Is Your Conscience a Safe Guide???

By Dick Ward


Conscience is NOT a Safe Guide

Did you know your conscience is NOT a safe guide? The coined phrase of our day, "If it feels good, do it!" is but another way of saying, "Let your conscience be your guide". There are many who think it does not matter what you believe or practice in religious matters just so you do the best you can and have a clear conscience. Let us expose the error of such false doctrine.

MAN GUIDING MAN

"If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" Jesus' words of Matthew 15:14 show the dangers in following without checking (Acts 17:11) and the responsibility of being a leader without knowing (I Corinthians 11:1). "There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverb 16:25). Solomon's writing deals a death blow to the idea man can follow his conscience and find the way. We need God's instructions and direction for our spiritual lives.

FOLLOWING OUR CONSCIENCE

IN SECULAR MATTERS

Have you ever taken the wrong road on a trip? You were honest and sincere but the wrong road still was taking you away from your desired destination. No matter how confident you were or how good you felt about the road - it was still the wrong way. When someone points out to us we are headed in the opposite direction, we appreciate him for telling us - we do not get mad at him. We should not get mad or upset with a friend who tells us we are on the wrong spiritual road (Galatians 4:16). Many examples can be called to mind showing conscience is not a safe guide in every day affairs. The doctor conscientiously treats his patient for the wrong disease; the sick person takes the wrong medication; the lineman takes hold of the live electric wire, thinking it is safe; a business enterprise entered into with a good conscience flatly fails, etc. We know conscience is not always a safe guide!

FOLLOWING OUR CONSCIENCE

IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Although we must never do what we "think" is wrong (Romans 14:22,23), yet it is not our personal view or conscience that is the true guide in religious matters. Remember, Saul persecuted the church with a clear conscience (Acts 23:1; 26:9,10). God's word is our guide - our only safe guide in religion (Psalms 119:104,105; 2 John 9; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Peter 1:3).

[Editor’s Note: Thanks to Dick Ward for the article! This article was published in a newspaper column titled, "Did You Know?" in the Carrier Newspaper in Madison, Florida. He may be reached at: Dick Ward, 18 Eldorado East, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405, (205) 556-2407.]


Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com


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