Search The Scriptures: December 10, 2000
CONSCIENCE AS A GUIDE
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Search the Scriptures. Let me remind
you that Search the Scriptures is paid for - and is the work of the Danville church of Christ.
This bible study program is committed to upholding the bible as the inerrant word of God. Also,
let me make a promise to you. If you believe in and respect the sacredness of the scriptures - and
you desire to know more of what the bible teaches, then you will enjoy this time we spend
together. I believe you will find that Search the Scriptures is a throwback to simpler times,
when men and women studied the bible in a no nonsense way.
B. Let me begin this morning by asking you a series of questions. How do you feel about what is
happening in the presidential race? How do you feel about the instability in the stock market?
What is your feeling about global warming? What is your sensitivity about the homeless
situation in Indiana? My friends, each of these questions was asked to elicit a response that was
totally subjective. I did not ask you what you believed about these things. Neither did I ask you
what you thought about these matters. Instead I asked you how you felt. What we feel about
something is based solely upon emotions, and is completely subjective, which means what we
feel is not based upon fact, rather what we feel is arbitrary. Many parents who believe that public
education is failing to educate children often cite that educators are more interested in how
children feel about something, instead of what the truth of the matter might be. Today the
interest seems to be placed upon the student’s feelings instead of the student’s knowledge. My
friends, students do not need to express their feelings about algebra, they need to learn formulas.
It does not matter how we feel about the Vietnam war, instead what matters is what happened
and why. I am not interested in my children’s feelings about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. I am
interested that they know his policies, his butchery and his evil. It doesn't matter how they feel
about the civil rights movement, but it does matter that they know what fostered it in America. I

agree with those who say that what we are seeing in education is an appeal to one's feelings, and
not an appeal to knowledge. Therefore, we have an entire generation who knows very little, but
feel very passionately. I am not about to lay the whole blame for this at the schoolhouse steps,
because I believe the problem began with and continues to be advanced by religious leaders. I
say this because this is the same thing that we have been hearing in denominational churches and
from denominational preachers for years. Perhaps you have heard your minister express it. My
friends, what I am talking about is this notion that one should rely upon one’s feelings instead of
a set standard of right and wrong. You and I both know that preachers and denominational
churches are more interested in what you feel than in what you know. Instead of telling you to
Search the Scriptures to learn what God says, you are being told to trust your feelings. “Just let
your conscience be your guide,” is what you are told. Or “It doesn't matter what you believe or
what church you attend so long as you worship God sincerely.” Ladies and gentlemen, these
statements are not good. These statements do not foster spirituality; they promote ignorant
subjectivism. Such mindless propaganda promotes ignorance and disobedience to God. “Just let
your conscience [or feelings] be your guide” places subjectivism or capriciousness above
understanding the bible. Several years ago I tried to get a dialogue with a member of the Roman
Catholic Denomination. After our initial bible study he seemed to accept that some of his long
held Catholic ideas were unscriptural. He said he would discuss these with his priest and get
back with me. His priest told him if he “felt” closer to God in another church, then by all means
join that church. Nothing was said about what the bible actually says. The priest based his advice
upon the man’s feelings and not what the bible said. Recently, I had an occasion to discuss with
two men who represented the Mormon Church, whether the Book of Mormon was from God or
from men. You see, my friends, the Mormon Church says that the Book of Mormon [along with
some other books] is another testimony of Jesus Christ. That is, they say the Book of Mormon is
as much the word of God as the bible. I asked these men, how I could know the validity of their
claim? They said, I should pray about it and then I would have a feeling in my heart telling me

that the Book of Mormon is another testimony of Jesus. This is pure emotionalism! This is a trust
your feelings at all costs. Again, I remind you that this is what breeds ignorance of the bible.
Denominationalism flourishes because of biblical ignorance. Most of the preachers in central
Indiana will tell you all that is important is to do what you feel you should do. Just follow your
conscience and be sincere. Ladies and gentlemen, it is this view I wish to challenge this morning.
I want to oppose the popular denominational mantra that says, just follow your conscience and
be sincere. Using the bible, I am going to shoot down the just follow your conscience and be
sincere feeling that guides so many in religion. Now, let me state in the beginning that without
question Christians must live sincerely and Christians must not violate their consciences. Paul
teaches us this in Rom. 14:23 when he writes, but he who doubts is condemned if he eats,
because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Paul had labored to
make the point that in spite of the objections of some, eating meat was permitted by God. He
said in Rom. 14:14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean
of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. This helps us
to understand verse 23. A Christian could eat meat, but if he believed it was wrong to eat meat,
and he violated his conscience and ate meat, then he sinned. Christians cannot violate their
consciences. If a man believed, eating meat was sinful and he ate anyway, then he sinned. He
sinned because his conscience told him it was sinful but he ate anyway. However, we must not
let this fact lead us to a place God never intended for us to be. Just because a Christian must
listen to his conscience does not mean that the conscience is always a safe guide, because having
a clear conscience does not mean that we are always pleasing to God. Let me show you what I
mean by that. The apostle Paul indicated once that his conscience was clear in all that he did.
Acts 23:1 says, then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Yet, the bible points out that Paul had
been one who was doing things contrary to the will of Christ. He said in Acts 26:9 indeed, I
myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. You see, my

friends, Paul thought he was doing right, yet he was involved in wholesale persecution of
innocent Christians. He even contributed to the death of Stephen, but his conscience was clear.
He said he felt he was doing what God wanted him to do, but he wasn’t. He felt he was right, but
he was wrong; he was not doing the will of God; he was sinning even though he thought he was
right. Remember, he said he had a good conscience. This meant he was feeling good about what
he was doing, but upon learning the truth, he later described himself as the chief of sinners, in 1
Tim. 1:15. My friends, this was because neither Paul nor anyone else can trust in what he feels
subjectively to be right. One must rely upon doing what God says. Now, let’s think about some
things this morning disproving this notion. Consider, for example, if the conscience is a safe
guide as many are saying, then . . .
I. Religion is the only area of life where it is so. If the conscience is a safe and infallible guide,
then this is true only in the field of religion, because in every other area of life we know it’s
possible to be sincere and to act in good conscience but be wrong. For example, in traveling, a
person in all good conscience, and with all sincerity can make a wrong turn and go in the wrong
direction, regardless of feeling he is going in the right direction. In spite of his good feelings
about which way he is going, he will still end up in the wrong place. A man might not have
meant to go the way he ended up going, but he did, and all the good feelings he had, and all the
sincerity with which he drove, and despite the good conscience that directed him, he still did not
get to his desired destination. Ladies and gentlemen, a man may feel extremely good about his
sense of direction but if he takes a wrong turn, his good feelings will not make him arrive where
he wants to arrive. East is east and west is west and a good conscience will not mean you are
driving east when you are, in fact, driving west. Everyone knows this is so, and in medicine you
might take the wrong treatment, and just thinking it’s right will not make it so. If you have a
ruptured appendix, removing your spleen will not make you well. You and the physician might
sincerely believe that this is the remedy you need. Your conscience might be clear when you are
taken to the operating room, but this good feeling you have will not make you well. Also, if you

sincerely reach for the aspirin but accidentally take poison, your good conscience and your
sincerity will not save you. Feeling sincerely that you have taken medicine will not make the
poison less lethal. Any reasonable man or woman can understand that in the area of directions or
medicine sincerity will not change the truth. And, my friend, this feel good, sincere, listen to
your conscience type of religion will not take us to heaven any more than driving the wrong way
with a clear conscience will take us to our perceived destination. Jesus gives us a magnificent
example of this in Matt. 7:21-23 when he said this. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons
in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never
knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness! I believe we should consider what
Jesus said very carefully. These people Jesus identifies at the judgment were completely sincere,
and they had been honestly following their consciences. These people felt they were saved. They
were so sure that they were right and that the Lord approved of them, that they were surprised to
learn they were lost. Now, I ask you - what was the reason for their being lost? The reason they
were lost was because of lawlessness. This word lawlessness is translated iniquity in the King
James Version, and it means, illegality, that is, violation of law or transgression of the law, or
unrighteousness. These people had not been doing the will of God, instead they had been
sincerely following their consciences, but they were engaging in unrighteousness. They had been
acting upon what the felt to be right, but they were violating the scriptures, and their sincerity did
not save them. What they sincerely felt to be right did not save them on judgement day. I know
this is surprising to many of you because of what you have been taught most of your life. You
have been led to believe that just so long as you are sincere, and just so long as you do not
violate your own conscience’s perception of right or wrong, then you will be saved. But this is
not true! It is neither true in the field of medicine nor when we follow directions. And, my
friends, neither is it true in regards to serving God, because, you see God has left us a map. Not a

road map to determine travel on an interstate. Instead he has left us his revealed will; his word,
and he expects us to read it and to follow it. Paul wrote in Eph. 5:17 therefore do not be unwise,
but understand what the will of the Lord is. I hope you caught what Paul said in this verse.
Let’s read it again. He said therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. This means that God demands and expects for us to understand his word. And this
understanding comes only when we read the bible. This apostle earlier wrote in Eph. 3:3-4 how
that by revelation he made known to me the mystery as I wrote before in a few words, by
which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. These
verses tell us that the bible came from God by means of divine revelation. They tell us the
revelation was written down so we can read it. Furthermore, when we read it, we can understand
it. God did not give us his word so we could misunderstand it. God did not give to us his word so
we could all understand it differently. If we understand it, then we will all understand it alike,
because it is God’s map; it’s his blueprint; it’s God’s pattern. The bible instructs men how to live
for God. Also, it describes the differences between right and wrong. The bible, not our feelings,
is to be our guide, not what our conscience might say to us. The bible is what must be our sole
source of instructions. We must hear, respect and obey what it says, regardless of how sincerely
we may have been living. If what we do and what we believe are not found in scripture, then our
good conscience cannot save us in the last day. Do you know what will judge us in the last day?
It won't be how sincere we were, how we felt about this or that. It will not be how honest our
conscience might have been. What will judge us, will be the words of Christ, the bible! Jesus
said in Jn. 12:48 he who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him
- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Add to that the words written to
Timothy by the apostle Paul in 2 Tim. 3:16-17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the
man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Ladies and gentlemen,
where do we receive our doctrine? The doctrine we believe and follow where does it come from?

Does it come from the scripture or from our conscience? According to these verses our doctrine
comes from the bible! Also, what is to correct us when we are failing? That is, when we are
failing to live up to the standards of Christ, what corrects our shortcomings, the scriptures or our
feelings? My friends, we are corrected by the bible, and not by some fuzzy warm feelings
emanating from within us! Let me also ask, from where do we receive our instructions? That is,
when we want to know how the church worships or works, where do we turn? Are we to be
instructed by what we feel or by what God has told us in his word? By analyzing these verses,
we learn we are to be instructed by the scriptures! Also, what equips us to be workers for God?
Does our sincerity provide us with what we need to be God's workers? No, ladies and gentlemen,
it is not our sincerity - it’s the bible, the scriptures that come from the mind of God! If our
conscience is to be our guide, then we do not need the bible. The bible would become
unnecessary, all we would need to arrive safely in heaven, is a good feeling. My friend, you
know this cannot be true.
II. But let’s continue this morning. If the conscience is a safe guide, then human authority would
be just as good as divine authority, or perhaps better. That is, if it doesn't matter what we believe
so long as we are sincere; then it doesn't matter what God has revealed. The only thing that
would matter is how we feel about an issue. There would be no difference in the revelations of
God and the inventions of men, if sincerity is all that counts. This would mean, if a person
sincerely accepted man-made doctrines, then he would be as well off as a man who believes
God's revealed doctrines. This is not what these “believe anything only be sincere preachers will
tell you.” But this is the logical result of their position, and they know it. The bible makes it
plain that human wisdom is not on par with God's wisdom. It never has been and it never will be.
The bible asks in 1 Cor. 1:20 where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of
this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Paul is affirming that the
revelation of God makes the so-called wisdom of the world appear foolish. Then in the next
chapter Paul writes in 1 Cor. 2:13 these things we also speak, not in words which man's

wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Everything man devises is foolishness, but what God reveals are wisdom, and power. It is
arrogant indeed for man to assume the status of God. It is blasphemy to suggest that man’s
wisdom and devices are on par with the wisdom and devices of God. Yet, infinitesimal man has
always sought to elevate his worth by magnifying his inferior wisdom. However, God reminds
us in Isa. 55:8-9 for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts. My friends, for one to say it doesn't matter what is
believed so long as we are sincere, is to make mockery of these verses. We must not try to pull
God down from his lofty position by claiming that our ideas are as worthy as his revelation. This
is sheer blasphemy! Let me tell you what such hypothesis really means. What this means is, that
we living according to the philosophy of “To thine own self be true.” This is the guiding light of
many who profess to be religious. Just so long as I am being true to myself and to my
understanding of right and wrong, then I am OK. Yet, my friends, of and by ourselves we cannot
possibly instruct ourselves in matters pertaining to our souls. Jeremiah the prophet once
lamented in Jer. 10:23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who
walks to direct his own steps. You see, ladies and gentlemen, regardless of our sincerity we
simply cannot direct our steps in the paths of righteousness. God gives us direction through the
bible. To know the way we should live, we must consult the book of God and not our feelings.
With the Psalmist we must say unto God, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path.
III. Also, if our conscience is a sound and safe guide, then false and deceitful doctrines would be
as good as truth. That is, anything one accepts, so long as he or she is sincere would be fine.
Whether divine truth or the doctrines of devils. This would mean there would not be any such
thing as false doctrine, for the sincere. Frankly, this view has been prevalent in most churches for
a long time. That is, as long as we feel something to be right, or we feel something to be good

then it must be. Again, this makes our feelings take precedence over what is revealed within the
bible. Now, what this means is this - if what we feel to be right becomes right, then what
everyone feels to be right is correct, and, therefore, nothing is false, so long as we are sincere in
our belief. For example, the sincere Mormon would be right since he sincerely feels that each
one of us is a god in embryo form. The sincere Christian Scientist would be right because he
really feels that God is not a being - but a principle. My friend, if your conscience is a safe guide,
then so is the conscience of the sincere Catholic who believes that the pope is God on earth. It
would mean that sincere Jews, who deny Christ, are saved in their unbelief. It would mean the
sincere Hindu is saved even though he denies Jehovah; his son the Christ and the bible. I doubt
seriously that you have paused to consider the consequences of this “let your conscience be your
guide” philosophy, but this is where it takes you. Now if you are not willing to allow their
consciences to guide them, why are you trusting yours? If what these sincere people feel is right
does not make it so, then neither does what you feel to be right make it so. Consistency demands
that either you accept the consciences and feelings of all sincere men and women as safe guides
or you reject them all - including yours. Which will it be? The bible makes it clear we must
follow revealed truth and not our feelings if we are to be saved. The wise man wrote in Prov.
23:23 buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. It is the
truth and not our own understanding that must be our guiding light. Also, the bible says in Jn.
8:31-32 then Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Notice, my
friends, the Lord did not say, you are my disciples if you are sincere. He did not say to them, you
are my disciples if you listen to your conscience. Jesus did not say, you are my disciples if you
honestly believe and do what you feel to be right. But, he did say we are his disciples if and
when we abide in his word. The word of Christ, which is the New Testament is the truth that
must be our sole guide. Also note, Jesus did not say you will be set free when you feel you are
free. He did not say you would be free from the consequences and ravages of sin when you know

within your own conscience you are free. Ladies and gentlemen, Christ said we would be free
when we knew and obeyed the truth. Later, Jesus would say - in a prayer to his Father - in Jn.
17:17 sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. Truth is the word of God. Truth is the
bible. And it is when we obey that truth that we are freed from sin. Peter expressed it this way in
1 Pet. 1:22 since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit. I have
found that most people who reject the Lord’s teaching to be baptized in water in order to be
saved do so based upon their feelings. That is, when one is told that Jesus said in Mk. 16:16 he
who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned - he
or she will often deny a need to be baptized because of what is felt. That is, a person may
conclude baptism is not necessary, because he or she feels saved. So instead of one dealing with
bible verses demanding baptism, one will rely on his feelings. For example, I might read Acts
22:16 where Saul of Tarsus is told by the preacher Ananias, and now why are you waiting?
Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. But instead
of doing exactly what this verse says, someone is likely to respond, “But I feel I was saved
before I was baptized!” Yet the bible says clearly that one is not saved until after baptism. Then
I might again read what Jesus said in Mk. 16:16 he who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be condemned. Only to have them respond with, “But I know I
am saved, and I have never been baptized.” When it is asked, “How do you know you are
saved?” The answer is always the same, “I feel saved!” People have been heard to say, “I
wouldn’t trade this feeling I have for all the bibles in the world.” Their meaning is plain, “I
don’t care what the bible says, I feel saved, and that’s it!” My friends, this has been the core of
our study this morning, you cannot trust your feelings, you cannot trust your conscience to
correctly determine salvation, because your conscience can be wrong, and your feelings will
often let you down. Paul wrote in Rom. 8:16 the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God. When we know (not feel, think, or sense) that we are doing what
the Spirit of God has revealed in the bible, then we can know we are children of God. Again Paul

writes in Rom. 8:14 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. My
friends, we are led by the Spirit only through the inspired words of the bible.
IV. Also, if the conscience is a safe guide, and if what we feel is as important as what is revealed
in the bible - then ignorance would be as beneficial to us as knowledge. That is, if one can be
saved by sincerely believing error, then why bother to teach him the truth? A point to consider is
this, if sincere ignorance will save a man, he might be better off not learning the truth, because
then he might refuse to obey it, and become insincere, and lost. However, my friends, ignorance
is not bliss. Ignorance is not and it never has been as good as knowledge, because what we do
not know can hurt us. Consider for a moment those in Hosea's day in the Old Testament. God
said in Hos. 4:6 my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected
knowledge, I also will reject you. The truth of the matter is this. There are preachers [clergy - if
you will] who are doing everything they can to dumb down the religious populace. They are
placing a premium on ignorance and minimizing biblical knowledge. These people are
suggesting ignorance is good. But, ladies and gentlemen, ignorance is not a blessing it is a curse.
God has demanded that we learn his will and that we teach it to others. Paul tells us in 1 Tim.
2:4 that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Salvation
results from knowing the truth, not from some warm fuzzy feeling within us. Those in the city of
Berea were praised by God, in Acts 17:11 because these were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so. These people were honored by God because of
three things. One, they received the word of God. They were not like those mentioned earlier
who refused to consider the bible, these were eager to receive it. Two, they opened their mind.
They were unwilling to trust their feelings, instead they prized the idea of increasing their
knowledge. And three, the Bereans were willing to study the bible thoroughly. They were not
like some who are comfortable in their narrow theology, and who are unwilling to let facts
clutter their minds. These noble Bereans were diligent in their quest to know all God has said.

The reason God has placed such a premium on what these Bereans did, is because ignorance
destroys souls, but knowledge leads one to God.
V. Finally, consider this my friends. If one's conscience is a safe guide, then religious division is
as preferable as religious unity. The reason for all the different denominations existing today is
so people can follow their own conscience. So that men and women can do what they feel like
doing in religion. For example, the Methodist Church exists because many people prefer
Methodist doctrine to Baptist doctrine. The Mormon Church exists because some prefer the
teaching of Joseph Smith to that of Martin Luther. The Episcopalian Church came into being
because some favored married priests over unmarried Catholic priests. Division survives because
men and women wish to follow their consciences. They are doing what they feel is right for
them. Present denominationalism must be measured by what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 1:10. Among
those who professed faith in Christ, he wrote there should be no division. Now I beseech you,
brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and
in the same judgment. Next he reminded everyone of the foolishness of division when he asked
in verse 13 is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of
Paul? Ladies and gentlemen, unity results only when men believe what God says, do what God
says and teach what God says. Division occurs when men do what they feel and then teach
others to follow their own feeling of right and wrong.
CONCLUSION:
A. The only guide in matters pertaining to God is the bible. Therefore, I urge you to demand for
yourself and for others book chapter and verse for all that you do and say. A conscience is sort of
like a watch, it’s only good if it’s set right. Our conscience might be set wrong, and if it is
then we are wrong when we follow that conscience. A conscience is good only if it is set by
the bible, the word of God.
B. Our time is up for now. Thank you for being with us. Tune in again next week at 7:00 A.M.

for another edition of Search the Scriptures. Until then, this is J.R. Bronger saying goodbye
for now.