Our Conscience 1
He leads me …
How does God speak to us through our conscience?
In The Foundations of Christian Doctrine, Kevin J. Conner states that mankind’s conscience was inactive until they sinned, ‘but the moment man sinned his conscience began to work, and his thoughts began to accuse and excuse him.’[1]
Conner then goes on to look at what others have said. Dr Augustus Hopkins Strong, in Systematic Theology[2] says that man’s moral powers are intellect, sensibility and will, together with the power of discernement and impulse, which all make up our conscience.
Intellect enables man to discern between what is right and wrong; sensibility appeals to him to do one or the other; and will decides the issue. Conscience applies God’s moral law to man.[3]
According to A. A. Hodge[4] our conscience, like any other part of the soul, is nurtured in the child, and very poorly developed in the wicked. If there is a long period of inattention to it or disobedience, the individual sinner becomes morally indifferent, and their conscience becomes suppressed. However, it is clear that the conscience is indestructible, and as a result it becomes man’s torment as ‘their worm [that] does not die’ for those in Gehenna[5] for an eternity (Mark 9:46–48; Isaiah 66:24 NKJV).[6]
This has been likened to a dirty window which starts off clean but, bit by bit, accumulates dust and grime and, if it is not cleaned, becomes harder for anyone to see inside. This happens so slowly that the person is not aware of what is happening. The same process can happen with our conscience.
If our conscience is clear, God’s light can impart inner direction, but when the conscience is affected by sin, it is like the grime stops us from receiving inner direction.[7]
Conscience is not a perfect moral standard. Mankind’s knowledge has been distorted because of sin, so therefore it does not form a perfectly sound basis of judgement. Henry Clarence Thiessen in Lectures in Systematic Theology[8] says that the only correct standard for our conscience is the Bible when it is clarified by the Holy Spirit.[9] It is the Holy Spirit who brings the conscience into line with God’s infallible Word.[10],[11]
Dr Ole Kristian Hallesby[12] explains in his book Conscience that God has determined that any warnings we receive from our conscience come to us from His perspective of the absolute and eternal, and that they occur without us having to do anything to bring them about. In fact most people do a great deal to get rid of this voice of God within. This is probably because they expect God’s voice to be authoritative and demanding rather than gentle.[13]
Everyone, regardless of whether they are a Christian or not has a conscience. Romans 2:14–15 speaks of those who were not Israelites:
Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own consciences and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right (NLT).
When does a person’s conscience function?
A person’s conscience can function before, during or after an event, and that it can be either a bad or a good conscience.
It functions beforehand by instructing a person not to do what they are thinking of doing, or encouraging them to carry out what they are thinking. It functions during an event by reinforcing a person’s earlier actions when they have actually responded, either positively or negatively. However, this is the time when the conscience’s impact is weakest, because the person has become absorbed with what they are doing. Conscience functions after an event by objecting to what has happened – if it is the wrong choice – which causes the person conflict and embarrassment, or by agreeing with it so that the person feels happy and contented.[14]
Dr Hallesby also explains that when something really bad happens, a person’s conscience can make them despise and oathe themselves. Although the outward appearance may look to be in order, psychological research has shown that the negative event can become deep-seated in the person’s subconscious, and ultimately lead to suicide.
On the other hand, when something really good happens, the quality of the pleasure that is experienced is quite intense. Anyone who has been successfully used by the Lord knows what that is like. The person feels enriched and fulfilled and these feelings can lead to both mental and physical well-being.
From these kinds of examples we can see how important out consciences are – especially for Christians whose consciences are refined by the Holy Spirit.
[1] Kevin J. Conner, The Foundations of Christian Doctrine, (Blackburn, Victoria: Acacia Press, 1980) p. 124.
[2] Dr Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology (Glasgow, UK: Pickering-Inglis Ltd, 1981) p. 497.
[3] Conner, 124.
[4] A. A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1866) pp. 200–201
[5] Gehenna occurs in Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28;18:9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,15,47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6. In all of these it describes the place of eternal punishment of the wicked, generally in connection with the final judgment
[6] Conner, 124
[7] Joel A. Freeman, Living With Your Conscience (California, US: Here’s Life Publishers, 1989) p. 65.
[8] Henry Clarence Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Michigan: William B Eerdmans) p. 163.
[9] John 8:9; Acts 24:16; Hebrews 9:14; Romans 2:15; 1 Corinthians 8:7; Titus 1:15; Timothy 4:2
[10] Romans 9:1
[11] Conner, 124
[12] Dr Ole Kristian Hallesby (1879–1961) was an influential, conservative, Norwegian Lutheran theologian, author and educator. He graduated with a degree in theology in 1903 and was awarded his doctorate in 1909
[13] Hallesby, 31, 42.
[14] Hallesby, 12
