Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences
The Bible speaks of the conscience of man describing it in several different ways
as the state of the conscience varies from man to man and sometimes from time to time within the same man. The conscience can be good, pure, and without offense but it can also be weak, defiled, evil, and even seared. It is the negative traits of the conscience I wish to discuss in this article.
What is a weak conscience? The first time one reads about a weak conscience in the New Testament is in 1 Cor. 8:7-12. This entire chapter is devoted to the subject of eating meats offered to idols and whether or not it is acceptable in God's eyes for a Christian to eat such meats. One should also read 1 Corinthians 10 beginning around verse 14 through the end of the chapter on the same subject and Romans 14 also has some application even though the subject there is the eating of meats or foods that at one time under the Law of Moses were considered to be unclean and prohibited. One also has to consider Acts 15:28-29, Rev. 2:4, and Rev. 2:20 on the subject of a Christian eating foods offered to idols.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians and while there were Jews among their number they were mostly Gentiles. They had in the past been idol worshippers. Paul says in 1 Cor. 12:2, "You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led." (NAS) The Gentile world was a world of idolatry and this was the background of many Christians outside of geographical Palestine. Paul warns the Corinthians specifically, "My beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Cor. 10:14 NAS)
Part of the worship of idols involved eating of meats offered to idols. It was considered an act of worship. To eat of these meats in a worship setting was to be a participant with the other idolaters and become a sharer in demons. The original American Standard Version of 1901 puts it this way, "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons." (1 Cor. 10:20 ASV)
When a pagan idolater was taught the truth and converted to Christianity his views changed. He was no longer an idolater, no longer a believer in idolatrous gods, but still he remained susceptible to the call of his past. It was certainly possible for him to turn again and go back to idolatry. The Bible talks of various degrees of faith. There is little faith and great faith and everything in between. How great was his faith? That is always a question for every man.
Paul says in the beginning of 1 Cor. 8 in verse 4, "we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one." (NAS) He then says, "However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled." (1 Cor. 8:7 NAS)
It is good to see how this passage (1 Cor. 8:7) is translated in other versions for I believe it clarifies the meaning a little. The English Standard Version (ESV) translates it, "However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled." The New Living Translation (NLT) reads, "However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated." (1 Cor. 8:7) The Literal Translation Version (LITV abbreviation) reads, "But the knowledge is not in all; but some being aware of the idol eat as an idolatrous sacrifice until now; and their conscience being weak is defiled." (1 Cor. 8:7)
Now to answer the question based on this passage what is a weak conscience? For the pagan turned Christian this eating of meats offered to idols was once a way he worshipped an idol and for him to eat this meat now as though it had no meaning at all would be a nearly impossible thing to do. For him to eat it he would feel as though he was doing wrong, as though he was back worshipping the idol once again. Yet, his knowledge was such that now he knew the truth, an idol was nothing, but that was his intellect telling him that and while he might feel 95 percent convinced yet a little doubt lingered. Also his feelings about the matter were another matter. A man's mind may tell him one thing but it may take his feelings awhile to catch up with his mind.
On the one hand he felt he ought to eat the meat if an idol was nothing but on the other hand he could not do it and feel guilt free. He could not yet do it without violating his conscience and thus sinning. His conscience (one could say his faith that it was a thing he ought to do) was weak in the matter. "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23 NAS)
A weak conscience then is a conscience that is not fully convinced about a matter being right and so with regards to that particular matter he has a weak conscience. He lacks 100 percent faith in the matter at hand. With regards to other matters he may have a strong conscience. A man can have a strong conscience about some matters while having a weak conscience toward other matters.
Here is the kicker. One with a weak conscience regarding a matter can be led, if he is not very, very careful, into defiling his conscience which is another way of saying he can be easily led into violating his conscience which with God is sin. "He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23 NAS) To do a thing that is in your mind doubtful is to violate your conscience (defile it) and sin. Your heart was not pure in the act you allowed yourself to do.
Why is the one with a weak conscience easily led into defiling his conscience? Paul indicates it can be because of the example of others who have strong consciences regarding the matter. He is being taught by word and perhaps as well by the deeds of others that a matter is okay with God and others all seem to be convinced, all but himself. He feels himself under peer pressure to go along even if no peer pressure is being brought to bear other than in his own mind. Paul does a lot of warning to those with strong consciences to beware of their conduct around those with a weak conscience lest by their example they unintentionally encourage the weak to violate his conscience and in doing so sin (see 1 Cor. 8:10-12).
Truth needs to be taught concerning all doctrinal matters but the strong must be careful to not push too hard, so hard it pushes another man into doing that which he is not yet fully convinced of. Teach the truth, be patient, give the other man time, study, and thought until he can come to the truth fully persuaded and thus act without doubt. Do nothing to encourage him to act in violation of conscience. For you to do otherwise is sin. "Thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ." (1 Cor. 8:12 NAS)
A weak conscience is not in itself sin. When you violate that weak conscience by doing that which you consider to be doubtful you thus defile your conscience which is sin. You heart is not then right with God for you violated what your heart was telling you and did not act in full faith.
The New Testament speaks of an evil conscience in Heb. 10:22. This is a conscience that has been violated and feels the sting of guilt and sin. I will deal with that shortly in bringing this article to a close but first what is a seared conscience?
A seared conscience is spoken of in 1 Tim. 4:2 where the text speaks of those "seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron." When a conscience is defiled time and time and time again endlessly it eventually becomes seared to where it no longer works. You cannot violate it at that point for it simply no longer functions. One can go to where he commits a sin and is really bothered in his heart and conscience by it but let him do it again, and then again, and then again, and he eventually reaches the point where he no longer cares and it no longer bothers him to commit the act whatever that act be. His whole life can be flipped on end. He can totally apostatize from God with no guilt whatsoever no guilt in the end for over time he seared his conscience and feels no regret nor sorrow over his sin.
Before closing it would be good to give hope for who among men has not defiled his/her conscience at one time or another? Is it possible to be forgiven and have one's conscience cleansed? The seared conscience may be past that but not the defiled conscience, not the conscience that still has some feeling. Yes, it is possible to restore one to a clear and good conscience. How?
By gospel obedience for the man who has never obeyed the gospel. Consciences were cleansed by obeying the gospel in Acts 2 when Peter preached the first gospel sermon ever and men and women responded believing, repenting of sins, and being baptized (read Acts 2).
One's conscience can be cleansed by the blood of Christ in obeying the gospel. The Hebrew writer spoke of the Law of Moses in Heb. 9 speaking of its sacrifices and said of them that they could not "make the worshiper perfect in conscience" (Heb. 9:9 NAS) but then immediately resumes his writing, speaks of Christ's coming, and of "the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God" (Heb. 9:14 NAS) and speaks of its ability to "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Heb. 9:14 NAS)
No one has ever become a Christian who has not first had to deal with his/her conscience which was convicting them of sin. Clean, clear consciences do not lead men to repentance. So, yes, consciences can be cleansed. They are cleansed, made good, in baptism (see 1 Peter 3:21) a baptism preceded by faith, repentance, and confession of Christ as the Son of God. One meets up, spiritually speaking, with the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism, baptism being the final step of entering into Christ where forgiveness is found (see Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Gal. 3:26-27, Rom. 6:3, etc.).
One last passage the passage is Heb. 10:22 on the evil conscience. "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (NAS) Taken in context this is a passage for Christians telling them what he had told them earlier in the book, "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16 NAS) Christians sin; they violate their consciences, and need forgiveness. It is found in sincere repentance and confession to God asking forgiveness by means of Jesus' shed blood at the throne of grace. Without the throne of grace there would be little but despair. (See also 1 John 1:7-9.)
Compare this Heb. 10:22 passage with 1 Peter 3:21. Both passages associate the conscience with baptism. It is "bodies washed with pure water" here in Heb. 10:22 but that is clearly a reference to baptism. I cannot go into 1 Peter 3:21 here but did so in an article entitled, "A Good Conscience and a Pure Conscience" which can be found on this site. If one is to draw near to God "in full assurance of faith" he needs a clean conscience and a baptized body according to this scripture. God tied the conscience together with baptism in two different passages. There was a reason for that.
There is hope for the weak and/or defiled conscience but it is found in surrender to God. Fail to do that and one will eventually find himself the possessor of a seared conscience. Such a man cannot be reached. We ought to act to obtain a clean conscience while it can be had. God can clean our conscience but we must act to have it done. We have free will. With what kind of conscience do we want to face God? Each must answer for himself.
Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences
By: Denny Smith
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