In the Bible, what does a weak conscience mean?
How can it be strengthened?
Weak Conscience
Weak Conscience
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Re: Weak Conscience
Could you give me the biblical reference?Bud wrote:In the Bible, what does a weak conscience mean?
How can it be strengthened?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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"He who learns must suffer.Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." Aeschylus
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Bud might be referring to 1 Corinthians 8
1Co 8:7 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.
1Co 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1Co 8:12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:7 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.
1Co 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1Co 8:12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
The weakness of the conscience is referred to in 1 Corinthians 8:7 & 12, and is alluded to in Romans 14:1-2; 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:9-11 and 9:22.
The meaning of the Greek word is "feeble," though I have often thought, in the context of the "weak" conscience, that our word "fragile" or "delicate" might be substituted for more clarity. It is the same word used by Peter in describing the wife as "the weaker vessel" (1 Pet.3:7). I think a husband would do well to view his wife as more "fragile" or "delicate" than himself, and to treat her accordingly.
Paul always contrasts the weak of conscience (or "weak in the faith") with those who are strong. In his contrasts, the weak are those who are more scrupulous about certain behaviors (e.g., eating meat sacrificed to idols). The strong are those who do not have such sensitive scruples. This does not mean that those who desire to live godly and holy lives are "weak." It means that there are some who do not have a firm grasp on the liberty of the Christian with reference to religiously "questionable" things. Their consciences are more fragile and delicate in that they are more easily injured and condemned.
Every Christian must maintain a conscience sensitive enough to protest against sin (which would be defined by the direct commands of God). But if the doing of things that religious people have regarded as questionable, but which are not biblically forbidden, causes you to come under condemnation, or if you tend to judge and condemn those who do such things, you fall into the category of the "weak" in this respect.
This suggests that those who allow themselves the greater liberties are those that Paul refers to as "the strong." However, he argues that it is always the stronger people who must make consessions to the weaker, not vice versa. Therefore, Paul teaches, those of you who allow yourselves greater liberties ought to accommodate the consciences of those who are more "judgmental" and "legalistic"—at least to the point of not encouraging them by your behavior to participate with you in actions of which their consciences disapprove. It may not be sin for you, but it IS SIN for them, if they view it as sin, and it is therefore unloving (and thus sinful) on your part to cause them to stumble.
Those who are weaker tend to be more critical of others, and Paul exhorts them to not be so judgmental. Those who are stronger, on the other hand, are often prone to flaunt their liberty to their own hurt, by toying with temptations that others would avoid, and are in danger of crossing the line into actual sin.
It is a narrow path we walk—sometimes more like a tightrope stretched over Niagara Falls. Balance is not easy to maintain in spiritual matters, and requires constant vigilance and self-readjustment to avoid falling into the chasms either on the right hand or on the left.
The meaning of the Greek word is "feeble," though I have often thought, in the context of the "weak" conscience, that our word "fragile" or "delicate" might be substituted for more clarity. It is the same word used by Peter in describing the wife as "the weaker vessel" (1 Pet.3:7). I think a husband would do well to view his wife as more "fragile" or "delicate" than himself, and to treat her accordingly.
Paul always contrasts the weak of conscience (or "weak in the faith") with those who are strong. In his contrasts, the weak are those who are more scrupulous about certain behaviors (e.g., eating meat sacrificed to idols). The strong are those who do not have such sensitive scruples. This does not mean that those who desire to live godly and holy lives are "weak." It means that there are some who do not have a firm grasp on the liberty of the Christian with reference to religiously "questionable" things. Their consciences are more fragile and delicate in that they are more easily injured and condemned.
Every Christian must maintain a conscience sensitive enough to protest against sin (which would be defined by the direct commands of God). But if the doing of things that religious people have regarded as questionable, but which are not biblically forbidden, causes you to come under condemnation, or if you tend to judge and condemn those who do such things, you fall into the category of the "weak" in this respect.
This suggests that those who allow themselves the greater liberties are those that Paul refers to as "the strong." However, he argues that it is always the stronger people who must make consessions to the weaker, not vice versa. Therefore, Paul teaches, those of you who allow yourselves greater liberties ought to accommodate the consciences of those who are more "judgmental" and "legalistic"—at least to the point of not encouraging them by your behavior to participate with you in actions of which their consciences disapprove. It may not be sin for you, but it IS SIN for them, if they view it as sin, and it is therefore unloving (and thus sinful) on your part to cause them to stumble.
Those who are weaker tend to be more critical of others, and Paul exhorts them to not be so judgmental. Those who are stronger, on the other hand, are often prone to flaunt their liberty to their own hurt, by toying with temptations that others would avoid, and are in danger of crossing the line into actual sin.
It is a narrow path we walk—sometimes more like a tightrope stretched over Niagara Falls. Balance is not easy to maintain in spiritual matters, and requires constant vigilance and self-readjustment to avoid falling into the chasms either on the right hand or on the left.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve
weak conscieous
Gee Steve
Thanks again for even more teachings and help to me. I have been spending time on this site today reading many subjects and answers on the boards.
People all my life have been telling me and complimenting me on how strong I am with all I have been through. Condemnation from some always seems to follow it though, I have to admit. People would call me and ask for help/encouragement etc. even though when I talk to them it is like I am guided beyond my own knowledge.
On the other hand I have always felt weak and confused inside and in some ways almost dumb in being misguided or easily swayed esp. by a strong male figure predominately Christian. I cry easily some times and take mean remarks made to me very deeply and have to dig deep inside myself to figure out why I don't just let it roll of my back, I repent and ask for forgiveness in any areas illuminated to me. I really try and search myself to see what I might be doing wrong.
And certainly in your example I have had to work very hard not to be legalistic. I have attributed it in the past of just being my "Eve" nature. Not truely percieving what that statement probubly all said .
With people consistantly telling me how strong I am and my true inner feelings the two just have never been in sync with my understandings of these two very different experiences I was having. until now!
I even got to the point at times when I would see another Christian doing something I thought was an obvious sin and they didn't see it that way at all, I viewed them as "they" were the weak one. When in actuality If I am reading your explanations correctly, they were strong and settled in their convictions. These were gray areas by the way , not black and white sin issues. I still didn't necessarily agree with them or follow in their practices though .I some times have and felt fallen and uncomfortable, some times a release and new insights too.
BUT now you have explained to me , the true difference. It all makes so much more sense to me know . YEAH ! I AM weak!
I believe God has used me alot in my life in very varied circumstances. I have even prayed at times and asked him to please use some one else at times I felt I just had no more to give or was so worn out by ridecule I would recieve in doing it by a few in the wings.
But he still continues to call on me to walk into situations that I just don't feel I have the abilities to handle well in myself, even with where ever my walking stage is with him at the time, But I do it. There is something in me that just can't sleep if I turn my back on him. I was told by a pastor once there are even places angels dare to tread so I should have backed off in this one circumstance (dealing with a Satanic cult) I am still not sure if I agree with him.
But being scripture does say he likes to use the weak........well, like I said my eyes have been opened. I AM weak and thats why he DOES like to use me. Wow, I am going to meditate on this I am sure I will go through some new changes because of this new information .
Thanks again !!!!
Thanks again for even more teachings and help to me. I have been spending time on this site today reading many subjects and answers on the boards.
People all my life have been telling me and complimenting me on how strong I am with all I have been through. Condemnation from some always seems to follow it though, I have to admit. People would call me and ask for help/encouragement etc. even though when I talk to them it is like I am guided beyond my own knowledge.
On the other hand I have always felt weak and confused inside and in some ways almost dumb in being misguided or easily swayed esp. by a strong male figure predominately Christian. I cry easily some times and take mean remarks made to me very deeply and have to dig deep inside myself to figure out why I don't just let it roll of my back, I repent and ask for forgiveness in any areas illuminated to me. I really try and search myself to see what I might be doing wrong.
And certainly in your example I have had to work very hard not to be legalistic. I have attributed it in the past of just being my "Eve" nature. Not truely percieving what that statement probubly all said .
With people consistantly telling me how strong I am and my true inner feelings the two just have never been in sync with my understandings of these two very different experiences I was having. until now!
I even got to the point at times when I would see another Christian doing something I thought was an obvious sin and they didn't see it that way at all, I viewed them as "they" were the weak one. When in actuality If I am reading your explanations correctly, they were strong and settled in their convictions. These were gray areas by the way , not black and white sin issues. I still didn't necessarily agree with them or follow in their practices though .I some times have and felt fallen and uncomfortable, some times a release and new insights too.
BUT now you have explained to me , the true difference. It all makes so much more sense to me know . YEAH ! I AM weak!
I believe God has used me alot in my life in very varied circumstances. I have even prayed at times and asked him to please use some one else at times I felt I just had no more to give or was so worn out by ridecule I would recieve in doing it by a few in the wings.
But he still continues to call on me to walk into situations that I just don't feel I have the abilities to handle well in myself, even with where ever my walking stage is with him at the time, But I do it. There is something in me that just can't sleep if I turn my back on him. I was told by a pastor once there are even places angels dare to tread so I should have backed off in this one circumstance (dealing with a Satanic cult) I am still not sure if I agree with him.
But being scripture does say he likes to use the weak........well, like I said my eyes have been opened. I AM weak and thats why he DOES like to use me. Wow, I am going to meditate on this I am sure I will go through some new changes because of this new information .
Thanks again !!!!
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason: