CONSCIENCE
The word “conscience”; NT:S# 4893 “suneidesis”.
<START GREEK>sunei/dhsi
<END GREEK>, NT:4893), lit., "a knowing with" (sun, "with," oida, "to know"), i. e., "a co-knowledge (with oneself), the witness borne to one's conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives"; hence (a) the sense of guiltiness before God; Heb 10:2; (b) that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former, and avoid the latter; Rom 2:15 (bearing witness with God's law); 9:1; 1:12; acting in a certain way because "conscience" requires it, Rom 13:5; so as not to cause scruples of "conscience" in another, 1 Cor 10:28-29; not calling a thing in question unnecessarily, as if conscience demanded it, 1 Cor 10:25,27; "commending oneself to every man's conscience," 2 Cor 4:2; cf. 5:11. There may be a "conscience" not strong enough to distinguish clearly between the lawful and the unlawful, 1st. Cor 8:7, 10,12 (some regard consciousness as the meaning here). The phrase "conscience toward God," in 1 Peter 2:19, signifies a "conscience" (or perhaps here, a consciousness) so controlled by the apprehension of God's presence, that the person realizes that grief’s are to be borne in accordance with His will. Heb 9:9 teaches that sacrifices under the Law could not so perfect a person that he could regard himself as free from guilt. For various descriptions of "conscience" see Acts 23:1; 24:16; 1st. Cor 8:7; 1 Tim 1:5,19; 3:9; 4:2; 2nd. Tim 1:3; Titus 1:15; Heb 9:14; 10:22; 13:18; 1st. Peter 3:16,21.(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
see animism) Columbia University Enc.
Now we examine how the Bible defines conscience:
The conscience convicts”
John 8:9 The Pharisees were ”convicted” in their hearts in the presence of Jesus when they accused a woman of being “taken in adultery” When Jesus told them that the one among them that was without sin cast the first stone; They all departed, from the least to the greatest. Mankind the creation of God is made up of a physical body of many parts, beginning with a structure of bones, flesh, skin, reproduction organs, a system for the dispersion of blood [the life sustaining substance] to all parts of the body and a nerve system that is connected to the brain that allows the person to recognize different emotions; Including love, hate, joy, sorrow, pain, desires and the loath of things that are undesirable.
A remarkable thing about this great miracle of God’s creation is that each of the multiplied billons of people that have lived on earth since the beginning in Genesis chapter two; Each one has its own DNA that distinguishes it from all others.
With all these things in place in an orderly fashion; It still remains a lifeless form or body until God breathes into it the “breath [spirit] of life” and mankind becomes a living soul.
As a part of the “soul” each person has a “conscience” that develops the character of each person. This conscience is controlled by a system of beliefs or faith that is influenced by family, community, society, education and religion, to name a few. Religion is the dominant factor because it affects all of the others.

When we think of religion we usually thing of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhism or some other recognized faith. But atheism or Agnosticism are also religions; because they are systems of beliefs or a faith.

“Religion, a system of thought, feeling, and action that is shared by a group and that gives the members an object of devotion; a code of behavior by which individuals may judge the personal and social consequences of their actions; and a frame of reference by which individuals may relate to their group and their universe. Usually, religion concerns itself with that which transcends the known, the natural, or the expected; it is an acknowledgment of the extraordinary, the mysterious, and the supernatural. The religious consciousness generally recognizes a transcendent, sacred order and elaborates a technique to deal with the inexplicable or unpredictable elements of human experience in the world or beyond it.Types of Religious Systems
The evolution of religion cannot be precisely determined owing to the lack of clearly distinguishable stages, but anthropological and historical studies of isolated cultures in various periods of development have suggested a typology but not a chronology. One type is found among some Australian aborigines who practice magic and fetishism (see fetish) but consider the powers therein to be not supernatural but an aspect of the natural world. Inability or refusal to divide real from preternatural and acceptance of the idea that inanimate objects may work human good or evil are sometimes said to mark a prereligious phase of thought. This is sometimes labeled naturism or animatism. It is characterized by a belief in a life force that itself has no definite characterization" [Stone]
The conscience can be “good before God”; Acts 23: 1st. Tim. 1:15, 19, 1st. Pet.3:16; and “right in the sight of God”; 2nd. Cor, 10:29.
The conscience can be “pure” ; 1st. Tim.3:9, 2nd. Tim.1:3, Heb. 9:14.
The conscience can be “void of offence”; Acts 24:16.
The conscience, ”bears witness” according to knowledge of the “law [word of God] written in their hearts” through their thoughts” by accusing the person of wrong doing or making defense [excusing] when in the right. The conscience as an “eye witness” to all of our actions and becomes the moral law of our conduct in a society that seeks to find fault in the Christian lifestyle. Rom. 2:15 and 8:1-7.
There are conditions of the conscience; it may be referred to as pure, good, weak, hardened or evil.
A weak conscience that is caused by a lack of knowledge allows a person to commit acts of sin that defiles the conscience. 1st. Cor. 8:7. A weak conscience allows a person to be judged [ “led astray”] by a strong willed person whose heart [conscience] has been hardened by sin. 1st. Cor. 10:27-33. This is a very strong indictment against Christians who “wound the weak conscience of a brother or sister in Christ. Paul warns in 1st. Cor. 8:12 that it is a sin against God. In Paul’s discourse in chapter 10:25-29 he instructs the Corinthians how to “behave” in the Church of God for the “sake of their conscience”. John writes about the danger of living with a “condemned heart” in 1 John 3:18-23 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment”
The conscience can be “seared with a hot iron”. As a person who has been severely burned, leaving “scar tissue” that no longer feels pain; so is the person that continues to sin "overriding the conscience" will no longer feel guilt when a sin is commited.The writer of Hebrews describes it in Heb. 10:1-2 that because of a failed sacrificial system the people had “no conscience of sin. He closes out this teaching by instructing the Hebrews to “Draw near to God in full assurance of faith, have their hearts sprinkled Eph 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”.] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. See also 1st. Cor. 6:1 and 7:1.
Conscience as it effects morality:
"The term “morality” can be used either descriptively to refer to a code of conduct put forward by a society or, some other group, such as a religion, or accepted by an individual for her own behavior or normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons.
Morality” is an unusual word. It is not used very much, at least not without some qualification. People do sometimes talk about Christian morality, Nazi morality, or about the morality of the Greeks, but they seldom talk simply about morality all by itself. Consistent with this way of talking, many anthropologists used to claim that morality, like law, applies only within a society. They claimed that “morality” refers to that code of conduct that is put forward by a society. However, even in small homogeneous societies that have no written language, distinctions are made among morality, etiquette, law, and religion. So, even for these anthropologists “morality” does not often refer to every code of conduct put forward by a society. Morality is often distinguished from etiquette, law, and religion, all of which are, or involve, codes of conduct put forward by a society.
Law or a legal system is distinguished from morality or a moral system by having explicit written rules, penalties, and officials who interpret the laws and apply the penalties. Although there is often considerable overlap in the conduct governed by morality and that governed by law, laws are often evaluated on moral grounds. Moral criticism is often used to support a change in the law. Some have even maintained that the interpretation of law must make use of morality" (Dworkin).Sanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Morality is varied from one religion to another and from one society to another. Example; In most Christian religions in past generations it was considered to be morally wrong to divorce and remarry unless fornication or adultery were involved in the divorce. Now in many churches divorces and remarriage is as common as it is outside of the church.In generations past virginity in young ladies before marriage was a prime factor in their “reputation” in the community. At the same time fathers would boast of the virility of their sons with the “conquests” they made in sexual activities with the “pretty girls” in the area.
In generations past pregnancy and giving birth to a child before marriage was a disgrace and delivery was in most cases accomplished in a distant location. And many times the baby was “put up” for adoption. Now the “engaged couples” attend church together or separate and “baby showers” are given to the expectant mother.
In generations past, prohibition was preached from the pulpits and voted for in elections; and at the same time the “elders of the church” knew where to go to get “a toddy for the body”. Next to pay for the cost that was incurred by the “evil of drink” State stores were authorized to sell “booze” to those of age. Soon through politics beer and whiskey began to be sold in private stores and now it can be bought with groceries in many places. The same applies to men’s [dirty] magazines that show pictures of nude women. Now there are women’s magazines that portray men in seductive poses. Both are now shown openly on magazine racks in stores everywhere.
In generations past gross language the reflected on a man’s parentage would result in fights and sometimes death; is now used jokingly as a common part of conversation. Bath room “dirty jokes” and sexual orientated stories are shared in mixed groups of men and women.
In generations past “Christian ladies” were considered immoral if they came to church without being properly dressed with skirts to mid calf, sleeves to the wrist with cotton hose and “closed toe” shoes. Now it is almost a common practice for them to come to church “bare foot” and slacks or pants are acceptable dress in most churches.
In generations past men wore their “Sunday best” when they went to the “House of God”; Now casual dress, even knee length shorts are commonly worn.
I could continue with other examples, but this fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah in the sixth century BC; Jer 6:15-17 “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken”.
Preachers cry out against sin today, but those who hear the message have set their own standard of morality and pass it off as Judah did in the time of Jeremiah.
Morality is loosely defined by different religions. Some religions will only sanction marriages to those of the same faith or even sect. Some allow multiple wives and live together in a commune. The same principle applies to partition in wars as to whether they have been declared “holy wars” or not. Bachelor and bachelorette parties are now very common for those about to be married with “sexual partners” supplied.

How far society has come from what was once considered to be sacred.
Those of the Muslim faith will feel guilt if they fail to look toward Mecca and pray five times each day. Jews will feel guilt when they think of the “wailing wall” and are unable to visit there to “afflict” themselves as they pray. Catholic Christians feel guilt when they can’t go to confession and pray the Rosary. Other Christians feel guilt for various reasons, according to their teaching. Other religions have their own “code of conduct”; that when broken will cause a feeling of guilt. Atheists and Agnostics, in spite of what they say are religions and have their own code of conduct that determines their morality.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. The Hebrew word “train” when translated properly means “cause to believe”. It is important that we understand that discipline alone will not accomplish this. It requires Biblical teaching with a lifestyle that builds confidence.
Pilate asked Jesus when he stood before him accused; John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. Jesus said in John 8:32 “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. See also John 10:9, Acts 4:12, Heb. 9:25 and 10:19-22.
Paul makes a great statement concerning determination of faith in Rom 8:14-16 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”:
I will continue with the words of Jesus that he spoke to the Jews in John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye may have life. They used “selective Old Testament scriptures to justify their faith, and ignored those that prophesied of the coming of Jesus.
The Bible is a complete book containing the plan of salvation for all people of the world. But it must be rightly divided: 2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The key words are “rightly dividing”; this simply means to separate the law from the prophets and to see that many of the prophecies were fulfilled in the Gospels. It also means that the Bible, especially prophetical statements must be examined in light of world history.
There are portions of the Bible that are directed to Jews, Gentiles, Elders of Israel, Elders of the Church, Ministers, Men, Women and other peoples of world society. It tells the story of creation. It tells the story of how Satan came into existence. It tells the story of original sin. It tells of the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. It tells of the flawed sacrificial system of the law to remove the guilt of sin. It tells of God leaving Heaven as the seed of God to be implanted into and born of a virgin. It tells of his childhood, his ministry giving hope to a lost world. It tells of his death at Calvary for the redemption of sinful mankind. It tells of his ascension into Heaven. It tells of his promise to return to resurrect the dead and transport the living to stand before the throne of God to face Judgment. It tells of his “father’s house” with mansions for the saved. It tells of a “lake of fire” prepared for Satan and sinful mankind. It tell of a “New Heaven and a new Earth where righteousness reigns.
An extreme example of how one evil man altered the course of the world and began a “new morality” that was adverse from all societies and religions of the world.
By the eleventh century the Christian Church had become so depraved in understanding the faith and teachings of Jesus and the Apostles that they had become divided into various organizations and sects with the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches being the most prominent . The church at Rome under the leadership of Pope Urban began an effort to “cleanse the world of heresy” that they organized a military force under the leadership of Knights Templar and Hospitaller clothed in heavy armor and ordered Crusades to go into Turkey and Palestine and slay all Muslims and Pagans. [Anyone that did not accept the “Christian Faith” as taught by the “Holy See”] There were nine of these crusades beginning in 1095 and ending in 1272 AD. Crusades numbers one and three met with limited success. The others suffered extreme loses. After several disastrous defeats the hierarchy determined that their armies were “moral sinners” and in 1212 AD they organized two “children’s crusades” made up of children twelve years old; some were younger even some young girls joined the movement. These also met with disaster; and many of those not killed died of starvation others were taken into slavery. Very few were able to return home. All these because of indoctrination believed that they were “doing the will of God. Their consciences were clear because of what they believed.
"At 6:30 p.m. on the evening of April 20, 1889, he was born in the small Austrian village of Braunau Am Inn just across the border from German Bavaria.
Adolf Hitler would one day lead a movement that placed supreme importance on a person's family tree even making it a matter of life and death. However, his own family tree was quite mixed up and would be a lifelong source of embarrassment and concern to him.
His father, Alois, was born in 1837. He was the illegitimate son of Maria Anna Schicklgruber and her unknown mate, which may have been someone from the neighborhood or a poor millworker named Johann Georg Hiedler. It is also remotely possible Adolf Hitler's grandfather was Jewish.
He joined the Bavarian army in 1914, wounded in action Oct. 10, 1916 and on Aug. 1918 was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery that he was recommended for by a Lieutenant that was a Jew. Two months later he was temporary blinded by chlorine gas.
The war ended in November of 1918 and Hitler was discharged as a hero; but blamed the Jews for Germany’s defeat. After the war he joined the Socialist Workers Party and became involved in politics and led a revolt in Munich on Oct.8, 1923 against the communist and Jew and was defeated, arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. But he only served five months and while in prison began to write the book “Mein Kampf”. In this book he introduces the idea that the ”German white race” of people is a pure and superior to Jews and negros. He also taught the “deformed” children and those that had “limited abilities” should be killed so that a “stronger race of “white people” could be developed.
Quote from Mein Kampf ” The Jewish doctrine of Marxism rejects the aristocratic principle of Nature and replaces the eternal privilege of power and strength by the mass of numbers and their dead weight. Thus it denies the value of personality in man, contests the significance of nationality and race, and thereby withdraws from humanity the premise of its existence and its culture. As a foundation of the universe, this doctrine would bring about the end of any order intellectually conceivable to man. And as, in this greatest of all recognizable organisms, the result of an application of such a law could only be chaos, on earth it could only be destruction for the inhabitants of this planet.
If, with the help of his Marxist creed, the Jew is victorious over the other peoples of the world, his crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity and this planet will, as it did thousands of years ago, move through the ether devoid of men.
Eternal Nature inexorably avenges the infringement of her commands.
Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord “ [p. 60].
In 1919 Hitler joined the National Socialist Party and soon became a leader and a major speaker at their meetings. In 1920 after a speech promoting 25 principles for reforming the party to reflect his social ideas the Nazi party was formed and he was on his way to becoming the Chancellor of Germany and on January 30th. 1933 he was chosen for that office; And on March 23rd. assumed the title of Dictator of that nation".
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Thus ends one saddest of times in world history when one evil man with a twisted religious conviction and a conscience void of reason was able to change the conscience of a major nation that would kill 6,000,000 Jews and plunge the world into a war that would cost other millions of human lives and untold sorrow and pain all over the world. The above is a prime example of the evil that can result from a person whose conscience has gone amuck because of following the philosophy of a theory that has no foundation in truth.

There are many religions of the world that have produced their own standards of faith and morality; among them are;
Scientology
Hinduism
NEW! Wicca
Judaism
Bahá'í
Islam
Buddhism
New Age
NEW! Nation of Islam
Mormonism
Hare Krishna
Unification Church
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
Members of each of these religions depend upon their conscience to guide them in compliance to the basic rules of conduct or the morality of their faith. This will include personal, family, organization, nationality or community standards of behavior.

1. I will not examine each of them, but I will go to the Bible and look into the Christian faith.
Christian leaders often mention Judean-Christian Ethics; Yet there is a great difference between the “Law of Moses” that is taught in the Torah. [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy] The foundation of the Law is the “Ten Commandments” [Hebrew: “Ten Words”] of Exodus chapter # twenty. Over the years the Rabbi’s added over 603 commands for a total of 613 to “help” people keep the original ten.
#1 Thou shall have no Gods before me; No graven images, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above or earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them, or serve them: For I the LORD am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. And showing mercy unto thousands, of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
The Jews used this commandment in opposition to the “Christian faith” that teaches a “Triune God” ; the Father, [Jehovah] the Son [Jesus] and the Holy Ghost. [The divine Spirit of God] The teachers of Judaism fail to properly translate the ancient Scriptures. . The “KEY WORDS” of this verse are # 1the word Gods in verse # 3 and God in verses #2 and 5 are both from S# 430 “Elohiym”, a plural word for the Triune God, first used in Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning God” and is used 2,394 times in the OT. The second key word is S# 5068 “ LORD”,&nb sp; “YAHOVAH” pronounced “YAHWEH always is in full capital letters; and in English is Jehovah.
Under the law slavery was permitted with many conditions. There were penalties for breaking the commandments that ranged from whippings to death and the “offended party” could decide the punishment and it was administered by the direction of the Elders of Israel. The principle for punishment was described in Ex 21:18-26 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be throughly healed. And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money. If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit [embryo]depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, An eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Under the Christian faith; Gal 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”. In the sermon on the mount of Matthew chapters 5- 7 Jesus says six times concerning the Ten Commandments; Ye have heard of old time, but I say unto you and the teaching is dramatically changed. This new teaching included killing, adultery, divorce, swearing, the “eye for an eye teaching and the teaching of love and hate.
Jesus the promised Messiah [Hebrew] or Christ [Greek] both of them means “The Anointed One”. Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. This fulfills the prophecy of Isa. 11:2-3, 42:1-4, 59:21. The land of Palestine and the Jewish people had been a possession of the Roman Empire since 63 BC. Jesus began his ministry @ 30-31 AD and was martyred @ 33-34 AD. And they were with hungry hearts awaiting the coming of the Messiah that they believed would restore the nation of Israel to the glory it had when David was king. But Jesus was not born of Royalty but born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem in the Roman province of Judea; And came to institute a spiritual kingdom that would be known as “The Kingdom of Heaven”. Jesus in defending himself before Pilate declared; John 18:36-37: Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice”. John 1:11-13: “ He came to his own [the Jews] and his own received him not; But as many as did received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”.
With his baptism in Jordan by John the Baptist he began preaching the “Gospel of Peace” and introduced a new morality into the world. This morality was based on a covenant of grace and love. With the root of this new doctrine being: Luke 6:26-38 “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye; for sinners also love those that love them.33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
With this new faith [religion] there began a change in the conscience and morality of those who became “believers” in Jesus. Although Jesus came to be the Messiah to the Jews and he ministered in a very limited area of Palestine, primarily in Galilee after his ascending into Heaven and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the feast day of Pentecost the gospel soon spread throughout the known world. See Mark 16:20.
The Jewish people were divided into three religious groups, the Pharesees, Sadducees and the Essenes: The leaders and most of the members of these sects rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Remember the question that was asked of Jesus in Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel”? They had misunderstood the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah; They expected freedom from Roman domination and Israel being restored to its glory of the time of King David. Instead his purpose was to institute a “Spiritual Kingdom” [the Church] that the Jews could be a part of by experiencing a spiritual rebirth. The Scribes and Pharisees rejected this and with the help of the Roman Procurator Pontius Pilate had him put to death by cruel crucifixion
The wisdom of God in selecting “Pentecost” as the date for this promised event is better understood when we realize that this day was one of three feast day s that all male Jews over twenty years of age were required by the Torah to celebrate in Jerusalem. After the great dispersal in 586 BC the Jews were scattered into all nations [see Acts 2:5] under Heaven. As these went back home they carried the “new Gospel” of Christianity all over the world, but mainly to Jewish communities. This was changed @ 41 AD when Peter went to Caesarea at the instruction of the Holy Ghost and preached Jesus to the Gentiles. [Acts ch. 10] This evangelism was expanded greatly by the Apostle Paul in 45 AD when he spoke in Acts 13:46: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles”. With the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles California in 1905 when a African American Baptist Preacher named William J. Seymour from Centerville La. Began a prayer meeting and bible study and taught that speaking in tongues was the evidence of Holy Ghost Baptism. This became an extension of the Welsh Revival that began in Wales in September of 1904 and continued until June of 1905; in which over 100,000 were converted.
This revival brought a major change in Evangelism in the USA. Pentecostalism spread from coast to coast and as it spread it brought division among “formal churches” with many accepting this “new faith”. It also caused hatred to also spread throughout the church world as pastors and church leaders felt threatened by this new religion moved from village to village and city to city. The evangelists were refused access to churches and many were denied use of public buildings for meetings. Then the use of tents and “brush harbors” became of common use in “getting the message” out to those who were hungry for revival. This brought an expression of anger and “men of distinction” in their community took up arms and burned the tents and harbors in honest belief that they were “doing God’s will” in protecting their faith. This again reflects the standards of morality and conscience according to what they had been taught to believe.
The Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches claim to be the modern representative of the original church founded in Jerusalem; Yet there is little resemblance to the church as described in the book of Acts. As the church spread through Europe it was declared to be heresy by the Jews and was hated by gentiles because of their call to chastity, the prohibition of homosexuality and the teaching of the triune God. Also such rulers as Emperor Constantine claimed to be converted and used their political power to take control of the churches and they became “State Churches” and changed the name from Catholic [a universal church that is undivided and continuing from the original] to Roman Catholic with a Pope as chief Bishop and the Greek Orthodox with a similar hierarchy.
As a result of the protest of Martin Luther of the “sainthood” of Mary, the teachings of “indulgences”, the buying and selling of church positions reaching all the way to the Pope in the year of 1648 brought a division that soon brought the Lutheran Church into a reality. Soon after John Calvin and others introduced reforms that introduced the Presbyterian, Nazarene, Baptist Methodist and others with each one claiming to be returning the church to Holiness. Each organization set its own standard of conscience and morality. Divisions began over the use of alcoholic drinks, tobacco, swearing, women’s dress or men wearing suits with ties. The training of a clergy and the manner of government; whether it by the Presbytery or by congregational election.
Some churches practice “Infant Baptism” at dedication and proclaim them to be Christians for life. These also practice “Priestly confession” for forgiveness of sin.
Others have a “Ceremony of Dedication”; but teach repentance and confession of faith at the “Age of accountability”; this age in undetermined at this time.
Some churches believe and teach salvation by grace is accomplished by repeating the “Sinners Prayer” and being baptized. Others teach that baptism is not essential to salvation.
Some “Holiness Churches” teach only one work of grace; the “born again experience”, others teach “Sanctification” as a second work of grace, still others teach the “Baptism of the Spirit” [Holy Ghost] as a third work of grace. And there are many variations of the teachings from one denomination to another and even within different churches of the same denomination. The Christian Church has fallen a long way from the prayer of Jesus in John 17:11 “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are”.
Some believe and teach that they are the “One True Church” and only its members are “true Christians”.
There are many different teachings about marriage and divorce. Some accept “Homosexual Unions” and some will ordain them into the Clergy.
Almost every church today accepts divorce and remarriage as a part of the present “church community”. Most churches even “turn their heads” to avoid condemning couples “living together” without the benefit of marriage. There is no stigma about children being born to unwed mothers. Even some honor them with “baby showers” as if this conduct is an accepted lifestyle.
Preachers “preach against sin”; but there is no discipline to keep it out of the church.
In the USA slavery became a way of life as “merchants” brought black people from Africa and sold them at auction to those who work them for the only wages were housing, clothing and food that were supplied by the slave owners who encouraged the women bear many children; as this increased the worth of the land owner. Pastors and religious leaders were a part of this evil in the South that began in 1607 and resulted in the civil war in 1801 and ended in 1865 with great loses on both sides. During this time churches were segregated with the “white folks” building places of worship for the “blacks” and both would “shout and praise” the Lord, but not together. This was all done in “good conscience”.
Today a war is raging in Israel with the Jews and the Hamas Muslims fighting over the Gaza Strip. To both sides; this is a “Holy War” and both fight with “good conscience”. Today [Jan. 4, 2009] I watched the son of the Hamas founder on TV that has been converted to the Christian faith condemn both the Muslims and the Jews for being wrong in their belief. He had to flee to the USA to avoid death from his own family.
All of the above describe theories of what is right or wrong that has affected the world because of the conscience of morality.
We as Bible believing Christians must rethink our practice of religion and teach our children the words of Jesus.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Matt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Luke 6:27-29 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
© Shelton Turner 1/5/2009 www.godswordtooyou.com