Jan 18, 2008 4 min read

Scripture reading: Luke 18:1-8. Text: “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, HOLDING ON TO FAITH AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19. It is interesting that Apostle Paul, who really knew theology well, coupled faith with good conscience.

Let us see where this chain reaction will lead us, namely, if you are a good Christian then you are faithful, if you have faith then you have a good conscience and in order to have a good conscience . . . what is expected of us?

As in English, in the Greek language conscience also means to know together, or as the dictionary says: “Co-knowledge with my self.” I found this definition quite accurate: “Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels so good.” Augustine wrote: “Conscience and reputation are two things. Conscience is due to yourself, reputation to your neighbor.” Augustine: Works, Vol. XXI.

THE STORY OF THE DISHONEST JUDGE AND THE PERSISTENT WIDOW. See our Scripture reading.

There was a widow who repeatedly and persistently asked the judge to help her. The judge being negligent and careless ignored the poor widow. However, her perseverance bothered him and for this reason finally he had complied. “For some time he refused. But FINALLY HE SAID TO HIMSELF, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'” Luke 18:4-5. Jesus had finished this story with these words: “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.

LUKE WAS A PHYSICIAN AND NOTICED HOW PEOPLE “COMMUNICATED” WITH THEMSELVES.

– “When the Pharisee who had invited him (Jesus) saw this (how a woman, who was a sinner, anointed his feet), HE SAID TO HIMSELF, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.'” Luke 7:39.

– “He (the rich man) THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'” Luke 12:17.

– “When he (the prodigal son) CAME TO HIS SENSES, HE SAID, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'” Luke 15:17.

– “The Pharisee stood up and PRAYED ABOUT HIMSELF: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.” Luke 18:11.

“HE SAID TO HIMSELF, THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, CAME TO HIS SENSES, PRAYED ABOUT HIMSELF.”

Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “holding on to faith and a good conscience” and I wish to ask you: does not our conscience begin with conversing with our SELF? William Morley Punshon wrote: “Cowardice asks, Is it safe? Expediency asks, Is it politic? Vanity asks, Is it popular? But Conscience asks, Is it right?”

When only one person speaks and there is no conversation among people, it is called MONOLOGUE and when the communication takes place between two people, it is called DIALOGUE. In a dialogue there is a chance to hear the other party’s response, view, comment, approval or disapproval.

Here the mystery of good or clear conscience unfolds; while we carry on a MONOLOGUE with ourselves, see the examples above, it unnoticeably becomes a DIALOGUE as God joins the conversation. What happens? As the human thoughts go back and forth in one’s mind, the divine inspiration either approves or disapproves the monologue. This divine “comment” is very gentle and only whispering. It can be heeded or ignored. First, we should talk to ourselves, then leave our mind open and let the divine voice “chime in,” however, God will not argue with us or ask for our consent.

If you had the opportunity to deal with conscientious and unconscientious people, then you know what the difference is. Which one can be trusted? Legislation cannot control or improve one’s conscience, we have to go beyond human law and agree with the Bible: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, . . . cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Hebrews 9:14.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.