GOOD CONSCIENCE - Part 1

RESPONDING IN GOOD CONSCIENCE – Part 1

Thursday, October 17, 2013

LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE?, Wednesday, October 9, 2013

   An editorial in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica asked if “the Christian God forgives those who do not believe and do not seek faith.”
  Pope Francis responded “The question for those who do not believe in God is to follow their own conscience. Sin, even for a non-believer, is when one goes against one’s conscience.”
  And what say you to this my dear fellows?

[Jesus explained] “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. NLT Matthew 7:24-29

  In last Saturday’s DT FORUM*I published DT fellows responses to the question posed. Today I begin answering.

  Conscience may or may not be a trustworthy guide. Small kindnesses and great acts of compassion are done in good conscience.  Islamic and Christian terrorists maim and murder in what they believe is good conscience.

  Though none of the above cruelty described is mine, in my life I have done good and bad things in good conscience. The nasty acts having to do with in good conscience “They deserved it.” With kindly acts sometimes involving “They didn’t deserve it at all.” Conscience can be a very contradictory fickle guide!

  Our conscience is not automatically inherently good or bad. Developed conscience is a matter of example noticed even prior to formal lessons. I marvel at 6 month old greatgranddaughter Sapphire intently watching and listening us. I observe 5 year old grandson Michael emulating family and friend adults.

  Family, cultural, public, and personally embraced or rejected education matter. Emotions connected with contemporary anti-Biblical secular especially prized today self-esteem teachings play a major part in deciding how and where individual and group conscience is grounded.

  In good conscience I believe this topic considerable to digest. So for today the above words are enough to think about.  EBB4

 

*FB and Blog readers don’t receive Saturday DT FORUMs as I in good conscience consider them too public.  Does your conscience agree with mine?