A Clear Conscience
Dear HSCC family,
On an examination paper, the professor required his students to sign a form stating they had received no outside assistance. Unsure of whether he should sign the form, a student stated that he had prayed for the assistance of God. Then he handed in the unfinished form with his exam paper.
The professor took a moment and carefully studied the paper. Cleared his throat. Then said: "You can sign with a clear conscience, son. God did not assist you."
___________
On Sunday, we studied a passage from 1 Timothy 1-2 and 6:3-10. Paul wrote this letter to his protégé, Timothy, who he urged to stay in Ephesus after he left, and to stand against heresy that had leaked into the Ephesian churches. The Ephesian churches began in a mass revival, burning thousands of magic books, spells, etc., and turning their loyalty to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But after decades, loyalties began to shift, heresy—a simple lie that appears good and infects us at the level of core beliefs—effected their love for God and one another. It was Timothy’s job to confront these lies at the headwaters and restore the refreshing flow of God’s purity and power through the simple truth of the Holy Spirit. But how?
Well, the author of the letter, Paul, gives us a hint. He uses the word conscience three times within the first chapter, Many of us hear the word conscience, and immediately feel a sense of guilt or punishment or fear—we’re prepped to face correction. I’d encourage you to notice those reactions and approach Paul’s use of this idea with a sense of God’s kindness and grace.
The conscience means co-knowing or “ a knowing-with”. That there’s a “me” and a “me I see”. The conscience makes up our ability to have a part of me that I look at (my character or nature) and a part of me that is doing the looking (my will or human spirit). A dual-knowledge that I live with all the time. This is how God made us to perceive His world and also how lies have a chance to slip in unnoticed. Just as our consciences have been formed by the culture around us, and our families, and even by our spiritual heritage, the Holy Spirit can come and help us to be “open” to His love by looking at Him and looking at our self with His love. And the Holy Spirit can also expose where we’ve ingested lies that throw off the truth of how God sees us and how we see the world.
Like Paul said, his heart, and God’s heart, is, “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith, (1 Timothy 1:5 NLT) and, “For There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:5,6 NLT)
What comes up for you when you think of the conscience?
What do you run to when you sense a pang of guilt or shame? Doing better? Clamming up?
What would it be like to follow your conscience to the cross once again?
Share this with God, the Holy Spirit, and ask Him to lead and guide the way you perceive His world and yourself this week.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Dave