Referee of the Soul (7)

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2.37

Challenge settled convictions
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for every believer in Jesus Christ to work diligently and faithfully to nurture their own soul in the things of the Lord. While our focus in this series has been on the conscience – because it referees or arbitrates between the mind and the heart, helping them to come into harmony and to engender actions of love for God and neighbor – the heart and mind are equally important and must be nurtured as well.

But the mind and heart are frequently written and preached about, while, in my experience, attention to the needs of a good and clean conscience has not been much addressed.

We see what happens when the Word of God penetrates a conscience, throwing all previously-held values and priorities into confusion: “Men and brothers, what shall we do?” People will not come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ until they see the value of it, so that they desire Him more than whatever false gods they’ve been clinging to heretofore. In our witness for Christ, as well as in our ongoing work of disciple-making, we must strive to reach the consciences of men, to challenge their settled convictions and values, and to spread out the demands and priorities of the Kingdom of God in clear and compelling ways.

A two-edged sword
This is a two-edged sword. First, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10.23-29, we must at all times take care to guard our own consciences and to resist the temptation of denying our consciences, either because we don’t want to offend someone or we simply fear what others might think. Too many Christians turn a blind eye to the ungodly choices of their friends and neighbors, or refuse to take a stand for Kingdom convictions in some conversation where a door of opportunity has opened wide. We will never reach the consciences of others if we don’t keep our own consciences good and clean, or if we are reluctant to let our good and clean consciences speak when appropriate. The strength of conviction we evidence will lend considerable weight to the truth we proclaim concerning the Kingdom of God.

And then we must be straightforward, bold, and emphatic about proclaiming the truth to others. Paul wrote, concerning his own witness, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4.2). There is nothing like the truth of God, plainly and unequivocally declared, to penetrate the easy conscience of our narcissistic age.

But which aspects of the truth, in particular? First, the reality of sin.

We must not fear to say to our neighbors that they are sinners in God’s sight, and, if necessary, to explain in relevant detail why that is so. Here again is why it’s so important for us to be grounded in the Law of God, since, as Paul explained, by the Law of God comes the knowledge of sin (Rom. 7.6).

Second, we must explain the Gospel of the Kingdom. We call people to see and receive a Kingdom – a whole new realm and way of life – over which Jesus Christ reigns as King. He intends to own them like He owns us, and to fill their lives with purpose, peace, righteousness, love, and joy as well. But this will not happen unless, hearing the Good News, they give themselves freely and fully to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, the need for repentance. You cannot come to Jesus, you cannot enter His Kingdom unless you repent of your sins and begin to walk a new path. The call to repentance is a challenge to face up to our values, priorities, and convictions – the stuff of the conscience. As the Word exposes false values and priorities, and the new and more glorious values and priorities of the Kingdom are explained, people will feel their hearts pierced and their consciences quickened in what can be life-changing ways.

But for this to happen, we need to live the truth before the people to whom God sends us, keep guard over our own conscience and life; and we need to proclaim the truth that is in Jesus, and everything that is necessary for coming to faith in Him.

If we are faithful in telling people the Truth, the Truth of God’s Word, we can expect that God will do through our witness what He did through Peter’s and Paul’s – reach the consciences of our contemporaries, upset their settled values and priorities, and leave them seeking a way to the new life in Jesus Christ that is freely offered to them in His Kingdom.

For reflection
1.  How can you tell when something has reached your conscience?

2.  How do you think the good conscience of a believer affects the consciences of others?

3.  Why is it important, in sharing the Gospel, to try to reach the conscience of the person to whom you are witnessing?

Next steps – Preparation: Pray for the people in your Personal Mission Field, that the Lord will give you an opportunity to speak to each one about the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom.

T. M. Moore

This is part 1 of an 8-part series on Purifying the Conscience. To download this week’s study as a free PDF, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.