How does our
conscience go from being sensitive and doing what is right to being totally
seared, as seen in 1 Tim. 4:2 “In the
last days, some will depart from the faith, having their conscience seared with
a hot iron.”?
How do people do
things that are unconscionable? Obviously, there are mental issues, but there
are also spiritual issues that should not be ignored. There is a spiritual
force of evil that the Bible teaches. From Genesis to Revelation, that evil is
even personified as more than a force, but conscious, thinking entities of
demons and above them all, the devil.
But let’s not give
the mental or spiritual all the blame. Some of the evil that occurs happens
from another source: us! We are the source of weakening and compromising our own
conscience and also the consciences of others.
The second passage
that speaks of the digression of a sensitive, convicted conscience is found in
1 Cor. 8:7-13 which speaks of a struggling, compromised conscience. “9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of
yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you
who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him
who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because
of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But
when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you
sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will
never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
If misery loves
company, sin loves a party. There is something that can lead to calling “evil”
good and calling “good” evil and that is seeing it witnessed in others. The old
adage of “Bad company corrupts good morals” comes straight from the Bible in 1
Cor. 15:33, translated in the ESV as “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins
good morals.”
That is one of the
dangers of allowing the filth that comes in over the television or video games
to compromise the clear teachings of the Bible. No, it doesn’t corrupt
everyone, but the weak and already compromised conscience that already
struggles will see others and join in the crowd. And for some, that first sin
is the day they become hooked. Proverbs 22:25 calls it a snare or a trap. See also
2 Peter 2:18-20.
Not only can evil
lead others to stumble, we who are strong believers need to be careful on what
we do in front of others that could lead them to stumble. We are free to do
some things but if our freedom leads others to sin, we should not participate
in those things.
Today’s prayer comes from Hebrews
12:15:
Lord, help me not to fall short of Your grace.
Keep any “root of bitterness” from springing up in me
and cause trouble by my witness to others.
Keep any “root of bitterness” from springing up in me
and cause trouble by my witness to others.