Conscience
Author: Andrew David Naselli & J.D. Crowley
Written: 2016
“The conscience is your consciousness of what you believe is right and wrong.”
Hello Ordinary Readers,
How often do you give thought to that voice in your head that warns you something is write or wrong? The authors begin with that old cartoon analogy of and angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other telling you what to do wrong. I always immediately think of old Goofy cartoons. In Conscience: What it is, how to train it, and loving those who differ the authors explore exactly that by looking at what scripture teaches. With the conscience’s ultimate authority being God.
I think this is a good read for all believers because the Bible talks about it. In today’s world we often allow our personal conscience to be the ultimate authority not checking it with scripture or understanding that it is ok to disagree and both people be right. It is also a short read that I think is worth everyones time, and there are some helpful charts.
Happy reading!
Quotes
“Similarly, the guilt that your conscience makes you feel should lead you to turn from your sin to Jesus.”
“Your pastors are not the lord of your conscience (though they care for your soul, and you would be foolish to disregard their council).”
“The conscience is your consciousness of what you believe is right and wrong.”
“Your conscience is a gift. God gave it to you for your good.”
“You are calibrating your conscience when Christ, the Lord of your conscience, teaches you through his Scripture that your conscience has been incorrectly warning you about a particular matter, so you decide no longer to listen to your conscience in that one matter.”
“Just because you can sin with a clear conscience doesn’t mean that what. you’re doing is okay. ”
“Paul’s Solution of Love Chart”
Ways to Pray
“Father, we are finite and sinful people, and for a complex of reasons that you know far better than we do, we disagree with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ on all sorts of disputable matters.
1. Would you please give us grace to welcome those who disagree with us on various disputable issues?
2. Would you please give us grace to not look down on those who are stricter than we are?
3. Would you please give us grace to not be judgmental toward those who exercise more freedom than we do?
4. Would you please give us grace to be fully convinced of our positions in our own consciences?
5. Would you please give us grace to practice our freedoms and restrictions for your glory and to assume that other believers are doing the same?
6. Would you please give us grace to keep disputable matters in perspective, knowing that we will all someday stand before your judgment seat?
7. Would you please give us grace to not let our freedom destroy the faith of a professing Christian who is weaker on a particular disputable matter?
8. Would you please give us grace to build each other up in righteousness, peace, and joy?
9. Would you please give us grace to not flaunt our freedom or expect others to be as strict as we are?
10. Would you please give us grace to live according to our conscience and experience your blessing?
11. Would you please give us grace to follow the example of Christ, who put others first?
12. Would you please give us grace to bring you ston by welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed us?
Lord, we are weak and selfish. We need so much endurance and encouragement to live with our brothers and sisters in this way of peace. You are the God of endurance and encouragement. Please grant us to live in such harmony with one another and in accord with Christ Jesus that together we may with one voice glorify you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.”