Everyone has a conscience. Since we have a conscience, we make moral decisions, unlike animals which operate on instinct. So, we are able to choose to follow our instinctive animal nature, or pursue the nature of God.
The conscience has two primary functions:
- Provide moral guidance; and
- Evaluate moral behavior.
The trouble with the conscience is that it may not function properly!
A good conscience is able to identify things that are morally good as morally good, and likewise, morally bad things as bad. For example, when Joseph was seduced by his boss’s wife, he refused her, remarking that such a thing would be a sin against God (Genesis 39:7-9). His good conscience identified sin as sin, and that was good.
Years later, after King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, he was confronted by Nathan, a prophet of God. In his guilt, David confessed his sin against God (2 Samuel 12:1-15). David expressed the effect of his guilty conscience in the 32nd Psalm:
A good conscience is able to identify things that are morally good as morally good, and likewise, morally bad things as bad. For example, when Joseph was seduced by his boss’s wife, he refused her, remarking that such a thing would be a sin against God (Genesis 39:7-9). His good conscience identified sin as sin, and that was good.
Years later, after King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, he was confronted by Nathan, a prophet of God. In his guilt, David confessed his sin against God (2 Samuel 12:1-15). David expressed the effect of his guilty conscience in the 32nd Psalm:
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groanings all day long.—Psalm 32:3
This was an example of a good conscience that had been violated. Yet, his good conscience did its job by making David feel guilt for his sin until he had properly addressed his sin.
Solomon described the hearts of sinners. They devise evil plans, yet speak about their evil as if it is a normal or good thing. Their consciences interchange good and evil, so, an example of a bad conscience. (Proverbs 1) As a result, their consciences do not alert them to sin and stop them from sinning. Also, after committing sin, their consciences do not cause guilt feelings.
In Scripture a good conscience may be described with the words pure, clean, blameless, or perfect (i.e. mature, complete), but never clear, at least, not in the Greek text of the New Testament.
However, some translators interpret the text and use clear conscience in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:9 and 2 Timothy 1:3 where the Greek adjective is pure; or Acts 23:1, Hebrews 13:18, 1 Peter 3:16 & 21 where the Greek adjective is good; or Acts 24:16 where the Greek adjective is blameless.
Why all the fuss? Why suggest in the title that a clear conscience is ugly?
[Pardon the connection to the old spaghetti western.]
A clear conscience is unpredictable, and therefore, unreliable. When a person has done what is morally right and the conscience is clear, everything is fine. There are no guilt feelings, nor should there be.
However, moral decisions and moral behavior are good or bad. There are no such things as clear moral decisions or clear moral behavior. In reality, a clear conscience does not provide moral guidance before deciding or acting. It only renders a “Not Guilty” verdict after acting. For that reason, a person could commit a sin, yet feel no guilt because of a clear conscience. Sin without guilt feelings from a clear conscience is indeed ugly, and actually a bad conscience in disguise.
A clear conscience promises guilt-free living, but not godly living. If we sin, we need a good conscience to pierce our hearts with guilt so that we are driven to God confessing our sin.
A clear conscience is unpredictable, and therefore, unreliable. When a person has done what is morally right and the conscience is clear, everything is fine. There are no guilt feelings, nor should there be.
However, moral decisions and moral behavior are good or bad. There are no such things as clear moral decisions or clear moral behavior. In reality, a clear conscience does not provide moral guidance before deciding or acting. It only renders a “Not Guilty” verdict after acting. For that reason, a person could commit a sin, yet feel no guilt because of a clear conscience. Sin without guilt feelings from a clear conscience is indeed ugly, and actually a bad conscience in disguise.
A clear conscience promises guilt-free living, but not godly living. If we sin, we need a good conscience to pierce our hearts with guilt so that we are driven to God confessing our sin.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.—1 John 1:9
Yet, a clear conscience will confess no sin!
What kind of conscience do you have?
Mark Stinnett
October 30, 2022
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