The Seared Conscience
"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 path created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (I Tim. 4:1-3).
In the minds of those acquainted with the history of the apostasy which resulted in the Catholic Church together with its positions on celibacy of priests and refraining from meat on certain days, there can be little doubt that the above passage was written as a prediction of that apostate church. However, one must not reach the conclusion that lying, hypocrisy and seared consciences belong exclusively to Catholics! These may exist among any people — non-religious or religious — including members of the church of Christ! This article will deal with the seared conscience and the possibility of its existence among us.
What is a seared conscience? The original word for conscience in the above text is SUNEIDESIS, and it means, literally, "a knowing with (sun, with, oida, to know), i.e., a co-knowledge (with oneself) . ." (Vine, Vol. 1, p. 228). R. L. Whiteside well said, "We are getting at conscience when we think of it as that feeling of pleasure when we do what we think is right, and of pain when we do what we think is wrong." (Commentary on Romans, p. 59). The word 'seared' is from the original Kausteriazo, which means, literally, "to bum in with a branding iron. . ." (Vine, Vol. 1, p. 145). From this word comes such English words as "caustic" and "cauterize." When some part of the body is seared, branded or cauterized, it is rendered insensible to pain or feeling. Thus, to have a seared conscience is to be able to do those things which one believes to be wrong with no feeling of inward or mental pain AND to do those things which one believes to be right with no feeling of inward or mental pleasure. (Usually, we think of a seared conscience only in terms of the former, but if the former is true, and it is, the latter must be equally true.)
If and when one allows his conscience to become completely seared, that person is in a very precarious, even hopeless, condition. He has no feeling of pain when he does what he believes to be wrong nor any feeling of pleasure when he does what he believes to be right. How sad! Better are the chances of those in heathen lands, as far as being brought to repentance is concerned.
How does one sear his conscience! Obviously, by doing those things which he believes to be wrong and failing to do that which he regards as his God-given duty. When, for example, the child of God deliberately absents himself from the services, knowing that Paul condemns it (Heb. 10:25) and believing that he is doing wrong, at first his conscience condemns him; however, if he continues to absent himself his conscience will become seared to the point that he feels no inward pain. Furthermore, his conscience now being seared, if and when he does happen to attend there is no feeling of pleasure as there once was, although he is doing what he believes is right, i.e., attending.
To all who are observant, there is much evidence of seared (at least, partially seared) consciences among members of the body of Christ. Nor is this evidence confined to those who have "quit the church" entirely; much of it exists among those who continue to warm a seat and even among some who take active parts in the services! Those who knowingly live like the devil through the week and pretend to be so sanctimonious on Sunday (at least during the worship hour) are not only hypocrites — they have a seared conscience! The same is true of those who, believing it wrong to gossip, lie, curse, etc., do so any way and take part in the services with a holy air. While they think they are deceiving others, they are really deceiving themselves; for they are in the process of further searing their own consciences and bringing themselves to the point of no return without realizing it.
In many congregations, that which is described in the above paragraph is allowed to continue — nothing is said and nothing is done! Thus, many unwittingly become guilty of AIDING these in further searing their consciences. The aiding is indirect and may not be intentional, but it is aiding, nevertheless!
Let us do all within our power to make sure that we are not searing our own conscience nor aiding others in searing theirs. This can be avoided by sincere study of the word of God and a loving, conscientious performance of our duties to God and our fellow-men.
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