0453. A Weak Conscience

A Weak Conscience

"Their conscience being weak is defiled" (1Co_8:7).

The story setting of our key verse is concerning the things offered unto idols.

In the old days in Corinth, idolators offered sacrifices of animals unto their false gods. The meat thus offered was sold upon the shambles. Some of the Christians were offended because other Christians bought this meat and ate it. The Apostle Paul saw nothing wrong in this act and surely the meat offered unto an idol was not hurt thereby, for the idol was nothing at all, and the only reason that the consciences of some of the saints were troubled, was due to their lack of knowledge.

Paul gives advice that we should not wound the weak consciences of those saints, lest in so doing we sin against Christ. We need, above all things, to be sane and sure in our knowledge, that we may be sane and sure in our conclusions.

We do not want to have a conscience that will strain out gnats and swallow camels.

We do not want to be so straight that we lean backwards.

We do not want to put on an air of "holier than thou," which is based upon entirely wrong conceptions of Christian virtue.

We must be true.

We must not yield one point that is vital.

We must stand as bravely as Daniel stood, and dare to face any and all issues unswervingly, but we must not go beyond the Word of God.

Let us give an example of what we mean.

Illustration: A member of one of our churches had a husband who was a drunkard. Her daughter was maid in our home. On one occasion, we had a case of soda water given us; the children were delighted and enjoyed the refreshing drink.

The next day, however, this good sister said to us that her daughter had told her that we had bottles in the house, and she pleaded with me to do away with them. She said she had no objection to drinking soda water out of a glass at the soda fountain, but she hated bottles. Of course, we did away with the bottles at once, for her sake, but we knew, nevertheless, that soda water was soda water whether it was in a glass or in a bottle.

What we need is solid teaching concerning morals, and concerning doctrine. Then we will have a strong and safe conscience and not what the Word calls "a weak conscience."

Wound not the weak conscience, strong brother,

Of the least of God’s children, so dear,

Guard well ev’ry deed, ev’ry action,

Live spotlessly on, without fear.

Be not too exacting, weak brother,

Put up no false standard of right,

Demand not, unless you are certain,

You are walking in God’s holy light.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR