A Seared Conscience

Seared Conscience

God gave us all a moral conscience (Romans 2:15). It has a potential of getting “seared” or “cauterized,” rendering it insensitive and altering its function by forming a (sort of) “spiritual scar tissue” dulling the sense of right and wrong.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 illustrated and identified such a 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;

In this passage, we learn three things about false teachers (or anyone) who lead others into abandoning their faith.

1) They are mouthpieces for evil spirits since they promote “things taught by demons.”

2) They are hypocritical liars, wearing a mask of holiness, but are full of falsehood.

3) They are unscrupulous since their consciences have been cauterized.

This explains how false teachers (or anyone) can lie with no shame and spread deception with no guilt or moral scruples. They have seared consciences past feeling that lying is wrong.

This can also happen from repeated trauma over years and decades for some. Recurring emotional, mental, physical, or sexual abuse experienced can sear your conscience like a branding iron to your brain.

It can only be reversed and healed by our Creator, God.

No matter what, God’s divine light dwells in everyone’s soul communicating the difference between right and wrong, giving accountability for conduct.

What I am getting at is growing up with repeated abuse can desensitize you as a coping skill. You get used to it, similar to a train that runs by your house. You’re so used to hearing it, you become numb to the sound. When you wake up with God finally getting your attention, you realize you’re a train wreck.

A seared conscience can be dangerous.

It has the potential of giving a false sense of comfort over wrong behavior. You can become blind to it without a relationship with God.

More about a Seared Conscience by Got Questions?