A Conscience Seared

A young man takes a .38 pistol in hand and puts a bullet into the head of a store clerk.  A young woman makes her way to an abortion clinic and allows a person to take the life of her unborn baby.  A husband beats his wife day after day until she loses all identify of being a wife.  In this we have but touched the evil that has invaded our land.  The question: “How does one human being do such to another?”

There is no claim here to have all the answers, but there are two things to which attention is called.  First, a person who engages in evil has in his own mind devoiced himself from being accountable to law.  But, one may object, abortion is legal in our nation!  True, but it is to a higher law that is referred; a law that transcends all national laws — the law of Almighty God!  Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last days” (John 12:48).  Yes, all mankind is accountable to the words of Jesus, to the law of Christ; those who receive and those who reject his words are both amenable to the law of Christ.  The person, who so divorces himself from this law has in his own mind freed himself to live lawlessly.

Second, attention is called to the words under which this article is written: “A Conscience Seared.”  These words were written to Timothy by the apostle Paul (1Timothy 4:2).  These are interesting words, in any context, but may be more so as they relate to the subject of this article.  The word “conscience” (Grk. suneidesis) means: “a knowing with” (Vine, p. 230) and the idea is a knowing within oneself. Conscience is the result of being taught. Few if any can reach an age of responsibility without having learned the general, basic rules of right and wrong to some degree. Thus, few people if any who interact with others live without a conscience, a “knowing within.” Conscience is the part of the mind that allows us to sense guilt when we violate what we believe to be wrong.  Therefore, when this ability is removed, a person may feel free from the law of right and wrong.

The next words are: “seared with a hot iron” (Grk. kausteriazo) and mean: “to burn in with a branding iron” (Vine, p. 147).  We know of branding cattle and the hot iron sears the skin to the point that it has no feeling.  So it is with the words before us and they express the idea of the conscience being so seared that it has no sense of right and wrong.  The result of searing the conscience to right and wrong as revealed by God is that such a person has freed himself to all evil.  He is free to put a bullet in the head of another human being without remorse, and a woman is free to abort her unborn baby without any guilt. We must understand, evil begets evil.  It feeds upon itself, and calls for more and greater evil.

So how does it work?  The person who has been taught God’s law of right and wrong but then violates it, must live daily with a conscience that tells him of his guilt.  Such a person has two choices: 1) he may repent and confess to God (Acts 8:22 & 1 John 1:9) and have his sins forgiven, or 2) he may continue to commit evil, while searing his conscience with a hot iron to the point he frees himself (in his own mind) from the law of God.  Such a person is now on a course of self-destruction.  The evil will feed upon itself, getting worse and worse.  The conscience being made more and more insensitive to right and wrong is now free to “wallow in the mire” of sin and separation from God. But the rejection of Christ and his word does not free one from the final judgment: “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according ot his deeds … For there is no respect of person with God.” (Rom. 2:5-11)

Frank R. Williams

SUNDAY SERMONS

MORNING:

Everything Beautiful In Its Time

EVENING:

Studies in Philippians

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS

(1 Timothy 3:1-7)

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”