Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
Summer 2025
The title of this blog is a phrase we often like to say to each other. Even Jiminy Cricket said it to Pinocchio. However, one must consider the target audience of the Disney tale–the young and pure of heart–and acknowledge there are greater implications when offering this advice to the more seasoned. Consider these two cautions when giving or receiving this advice.
Firstly, what forms our conscience? Is our inner sense of what is right or wrong trustworthy? How morally or ethically reliable is our conscience? What are the contributors to conscience formation? These include our families, teachers, friends, and our personal experiences. What are our resulting values and virtues?
Secondly, how does our formed conscience affect the life we lead? In my life in business and then as a pastor, I have had the rare opportunity to see many people's consciences at work. I have seen people deal unethically with their business partners, employees, or clients and I have also seen owners of companies generously share profits with their employees. I have seen a person in sales tell the truth even at the risk of losing a sale. I have seen deep loyalty to a spouse or close friend, regardless of what life brings. And I have seen unfaithfulness (at many levels) in committed relationships. Ultimately our decisions in life reveal who we are: “What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is plain to your conscience.” 2 Corn. 5:11
Confronting serious crises facing our loved ones or ourselves, be it financial, health or the specter of death itself, inevitably changes our perspective. We begin to examine our actions and words more deeply. It can be a humbling experience. Unfortunately, it can often also lead to guilt, shame and self-condemnation.
To this, I would like to offer some hope and possibly a new way of looking at ourselves and others. God knows who we are and how we have lived. In contrast to our own harsh condemnation, to the repentant heart He offers forgiveness, love, mercy, grace, and the strength to change how we live and whom we live for: “If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything. And so, my dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have courage in God's presence.” 1 John 3:20-21( Good News Bible -paraphrased) Even if we fail ourselves at times, we can be reassured that God will never fail us.
A healthy and honest conscience, increasingly influenced by God and His scriptures, often reminds us of our own deep need to receive the mercy and love of God. And, having been so blessed, it can naturally change how we treat others going forward. Maybe, as our faith grows, we can more reliably “let our conscience be our guide.”
Blessings,
Tom