there was no way that he could have continued his persecution without violation of his conscience.  He repented and ceased.  We must be willing to do likewise.

I plead with the reader not to trust an untrained conscience!  Our souls are worth more than the entire world (Matt. 16:26).  Make sure that what you do is according to God’s Word.  Do not rely on the ideas and thoughts of men.  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils?  and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:  depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23).
~ Corey Barnette