What does that mean? And, Is it the best way to live?

“Conscience” is still a viable word in our modern language, but it also variously called: Inner Self- as opposed to everyone else, and/or any societal standards of morality, or authoritative codes of conduct. For example, “I just have to be true to myself regardless of what anyone else thinks.” Me- basically, same definition as above; “I just have to be me”- as if, right and wrong are solely determined by “me” and everyone else just has to accept “me” as such. Etc. etc. etc- by various other names which all amount to the same self-centered and self- determined standards.

One friend says, “a moral brake- that is, it functions like the brakes on a car to slow us down or stop us if we’re headed into trouble.” Although I like the concept of this definition, it seems incomplete because our conscience should also function like a “moral accelerator- motivating us to action at times.” So, let’s put both of these together: Our conscience should be that inner voice that restrains or motivates our activities based on the circumstance.

If conscience is supposed to function like a moral brake and accelerator, who’s driving the car? “You” still are, but for your conscience to work properly, “you” and your conscience have to be properly trained! Anyone old enough to reach the pedals themselves can push them, but to know when to push which the pedal takes proper training. So too, for the conscience to work right in slowing us down or speeding us up, it must be properly founded on and trained in the proper standard- otherwise we’ll make a big “wreck” of our lives. Saul, prior to conversion, is an example of someone whose conscience was not properly trained making a “wreck” of their life, Acts 23:1 > 26:9-11.

What then is the driving manual that allows our conscience to function properly? It is not us! Jer.10:23-24; Prov.16:25 Hopefully without belaboring the example, it could only be “us” if we built our own car (self). This is the fallacy of “situation ethics” (that we determine for ourselves individually what’s right and wrong based on the situation): we did not create ourselves- God did! Gen.1:26 As then the creation of God, it must be He who educates and trains the conscience for it to perform properly! 1Cor.8:7; 1Tim.1:3-5, 18- 2:4

Be either that moral brake or accelerator which causes us to live according to His standards of operation rather than our own, Titus 1:15. Give us and others witness to our deeds, either accusing or defending us, Rom.2: Be a source of joy and encouragement when we live according to it, 2Cor.1:12; Acts 5:29. What about it? Is your conscience properly trained by its Maker so that you don’t make a wreck of you life? If you conscience is properly trained from God’s word, are you living by it, or violating it?