The Weak Conscience

Some people have what is called a "weak conscience".  Something that would not bother most people bothers them. They just cannot do certain things, such as eating meat, without feeling bad about it.

Nevertheless, not everything that bothers some people is necessarily wrong.  Take for example the eating of meat, such as eating beef. poultry, or fish.  Jesus ate meat.  He even provided others with a fish dinner, free of charge, on at least three different occasions.  If eating fish, which is meat, was a sin, then Jesus caused people to sin by giving them fish to eat.  Jesus never in fact committed any sin.  Therefore, eating meat cannot be a sin, since Jesus ate fish and fish is meat.

Still, the eating of meat does bother some people.  They have a "weak conscience".  The Bible says:

"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:  but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably.  Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." (Romans 14:13-14)

"For meat destroy not the work of God.  All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.  Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:  for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:20-23)

Eating meat is not a sin.  Not eating meat is not a sin.  Hurting your brother in Christ if you are a Christian is a very great sin.  Unfortunately, there are some people who call themselves Christians but they take these and other passages of scripture and then apply them incorrectly to other people.  An example of this is when a person accuses someone else of having a "weak conscience" for being bothered by real sin.

For example, if someone refused to go to an "X-rated" or "R-rated" movie, this would not mean that the person had a weak conscience.  On the contrary.  This would mean that the person was probably spiritually-minded, and therefore did not want to commit a wicked sin against Jesus and the Bible by going to see such an "X-rated" or "R-rated" movie.

Further, what if such a person was then asked to bring his or her child to watch the same violent or sexually perverted "R" or "X"- rated movie?  Would the person's refusal to have their child watch such a movie be an example of a "weak conscience"?  Of course not.

Someone who refused such a sin would rather have a very strong conscience, a conscience molded by the Bible, the Word of God.  Because of such a strong conscience the person would refuse to sin.

Now the Bible does speak of people whose consciences have been weakened through repeated commission of sin.  Each time they sinned, their consciences became weaker and weaker.  Eventually, their weakened consciences became "seared with a hot iron", destroyed altogether through sin.

The Bible says that in their "latter times" some so-called Christians, (even perhaps pastors?), will have their consciences weakened and ultimately seared.  This searing we are told will come because they  listened to demons who persuaded them to commit acts of sin against God and against their consciences.

The Bible states that such conscience-seared apostates will then become pathological liars as they help their demons promote these false doctrines:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy;  having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

As you can see from this passage, "forbidding to marry" and avoidance of "meats" are two examples of doctrines of demons,  promoted by apostate pastors, deacons or other former men of faith who allowed their consciences to become seared through sin.

When did the Bible say that this would happen?  The Bible said that this would happen in the "latter times".  It is generally agreed by Fundamentalist Baptist and other Fundamental Bible scholars that these are the "latter times" and that we are now living in this prophesied End Time Apostasy.

Today's apostasy can therefore explain why so many so-called Christians (pastors, deacons, laypeople and others) depart from the faith - because they listen to the doctrines of demons. 

Departing from the faith, however, does not necessarily mean that they stop going to Church.  Many apostates remain as pastors, deacons, or other church leaders, perhaps even some among current Independent, Fundamental or Fundamentalist Baptist church leaders.

Are you sinning?  Do you have a conscience that has been weakened through sin?  Do you listen to demons and appose good Christians, Christians who put Jesus and the Bible first?

If you are on the "primrose path" of apostasy, then repent now while you have the chance.  If you have already apostatized away from Christ, then it is probably too late for you to repent:

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;  seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Repent therefore of your sins and come to Jesus if you still can.  In all likelihood you have never truly trusted Jesus.  Instead, you have prayed a "magical sinner's prayer", "gone forward", had a mental belief in Bible doctrines or have done some other "good work" to try and earn your own salvation.  If that describes you, then come to Jesus so that you can be saved from your sins today.

Jesus is up in Heaven and desires for you to trust Him.  Jesus died on a Cross and shed His blood to paid for your sins.  If you trust Jesus, He will save you from your sins by His blood.  If you merely trust Bible doctrines about Jesus, but never actually trust Jesus Himself, then you will go to Hell one day.

Why not trust Jesus?  Do it Today.  And may God bless you as you do it!