About that conscience...

One of Carolyn's former school friends, a delightful young woman, visited us this week for dinner. One of the things we discussed was letting our 'conscience' be our guide. She maintains she does not need to pray, go to church, etc., that she knows right from wrong and follows her conscience.

I admit to follow one's conscience is usually a pretty good rule of thumb, not the best rule, not not a bad one except.... some people don't have any or some peoples' consciences are so dulled from misuse and abuse, they bareful register a conscience. I imagine Ted Bundy (the infamous serial killer) had a conscience at one time or Scott Peterson. Even psychopaths are probably born with one. After people start doing wrong and ignore repenting or 'fixing' the wrongs, repeatedly ignoring the call of their consciences, their conscience gets less and less strong. Some people lose it all together.

To be on the 'safe' side,' it is always best to check with God or the Bible in questions of morality especially. There is no shame or weakness in needing or wanting a 'guide.' Someone stronger than ourselves is usually a better guide than our conscience.

Some peoples' consciences are even over developed; they see 'sin' or wrong or guilt in everything they do. Not such a good guide that way, either.

Rather than letting your conscience be your guide, why not let His word be your guide. It's never wrong.

I. Cor. 8:7 "Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."