Tag Archives: The human conscience

When Your Conscience is Unimpaired

Posted on March 3, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The first mention of the human conscience is found in Genesis 3:7. Adam and Eve describe this sensation as an overwhelming tug on their hearts. By the time the oral testimonies from Israel’s history were written down, Moses described the conscience as a combination of conviction, guilt and shame. While the world may reject this biblical truth, God designed human beings with a spiritual thermostat known as a conscience.

[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear ([e]unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives], 1 Peter 3:16.

My grandfather was the Chief of Police in Papile, Lithuania. When your father’s job description is to uphold the law, you leave behind a legacy of instilling right from wrong behavior. After my own father served in the United States Army, he made it clear what he expected of me growing up in his house. Subsequently, when I broke a rule or disobeyed, my father turned into a drill sergeant to keep me in line. This is what the Lord used in my life to keep my conscience unimpaired.

They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts and are operating there, with which their consciences (sense of right and wrong) also bear witness; and their [moral] [e]decisions (their arguments of reason, their condemning or approving [f]thoughts) will accuse or perhaps defend and excuse [them], Romans 2:15.

Every human being is wired a little differently. Depending upon your knowledge of the Bible, you may have a clear understanding of right from wrong or you’re currently confused by all the grey areas that exist. Perhaps is this why Joshua exhorted Israel to meditate on the Torah Day and Night prior to entering into God’s Promised Land, Joshua 1:8. When you reach a point in life where God’s laws are written on your heart, your conscience becomes unimpaired.

by Jay Mankus

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Recovering from a Spiritual Hangover

Posted on August 15, 2020 by expressyourself4him

Hangovers from drinking are a chain of reactions going on within your body following the consumption of alcohol. Once inside your body, alcohol affects your gastrointestinal tract, urine production, and blood sugar levels. Depending upon your age, gender, and weight, hangovers result in fatigue, headaches, cognitive, mood, and sensory issues. Meanwhile, biological rhythms and sleep patterns are hindered as individuals attempt to recover from these painful experiences.

For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do, Galatians 5:17.

According to the apostle Paul, alcohol is merely one aspect in life that is abused. Anger, bitterness, conflict, division, envy, and sexual desires are avenues that can result in spiritual hangovers. Following an emotional outburst, fits of rage or a second glance, the human conscience will begin to reveal symptoms of this spiritual condition. Any combination of conviction, guilt, remorse, and shame will rock human souls. King David compares a spiritual hangover to having your energy zapped by heat and humidity, Psalm 32:3-4.

Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, 20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, Galatians 5:19-21.

The apostle Paul suggests that the road to recovery begins by keeping in alignment with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. The first step to recovery begins by acknowledging that you have a sin problem, unable to control one or more fleshly desires. Just as alcoholics rely on anonymous groups, Christians should search to find a small group that serves as a form of accountability. While it may take some time to feel comfortable to bear your soul to strangers, the sooner you confess, the better you’ll feel. However, remember that life is a marathon so pace yourself by walking with God, Hebrews 12:1-2. May your recovery go well, without any relapses.

by Jay Mankus

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Don’t Let Shame to Rewrite Your Story

Posted on April 28, 2019 by expressyourself4him

Shame is defined as a painful feeling of distress and humiliation caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.  The Bible illustrates shame immediately following Adam and Eve breaking God’s only rule, “do not eat from the tree of knowledge,” Genesis 2:16-17.  This couple responded to shame by hiding from God, ashamed of what they have just done.

Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.  And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden, Genesis 3:7-8.

The human conscience is like a built in GPS device for morality.  When an act of kindness are performed, helpful hands extend a word of encouragement which results in a sense of warmth to my soul.  Yet, whenever my own mouth spits out poison, guilt strikes me like an invisible punch in the gut.  When bad outweighs the good, shame alters your mood and influences your mind.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work], Hebrews 12:1-2.

One of the ways this is accomplished is through ungodly beliefs instilled within you by family, friends and peers.  Words such as “you’re not good enough and you’ll never amount to anything” serve as wounds to the soul.  If these ungodly beliefs aren’t replaced by godly beliefs from the Bible, shame will rewrite your story.  The consequences of shame could be eternal.  Therefore, if you are tired of hiding from God, reach out to Jesus who disregarded shame by enduring the cross and rising from the dead.

by Jay Mankus

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