Rev. Tom Lovorn, Th.D.
Q. What is our conscience? Is a Christian’s conscience different from that of an unbeliever? Latane Jenkins, Chesterfield, VA
A. Your conscience is part of your human psyche (your mind). God created it when he gave you the abilities of self-awareness and rational thinking. Notice that it’s spelled with two words, con and science. Science comes from the Latin scire meaning “knowledge,” and con means “with.” So, you’re thinking with knowledge. What knowledge? The value system you have been taught. Simply stated, your conscience recalls what you have accepted as right or wrong.
Your conscience reacts subconsciously, “under your knowledge.” You are not aware of it until you do something related to what you have been taught. It gives you good feelings when you agree with what you know to be right. But, it can give you bad feelings when you do that which you know to be wrong. It is not true that a bad person “has no conscience.” He has a conscience, but not everyone’s conscience reflects the same values. Your conscience is trained by what you believe, and it changes as your knowledge and values change.
Socially speaking, our conscience is trained by our parents, our schooling, our peers, and our circ*mstances. Later we design our own values by what we want to accomplish in life. In addition, in Romans 2:14-15 Paul teaches that God has put knowledge of himself and of basic right or wrong in every person. Therefore, everyone is “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). When people go against their God-given understanding that abusing a fellow human is wrong, Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:2 sin has seared their conscience.
When a person is exposed to Bible study and hears what is right or wrong, his mind builds a value system. When that person becomes saved, the Holy Spirit, then dwelling within him, draws on his Biblical values to convince him of right or wrong. Hebrews 9:14 says the blood of Christ not only saves us, but it cleanses our conscience so we understand what honors God. We call that our Christian conscience. To fail to obey our Christian conscience is sin (James 4:17).
• The Rev. Dr. Tom Lovorn is pastor of God’s Storehouse Baptist Church in Richmond and he writes a weekly question and answer column for The Progress-Index. Columns are real questions from readers around the world. “Dr. Tom”, a Petersburg resident, is a long-time columnist with The Progress-Index and a former pastor in the Petersburg community.
FAQs
When a person is exposed to Bible study and hears what is right or wrong, his mind builds a value system. When that person becomes saved, the Holy Spirit, then dwelling within him, draws on his Biblical values to convince him of right or wrong.
What does the Bible say about conscience? ›
We must do what is right for "conscience sake" (Romans 13:5, 1Corinthians 10:25-29). Our Conscience can be weakened or defiled (1Corinthians 8:7, 1Corinthians 8:12, Titus 1:15) or seared (1Timothy 4:2), and can be emboldened to sin (1Corinthians 8:10).
How should a Christian form their conscience? ›
Finally, the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, asserts that “in forming their consciences the Christian faithful must give careful attention to the sacred and certain teaching of the Church. For the Catholic Church is by the will of Christ the teacher of truth.
What are the types of conscience in the Bible? ›
Certain conscience means convinced without any doubt that an action is good or bad. Doubtful conscience means when you cannot choose between good and bad choices. Lax conscience means when you see no sin where there actually is sin.
What are the matters of conscience in Christianity? ›
A personal conviction is the Spirit-led certainty that you should or should not practice a given matter of conscience. In such cases, it's very simple—if your conscience convicts you, don't do it. If you ignore your conscience and do it anyway, you commit sin and defile your conscience (1 Cor 8:7–12; cf.
What is the biblical basis of conscience? ›
Some Christians believe that the conscience close conscienceAn inner sense (or 'voice') which communicates what is right or wrong in one's behaviour. is the voice of God. God is speaking to individuals, guiding them to do the right thing in a given situation.
What did Paul say about conscience? ›
113–15). Paul's assertion: “I know nothing against myself.” (1 Cor 4:4) should be correctly rendered as: “My conscience is clear” (Lüdemann Gerd 1992b, col.
What are the three levels of conscience in Christianity? ›
Thus, while the distinction between three levels of conscience—preconventional, conventional, and post-conventional or principled—is well-grounded, beyond this, one can at present only say that there is some evidence (which is disputed) concerning the ability to talk theoretically (not the ability to think practically) ...
What is conscious in Christianity? ›
Your conscience is part of your human psyche (your mind). God created it when he gave you the abilities of self-awareness and rational thinking. Notice that it's spelled with two words, con and science. Science comes from the Latin scire meaning “knowledge,” and con means “with.” So, you're thinking with knowledge.
What is the difference between the holy spirit and your conscience? ›
The conscience is an inner human faculty corrupted by sin and the Fall. And the Holy Spirit is the divine agent God uses to begin His redemptive work in a believer. The Spirit takes someone who is dead in sin and darkened in their understanding (Eph.
Conscience formation for Christians entails not only consideration of facts and truth but includes prayer, reflection on the Word of God and the life and teaching of Christ and recourse to the moral teaching and guidance of the Church. A human being must always obey the certain judgment of conscience.
Why does God give us a conscience? ›
Conscience helps us hear the voice of God; it helps us recognize the truth about God and the truth about how we ought to live. Conscience is "a judgment of reason"1 by which we determine whether an action is right or wrong. Jesus told the apostles, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
What is the conscience of a believer? ›
After the spirit of the believer has been regenerated, his conscience is made alive. The precious blood of the Lord Jesus has purified the conscience so that the conscience is clean, possessing the sharpest feeling, and able to work according to the will of the Holy Spirit.
What is conscious according to the Bible? ›
Conscience [N] [T] [B] that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall ( John 16:2 ; Acts 26:9 ; Romans 2:15 ).
What is the law of conscience in the Bible? ›
Romans 2:14-16 New Century Version (NCV)
They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, just as the law commands. And they show this by their consciences. Sometimes their thoughts tell them they did wrong, and sometimes their thoughts tell them they did right.)
What is the Bible verse about the matter of conscience? ›
1 Corinthians 10:29 New Living Translation (NLT)
It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?
