The American culture has produced an increasingly "feeling" oriented society. A significant standard in determining if an attitude or act is right or wrong, good or bad is how that attitude or act "feels" to the person. Good "feelings" commonly confirms something is right.
First, right and wrong or good and bad are strictly individual determinations. If it "feels" good then it is good--even if it "feels" bad to others. Thus the cry becomes, "Do not judge me!" which often means do not evaluate my "feelings" by your "feelings." Many firmly believe there is no absolute right and wrong or absolute good and bad. Everything is both good and bad or right and wrong depending on the circumstances of the individual.
Second, if an attitude or action does not violate "my" conscience, it cannot be wrong or bad. Stated in another way, if the attitude or action "feels" good or right then it has to be good or right. In many instances, "feeling" is the ultimate consideration. The "certain proof" something is wrong is a "bad feeling."
The cultural swings in this society in less than one life span are dramatic. We have gone from a society that inhibited emotion to a society that feeds on emotion. In the mid-twentieth century, a woman endured significant social consequences if she had a child outside of marriage. Today there are unmarried men and women who deliberately have a child outside of marriage. In the mid-twentieth century it was not unusual for sexual activity and expression to be repressed even in marriage. Now sexual activity and expression are at least sanctioned and at most encouraged prior to marriage. Alienation in marriages, divorce, single parent homes, blended families, and life styles are much too frequently the result of an individual's "feelings."
When "feelings" determine standards and values, the concepts of responsibility and commitment suffer horribly. A common rational for a child rebelling against a parent is often, "I do not want to do that." An all too common tension exists between employees and employers because of what a person "feels." In the majority of marital conflicts, the tension exists because of the "feelings" of a spouse or both spouses.
In the majority of instances when "feeling" is a significant criteria for determining personal standards and values, an individual can make terrible choices or horrible decisions in all good conscience. Because he/she "felt good" about the choice or decision when it was made, it was a "good" choice or decision even if it resulted in consequences.
Consider Paul. He could threaten to kill fellow Jews in all good conscience (Acts 9:1). He could drag Jewish men and women from their homes in all good conscience (Acts 8:3). He could imprison Jewish Christians, rejoice in the execution of Jewish Christians, and aggressively search for Jewish Christians in all good conscience (Acts 26:10). He could visit synagogues, confront Jews who believed Jesus was the Christ, and physical harm them in an attempt to get these people to denounce their faith in Jesus--and do that in all good conscience (Acts 26:11). He could be enraged at his own people in all good conscience (Acts 26:11).
Paul "felt" good about the execution of Jewish Christians! Paul "felt" good about contributing to their executions! Paul's wrath against Jewish Christians "felt" good to him! Why? He did those things in all good conscience. Why? Those acts and feeling did not violate his standards and values. To him, the traditions and values of his religious nation were more important than the people who rejected those national traditions and values.
A key understanding: Paul did those things in all good conscience and was completely wrong. His "feelings" did not make his conscience right. His good conscience did not make his attitudes and acts right. His standards and values were horribly misguided even though he was convinced his standards and values were unquestionably right. The moment Paul realized Jesus' true identity, he instantly understood his standards and values were wrong.
Paul's pre-Christian conscience teaches some invaluable lessons.
Lesson one: because something "feels" right and good does not make it right and good.
Lesson two: if one's standards and values are incorrect, his/her conscience will be misguided.
Lesson three: one's conscience is no more reliable than the standards and values that train his/her conscience.
Lesson four: a conscience is a good conscience only if it is reliably trained by good standards and values.
Lesson five: it is possible to have right motives and wrong understanding at the same moment.
Lesson six: culture's standards frequently serve as poor standards for training a conscience.
Training a conscience is only to be entrusted to God, the Father of Jesus whom He made Christ. God's standards and values must become the person's standards and values. Thus, developing a good and godly conscience is a lifetime journey, not an earthly destiny. As the person spiritually matures in Christ, standards and values constantly undergo development. The conscience constantly changes through development as one's standards and values mature in Jesus Christ. Developing a godly conscience is a lifetime undertaking.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 4