Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

The Bible speaks of the conscience of man describing it in several different ways as the
state of the conscience varies from man to man and sometimes from time to time within the
same man. The conscience can be good, pure, and without offense but it can also be weak,
defiled, evil, and even seared. It is the negative traits of the conscience I wish to discuss in
this article.

What is a weak conscience? The first time one reads about a weak conscience in the New
Testament is in 1 Cor. 8:7-12. This entire chapter is devoted to the subject of eating meats
offered to idols and whether or not it is acceptable in God's eyes for a Christian to eat such
meats. One should also read 1 Corinthians 10 beginning around verse 14 through the end
of the chapter on the same subject and Romans 14 also has some application even though
the subject there is the eating of meats or foods that at one time under the Law of Moses
were considered to be unclean and prohibited. One also has to consider Acts 15:28-29,
Rev. 2:4, and Rev. 2:20 on the subject of a Christian eating foods offered to idols.

Paul is writing to the Corinthians and while there were Jews among their number they were
mostly Gentiles. They had in the past been idol worshippers. Paul says in 1 Cor. 12:2, "You
know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were
led." (NAS) The Gentile world was a world of idolatry and this was the background of many
Christians outside of geographical Palestine. Paul warns the Corinthians specifically, "My
beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Cor. 10:14 NAS)

Part of the worship of idols involved eating of meats offered to idols. It was considered an
act of worship. To eat of these meats in a worship setting was to be a participant with the
other idolaters and become a sharer in demons. The original American Standard Version of
1901 puts it this way, "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice
to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons."
(1 Cor. 10:20 ASV)

When a pagan idolater was taught the truth and converted to Christianity his views
changed. He was no longer an idolater, no longer a believer in idolatrous gods, but still he
remained susceptible to the call of his past. It was certainly possible for him to turn again
and go back to idolatry. The Bible talks of various degrees of faith. There is little faith and
great faith and everything in between. How great was his faith? That is always a question
for every man.

Paul says in the beginning of 1 Cor. 8 in verse 4, "we know that there is no such thing as an
idol in the world, and that there is no God but one." (NAS) He then says, "However not all
men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if
it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled." (1 Cor. 8:7 NAS)

It is good to see how this passage (1 Cor. 8:7) is translated in other versions for I believe it
clarifies the meaning a little. The English Standard Version (ESV) translates it, "However,
not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as
really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled." The New Living
Translation (NLT) reads, "However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to
thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they
think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated." (1 Cor.
8:7) The Literal Translation Version (LITV abbreviation) reads, "But the knowledge is not in
all; but some being aware of the idol eat as an idolatrous sacrifice until now; and their
conscience being weak is defiled." (1 Cor. 8:7)

Now to answer the question based on this passage – what is a weak conscience? For the
pagan turned Christian this eating of meats offered to idols was once a way he worshipped
an idol and for him to eat this meat now as though it had no meaning at all would be a
nearly impossible thing to do. For him to eat it he would feel as though he was doing
wrong, as though he was back worshipping the idol once again. Yet, his knowledge was
such that now he knew the truth, an idol was nothing, but that was his intellect telling him
that and while he might feel 95 percent convinced yet a little doubt lingered. Also his
feelings about the matter were another matter. A man's mind may tell him one thing but it
may take his feelings awhile to catch up with his mind.

On the one hand he felt he ought to eat the meat if an idol was nothing but on the other
hand he could not do it and feel guilt free. He could not yet do it without violating his
conscience and thus sinning. His conscience (one could say his faith that it was a thing he
ought to do) was weak in the matter. "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because
his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23 NAS)

A weak conscience then is a conscience that is not fully convinced about a matter being
right and so with regards to that particular matter he has a weak conscience. He lacks 100
percent faith in the matter at hand. With regards to other matters he may have a strong
conscience. A man can have a strong conscience about some matters while having a weak
conscience toward other matters.

Here is the kicker. One with a weak conscience regarding a matter can be led, if he is not
very, very careful, into defiling his conscience which is another way of saying he can be
easily led into violating his conscience which with God is sin. "He who doubts is condemned
if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom.
14:23 NAS) To do a thing that is in your mind doubtful is to violate your conscience (defile
it) and sin. Your heart was not pure in the act you allowed yourself to do.

Why is the one with a weak conscience easily led into defiling his conscience? Paul indicates
it can be because of the example of others who have strong consciences regarding the
matter. He is being taught by word and perhaps as well by the deeds of others that a
matter is okay with God and others all seem to be convinced, all but himself. He feels
himself under peer pressure to go along even if no peer pressure is being brought to bear
other than in his own mind. Paul does a lot of warning to those with strong consciences to
beware of their conduct around those with a weak conscience lest by their example they
unintentionally encourage the weak to violate his conscience and in doing so sin (see 1 Cor.
8:10-12).

Truth needs to be taught concerning all doctrinal matters but the strong must be careful to
not push too hard, so hard it pushes another man into doing that which he is not yet fully
convinced of. Teach the truth, be patient, give the other man time, study, and thought until
he can come to the truth fully persuaded and thus act without doubt. Do nothing to
encourage him to act in violation of conscience. For you to do otherwise is sin. "Thus, by
sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against
Christ." (1 Cor. 8:12 NAS)

A weak conscience is not in itself sin. When you violate that weak conscience by doing that
which you consider to be doubtful you thus defile your conscience which is sin. You heart is
not then right with God for you violated what your heart was telling you and did not act in
full faith.

The New Testament speaks of an evil conscience in Heb. 10:22. This is a conscience that
has been violated and feels the sting of guilt and sin. I will deal with that shortly in bringing
this article to a close but first what is a seared conscience?

A seared conscience is spoken of in 1 Tim. 4:2 where the text speaks of those "seared in
their own conscience as with a branding iron." When a conscience is defiled time and time
and time again endlessly it eventually becomes seared to where it no longer works. You
cannot violate it at that point for it simply no longer functions. One can go to where he
commits a sin and is really bothered in his heart and conscience by it but let him do it
again, and then again, and then again, and he eventually reaches the point where he no
longer cares and it no longer bothers him to commit the act whatever that act be. His
whole life can be flipped on end. He can totally apostatize from God with no guilt
whatsoever – no guilt in the end for over time he seared his conscience and feels no regret
nor sorrow over his sin.

Before closing it would be good to give hope for who among men has not defiled his/her
conscience at one time or another? Is it possible to be forgiven and have one's conscience
cleansed? The seared conscience may be past that but not the defiled conscience, not the
conscience that still has some feeling. Yes, it is possible to restore one to a clear and good
conscience. How?

By gospel obedience for the man who has never obeyed the gospel. Consciences were
cleansed by obeying the gospel in Acts 2 when Peter preached the first gospel sermon ever
and men and women responded believing, repenting of sins, and being baptized (read Acts
2).

One's conscience can be cleansed by the blood of Christ in obeying the gospel. The Hebrew
writer spoke of the Law of Moses in Heb. 9 speaking of its sacrifices and said of them that
they could not "make the worshiper perfect in conscience" (Heb. 9:9 NAS) but then
immediately resumes his writing, speaks of Christ's coming, and of "the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God" (Heb. 9:14 NAS) and
speaks of its ability to "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
(Heb. 9:14 NAS)

No one has ever become a Christian who has not first had to deal with his/her conscience
which was convicting them of sin. Clean, clear consciences do not lead men to repentance.
So, yes, consciences can be cleansed. They are cleansed, made good, in baptism (see 1
Peter 3:21) – a baptism preceded by faith, repentance, and confession of Christ as the Son
of God. One meets up, spiritually speaking, with the blood of Christ in the waters of
baptism, baptism being the final step of entering into Christ where forgiveness is found (see
Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Gal. 3:26-27, Rom. 6:3, etc.).

One last passage – the passage is Heb. 10:22 on the evil conscience. "Let us draw near
with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (NAS) Taken in context this is a
passage for Christians telling them what he had told them earlier in the book, "Let us
therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and
may find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16 NAS) Christians sin; they violate their
consciences, and need forgiveness. It is found in sincere repentance and confession to God
asking forgiveness by means of Jesus' shed blood at the throne of grace. Without the
throne of grace there would be little but despair. (See also 1 John 1:7-9.)

Compare this Heb. 10:22 passage with 1 Peter 3:21. Both passages associate the
conscience with baptism. It is "bodies washed with pure water" here in Heb. 10:22 but that
is clearly a reference to baptism. I cannot go into 1 Peter 3:21 here but did so in an article
entitled, "A Good Conscience and a Pure Conscience" which can be found on this site. If one
is to draw near to God "in full assurance of faith" he needs a clean conscience and a
baptized body according to this scripture. God tied the conscience together with baptism in
two different passages. There was a reason for that.

There is hope for the weak and/or defiled conscience but it is found in surrender to God.
Fail to do that and one will eventually find himself the possessor of a seared conscience.
Such a man cannot be reached. We ought to act to obtain a clean conscience while it can
be had. God can clean our conscience but we must act to have it done. We have free will.
With what kind of conscience do we want to face God? Each must answer for himself.