Conscience

Who can forget the adorable little Jiminy Cricket in Disney's telling of the story of Pinocchio? This small bug served as the conscience of the little wooden puppet, and he sang that peppy song about always letting your conscience be your guide. And when Pinocchio listened to Jiminy, things seemed to go along fine. When he didn't...well, it was an adventure to be sure. The moral of the story? Listen to your conscience.

Or, some people picture a little angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other, and the battle is on anytime someone is facing a moral dilemma or a big decision. Which one will win, the good or the evil? Listen to your conscience and you'll know what to do.

The word "conscience" comes from an old English word that basically meant "with knowledge." Today, we refer to a conscience as that inner sense or quiet voice that helps us decide what is right and what is wrong. Maybe we've known someone who suffered from a "guilty conscience," a sense that they have done the wrong thing and can never make up for it. There is within us a sense of what is right and what is wrong, which is what caused Mr. Wesley to ask those early Methodists, "Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?"

I'm guessing there is not a person reading these words who hasn't struggled with that idea, of doing something we know is not right. The Apostle Paul put it this way: "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:18-19). Is there anyone who has not felt that struggle? It can be something simple—like knowing that pie is not on your diet, and that it will affect your health if you eat it—or something huge—like giving into sexual temptation or allowing an addiction to rule your life. Do we listen to what our conscience says, or do we ignore it? How do we choose to do right over wrong?

For some issues, the Bible is clear on what to do. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not worship other gods. And so on. But there are other things that just aren't as clear as we'd like them to be. In Paul's day, one of the big debates was whether or not you could eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. This issue comes up more than once in his writings. While we may not think that's a big deal, for the early Christians in the first century, there was the concern that they might be thought to be worshipping that god if they ate the meat sold in the market. Paul says to relax. It wasn't offered to any real god, so it's not any real sacrifice. But he also says that if doing so will cause a problem with someone else, or if someone else might think you were sinning by doing it, you shouldn't do it so as not to cause them to stumble. In other words, listen to your conscience.

For us, the issues are many and varied. For some, drinking alcohol is a huge sin; for others, it isn't a big deal, as long as they don't get drunk. For some, going to "R" rated movies is a huge stumbling block; for others, they can see it as entertainment and not be affected by the film. Some will not shop or eat out on Sundays; others see it as a matter of convenience. The list could go on and on. Paul would say, "Relax. Don't get so stressed out about it. Listen to your conscience and don't cause harm to your brother or sister."

Because that "conscience" is not a cricket or an angel or a demon sitting on your shoulder. When we sense nudges to do this or that (or don't do this or that), it is the voice of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of those who believe. It is the voice of the very God who made you. So listen carefully...and if you're feeling uneasy, to use Wesley's words, it's because the Spirit who lives in you is giving you a huge caution sign. Best to pay attention to that.

And Paul, who struggled so much, also broke into praise when he realized that Jesus was with him even in the struggle. Let's join him in his praise: "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25).

Amen!