[old.fs] Conscience = Standard?

[OLD POST] Date: 10.12.2008 | Navigate to the original post here.

Conscience.

A seemingly simple word–but one so complicated. ‘A complicated simple’ seems a fitting description to such word.

An online dictionary defines it this way:

1.	the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.

2.	the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.

Conscience, then, is the inner sense of each person that tells him what is right and what is wrong. Or is it?

Think about the most notorious criminals in this whole planet. Serial killers. Rapists. Murderers. Thieves. The list goes on, and most, if not all of these people do not feel guilt at all. They think that what they did was right. A serial killer for example, kills at his pleasure. He does not feel guilty because his being tells him he’s doing the right thing. He might reason out, “I kill to avenge other people; I’m actually doing good!” A common phrase among Filipinos comes into mind: “…ma-konsyensya ka naman…” Such phrase is often said by the witness to someone who is doing something wrong. The person spoken to, however, might justify himself and say, “I’m not doing anything wrong!”

In such case, the first definition still holds true. Conscience tells the person what is right and wrong in his conduct. It is at an individual level, this conscience. “Hold on, I think you missed on something,” you might say. “The second definition says something about one’s ethical and moral principles controlling the actions and thoughts of a person.” Oh yes, I think this definition still holds true. Principles are learned and developed. These are also at an individual level. In a group of people, everyone might have similar principles at some point but still differ one way or the other. The majority might influence you into living a principle, but the decision to do so is till in your hands. Thinking again of the serial killer, the second definition is more clearly seen. His life principle is to avenge people by murder, and he is living out this principle. Why? Because he acts according to his conscience, and his conscience is defined by his principles.

Conscience then, is not always a standard by which we live. It does not automatically tell us what is truly wrong and what is truly right. It is defined by our principles. Therefore, if our principles are not based on truth-the Bible, our conscience will not be defined by what is truly right.  Our conscience will not know what is truly wrong. In such case, our conducts and motives–our actions, will be according to what is right in our own eyes. We might think we are doing the right thing, but might be doing otherwise in the eyes of the Almighty. We see examples in the Old Testament. The book of Judges has the phrases, “…they did evil in the eyes of the Lord…” and “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes…”

It will do us well, therefore, to study the word of God, and there derive life principles based on the Truth. In doing so–having principles based on God’s Word and therefore defining a conscience that is guided by it, we will have an inner sense of what is truly right and what is truly wrong, impelling us to the right action.