- 2 days ago
Titus 1:15-16
15 To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.
16 They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.
15 To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.
16 They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.
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LearningTranscript
00:00Today, I'm going to talk to you today.
00:29in this sharing, our title is called, Did You Know That a Pure Conscience Brings Peace
00:36and Not Torment? How many of us at times have been troubled or tormented by something that
00:44we did or said or even regretted in our actions, our words, deeds, like stealing or lying or
00:53impure actions? No doubt each one of us could tell a story of our own account in some way or another
01:01on this very question. For example, there was a woman who was poverty stricken and on her way home
01:10she felt a deep persistent and alarming disturbance of her inner peace of mind. She was driven from
01:17the gnawing trouble within to return the stolen item and after returning home she began to feel
01:24relieved of her sinful action. Our great and loving God planted within each and every person born into
01:34the world an inner voice which on occasion accuses and oppresses him or her and sometimes even brings
01:43joy. This small soft voice within is called the conscience. Apostle Paul in Acts chapter 24 verse 16
01:54says, I always strive to keep my conscience clear before God and man. And there is a saying that says
02:03the conscience is God's voice in mankind and often is attributed in spirit to St. Paul though it is not
02:12quite a direct quote of his. In Romans chapter 2 verses 14 and 15, Paul writes that even Gentiles who do not
02:22have the law show the requirements of the law are written in their heart, their consciences also bearing
02:30witness. But overall, this scripture has been foundational for Christian understanding of the conscience
02:37as a divine imprint of God upon the heart. But now by delving deeper into my journey in the ancient faith of
02:47orthodoxy, I have found this phrase itself appears more so without reservation in the findings of Bishop
02:57Alexander Milland, a 20th century orthodox bishop who wrote extensively on the nature of conscience. In his
03:07essay on the conscience, which he calls God's voice in mankind, he states, this inner law works through the voice of
03:17conscience, which justly is called the voice of God in man. Bishop Alexander is not an ancient saint, but he does draw
03:28heavily upon church fathers, especially on John Christosom and St. Basil the Great, who both emphasize the
03:37conscience as a divine guide within the soul. Quoting Bishop Alexander, he tells us this small, subtle voice is an
03:47inborn feeling called the conscience and by its nature is a spiritual instinct, which more clearly and quickly
03:56differentiates between good and evil than does the mind. He who listens to the voice of his conscience will never regret or be
04:05ashamed of his behavior. Well, I have learned that in reading the scripture, the conscience is also called
04:14the heart. And we can see in reading the Sermon on the Mount that our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 6
04:23verses 22 and 23 compared the conscience to the eyes by which an individual can determine his or her own moral
04:33condition. Let's read, beginning in verse 22. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good,
04:45your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
04:52If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
04:58So we see also in scripture, specifically in Matthew chapter 5 verse 25, that Jesus compared the
05:08conscience to a rival with whom a person must come to terms before he presents himself at the judgment of
05:16God. Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 verse 25 declares,
05:21Dear ones, what I love about learning and reading in the Orthodox Bible and its commentaries is that these
05:42scriptures put the word in the light of liturgical worship, and that is necessary at the beginning of
05:49the Eucharistic prayer here, which in this case is a kiss of peace and a sign of reconciliation and
05:57forgiveness, where the priest is preparing the faithful to offer holy gifts at the altar. And according to
06:051 Peter chapter 5 verse 14, which declares, Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in
06:15Jesus Christ. Amen. Now that being said, then we see that delay in reconciliation allows for the spread of
06:26animosity and other evils according to Ephesians chapter 4 verses 25 through 27, which instructs us saying,
06:35Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one
06:43another. Be angry and do not sin, and do not let the sun go down on your wrath, verse 27, nor give place
06:53to the devil. Now we see in these scriptures that we have just read, the Lord speaking through these men
07:01compares the conscience to a rival with whom a person must come to terms before he presents himself at
07:11God's judgment. The word rival stresses the main quality or attribute of the conscience to oppose our evil
07:20desires and intentions and also to come to agreement with those with whom we have disagreement with.
07:27In his book, Bishop Alexander Meliant tells us,
07:34Our personal experience convinces us that this inner voice, called the conscience, is not under our control,
07:44but expresses itself spontaneously in spite of our will. And he continues,
07:50In addition, just as we cannot persuade ourselves that when we are full, when we are hungry, or that we are rested,
07:59when we are tired, similarly, we cannot convince ourselves that our behavior is correct when our
08:06consciences tell us otherwise. As told in the Bible of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ,
08:13regarding the indestructible worm, in Matthew chapter 9, verse 48, tells us that where their worm does not die
08:23and the fire is not quenched. Reading this verse, the church fathers see the guilty conscience
08:31that will punish sinners in the future life. When we look at the Bible, what it tells us in regards to the conscience,
08:41we learn that no secular book confirms or attests about the existence of the conscience in man as the Bible does.
08:52Bishop Alexander also explains that just as the Bible tells us during the creation,
09:00God imprinted into the nature of man his divine image, which draws man towards everything that is morally good
09:08and averts him from everything that is morally evil.
09:13He explains this inner law through the voice of the conscience,
09:19which justly is called the voice of God in man,
09:22because it is an integral part of human nature.
09:27It is active in all people, regardless of their age, their race, education, or development.
09:33There have been studies done in the past and even present, according to the customs and culture of nations,
09:41and one in particular tells that all the people, even the most primitive tribes,
09:48distinguish between what is good and what is bad, between a good person and an evil person.
09:55So, interesting that they all agree on one thing, and that is that the good is worth striving for,
10:05that the evil must be shunned, and also that one deserves praise and the other deserves blame.
10:13Though the individual cases, they may not be one in name, but same thing, good or evil,
10:21they are nevertheless agreed as to the general principle that is good to be done and evil to be avoided.
10:30It is universally recognized in a principle that no one should not do to others what he would not wish them to do to him.
10:42You see, vice, which is opposite of virtue,
10:45seems that everywhere evil seeks to hide itself or at least to put on a mask of virtue,
10:54which is honesty, moral excellence, or goodness,
11:00is always found out for what it really is.
11:05And we can see in Holy Scripture that one of our first examples,
11:09their consciences were at work.
11:32Cain, who killed his brother, Abel, out of envy, jealousy, and afterwards,
11:39began to fear for his very own life.
11:42And we read in Genesis 4.14,
11:45Cain, surely you have driven me out this day from the face of the ground.
11:51I shall be hidden from your face.
11:54I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth.
11:57And what will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me?
12:04Cain's conscience was at work here.
12:06In the account of King Saul, who persecuted innocent David,
12:12later wept in shame when he found out that instead of retaliation for evil,
12:18David spared his life.
12:20And we can read this account in 1 Samuel chapter 26.
12:25And we can say that Saul's conscience was at work here.
12:30Sometimes, when the conscience is troubled and tormented so badly
12:36that some people have taken their lives in despair,
12:41such as Judas Iscariot, the traitor who hung himself for the sin of betraying Christ
12:47because his conscience was painfully and alarmingly accusing him.
12:54And we have read various accounts in scriptures
12:57where sometimes people are caught in a surge
13:00or sudden overwhelming passion or even fear
13:03where they're not hearing the voice of their consciences.
13:06But later they feel this tormenting sense of guilt
13:10twice as strong and overbearing.
13:14Such as happened to Joseph's brothers
13:16when they remembered the sin of selling their younger brother into slavery.
13:22And we cannot forget the account of impetuous Peter
13:26who under the pressure of fear
13:28denounced his precious Savior three times
13:31and then heard the rooster crow
13:33and remembered the words of Jesus
13:35who told him that he would deny him
13:38not one time but three times.
13:41Afterwards, Peter went off and bitterly wept.
13:46Peter's conscience was accusing him.
13:50Also, we cannot forget in biblical accounts
13:53that the conscience works in a positive way as well.
13:58Apostle Paul, whose life was totally dedicated to his Lord and God
14:03and for the salvation of men.
14:06Not only did he not fear death,
14:09but on the contrary,
14:10he desired to be relieved from his earthly body
14:13to be with his Lord.
14:15Philippians chapter 1 verse 23 tells us,
14:19Paul says,
14:21Paul says,
14:21But if I live on in the flesh,
14:24this will mean fruit from my labor.
14:27Yet, what will I choose, I cannot tell.
14:31For I am hard-pressed between the two,
14:34having a desire to depart and be with Christ,
14:37which is far better.
14:39Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
14:42And being confident of this,
14:44I know that I shall remain and continue with you
14:47for your progress and joy of faith,
14:50that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ
14:55by my coming to you again.
14:58Dear ones,
14:59there are so many true accounts
15:02written in the Holy Book of Life
15:04that tell us that for a sinner,
15:07there is no greater joy and relief
15:10than to receive forgiveness and peace
15:13of the conscience,
15:16which as the sinful woman
15:18who came to the house of Matthew
15:21and when she was pardoned for her sins,
15:24then in true and sincere gratitude,
15:27she washed the feet of Jesus with her tears
15:29and wiped his feet with her hair.
15:32Or Apostle Paul,
15:34whose conscience did not accuse him,
15:37but rather he had joy and solace
15:40in going willingly to his death
15:42for the sake of his Lord and Master,
15:44Jesus Christ.
15:46There is so much that can be told
15:49of the conscience,
15:51but as true believers in Jesus Christ,
15:55we learn to grow and know
15:57according to the examples of Holy Scripture
15:59and the writings of the fathers
16:01and the holy traditions of the church,
16:04that the conscience is actually
16:06the voice of God in man.
16:08Reiterating what Bishop Alexander spoke
16:13when he said,
16:15This small, subtle voice
16:17is an inborn feeling
16:19called the conscience
16:20and by its nature
16:22is a spiritual instinct
16:24which more clearly
16:25and quickly differentiates
16:27between good and evil
16:29than does the mind.
16:31He who listens to the voice
16:33of his conscience
16:34will never regret
16:35or be ashamed of his behavior.
16:37Again,
16:39as it is actually
16:40the inner law
16:42which works through
16:43the voice of the conscience
16:44which rightly is called
16:47the voice of God in man.
16:49The Orthodox Church
16:51teaches that the conscience
16:53is a gift from God.
16:55It is a spiritual faculty
16:57that reflects the Creator's
16:58divine presence
17:00within each person.
17:02It is described
17:02as the voice of God in man
17:04guiding individuals
17:06towards truth,
17:08repentance,
17:09and moral clarity.
17:11The conscience
17:12is the divine voice of God
17:15which gives spiritual insight
17:17and it is seen
17:19as a kind of
17:20inner spiritual compass,
17:22one that can be clouded by sin
17:24but also purified
17:26through prayer,
17:28confession,
17:29and repentance.
17:29Our command right,
17:33Simeon Kragopoulos,
17:35who is a respected
17:37Orthodox elder,
17:40wrote that
17:41even when a conscience
17:42is unclean or blind,
17:45there remains
17:46a little voice within,
17:48a whisper of God's will
17:50that can grow clearer
17:53as one draws closer to Him.
17:55Dear ones,
17:57this precious,
17:59still,
17:59small voice
18:00isn't just reserved
18:02for the saints
18:03or clergy.
18:05Anyone
18:05can hear it
18:06as they draw near
18:07to their Savior
18:08because they love Him.
18:10The Orthodox view
18:12is that God
18:13endeavors to awaken
18:14every soul
18:15through His conscience,
18:17nudging us
18:18towards humility,
18:19love,
18:20and self-denial
18:21or dying to self
18:23is a term
18:24for crucifying
18:25personal desires
18:26and passions
18:27to live in Christ
18:28as spoken
18:29in Galatians 2,
18:31verse 20.
18:34The conscience
18:34is a gift
18:36which is meant
18:37to be cultivated
18:38or refined
18:39or enlightened.
18:41The conscience
18:41is not infallible.
18:45Dear listener
18:45and followers,
18:46I have been learning
18:47in my journey
18:49into the missing truths
18:51found only
18:52in the Orthodox Church
18:53that while the conscience
18:55is a divine gift,
18:57it's not automatically
18:59perfect.
19:01It must be nurtured
19:02through spiritual discipline,
19:05especially through
19:06the sacraments
19:06and Holy Scripture
19:08and the teachings
19:09of the Church.
19:11And part of this
19:12spiritual discipline
19:13is found in the
19:14purification process
19:16through prayer.
19:17The Orthodox elders
19:20often emphasize
19:22that passions
19:23and worldly distractions
19:25can distort
19:26one's conscience.
19:28But prayer,
19:29fasting,
19:31repentance,
19:31and confession
19:32helps cleanse it
19:34so that the still,
19:36small voice of God
19:37becomes clearer
19:39and more unmistakable.
19:42And this is where
19:43the conscience
19:43in its process
19:45of growing
19:46in obedience
19:47to the command
19:47of God's ways
19:48becomes pure
19:50and takes on
19:51the role
19:51of moral uprightness
19:53in decisions
19:54and the passions
19:55of the soul's decrease
19:56as the conscience
19:58helps believers
19:59discern right from wrong,
20:01especially in moments
20:02of uncertainty
20:03or in battles
20:05or in temptations
20:06so that their diligence
20:08and vigilance
20:09remains aligned
20:10with God's will
20:11and not their own will.
20:13Dear ones,
20:16there's so much
20:16to be learned
20:17and know about
20:18this wonderful gift
20:19of God
20:19called the conscience
20:20that I have been
20:22so grateful
20:23for the teachings
20:24of the fathers
20:25and the elders
20:25of the church
20:26who have shaped
20:27the understanding
20:28of this vital truth
20:30and define it
20:32in the words
20:33that call it
20:34as having
20:35a wellspring
20:36of all divine blessings.
20:40Bishop Alexander
20:41explains
20:42that people
20:43with clean hearts
20:44enjoy inner peace
20:46and not only that,
20:48they are gentle
20:49and benevolent.
20:51And he continues,
20:52it seems that already
20:53in this temporary life,
20:55filled with trials
20:57and turmoils,
20:58God gives them
20:59a foretaste
21:00of the kingdom
21:01of heaven.
21:03He concludes
21:04with saying
21:05that as St. John
21:06Christosom says,
21:08not fame
21:09and wealth,
21:10not great power
21:11and physical strength,
21:13not a magnificent table
21:15and elegant clothing,
21:17not any other
21:18human advantage
21:19can bring true happiness.
21:22This comes only
21:23from spiritual health
21:25and a clear conscience.
21:28Now,
21:29we shouldn't leave out
21:30the fact,
21:31in the Orthodox tradition,
21:33it teaches
21:34that human life
21:35begins at conception,
21:37and with it,
21:38the full human identity,
21:41which is the body,
21:42soul,
21:43spirit,
21:44and conscience,
21:45comes into being.
21:47The conscience
21:47and the spirit
21:49are closely related,
21:51but they're not identical.
21:53Elder Ephraim
21:55of Arizona
21:56emphasized
21:56that the conscience
21:58is inescapable
22:00and acts
22:01as a kind
22:02of inner judge,
22:04especially at death.
22:06The conscience
22:07is considered
22:08part of the noose,
22:10the spiritual intellect,
22:11which perceives
22:12divine realities
22:14of God
22:14when purified.
22:16The spirit
22:17refers more so
22:19to the immaterial,
22:21the life-giving principle
22:22in a person,
22:24and that is
22:24which animates
22:26and connects us
22:27to God.
22:28In Orthodox theology,
22:31the spirit
22:32is often seen
22:33as the breath
22:34of life
22:34given by God
22:36as told
22:36in Genesis
22:37chapter 2
22:38verse 7
22:39and is distinct
22:41from both body
22:42and soul.
22:44It's part
22:44of the human being
22:45that can be illumined
22:47by grace
22:48and participate
22:48in the divine
22:50energies of God.
22:52Now,
22:53while the Orthodox Church
22:54doesn't define
22:56a precise moment
22:57when the conscience
22:59enters,
23:01but it does affirm
23:02that the embryo
23:04is a complete
23:05human person
23:06from the very start
23:08and possessing
23:09the spiritual faculties
23:11will develop
23:12over time.
23:13In Orthodox theology,
23:16it is taught
23:17that conception
23:18of a baby
23:19is the beginning
23:20of personhood
23:21and the soul
23:22and body
23:23are united.
23:25Church fathers
23:26like Gregory
23:27of Nyssa
23:28who lived
23:29in 335
23:30to 348 A.D.
23:32and
23:33St. John
23:34Damascene
23:35who lived
23:36in 675
23:38to 749 A.D.
23:41taught that
23:41the soul
23:42and body
23:42are created
23:43simultaneously
23:44at conception
23:46and there
23:47is no later
23:48entry
23:49of the soul
23:50or conscience.
23:53Since the conscience
23:54is part of the soul's
23:56spiritual makeup,
23:57it is present
23:58from the beginning
23:59though not yet active
24:01in the way
24:02that it will be
24:02in later life.
24:04In Jeremiah
24:05chapter 1
24:06verse 5,
24:08God declared,
24:10Before I formed you
24:11in the womb,
24:12I knew you.
24:13and this is used
24:15to affirm
24:16that God's
24:18relationship
24:18with a person
24:19begins before birth.
24:23In Luke
24:24chapter 1
24:24verse 41,
24:26St. John
24:26the Baptist
24:27leaps
24:28in the womb
24:29in recognition
24:30of Christ
24:31showing spiritual
24:33awareness
24:33even in the
24:34embryonic stage.
24:36St. Basil
24:37the Great
24:38equates
24:39abortion
24:39with murder
24:40implying
24:41the embryo
24:42is a
24:43living soul
24:44with moral
24:45significance.
24:47The
24:48Orthodox Church
24:49teaches that
24:50babies are born
24:50with a conscience
24:52that is pure
24:52in its potential
24:54but not yet
24:55fully formed
24:56or active.
24:58This conscience
24:58is a part
24:59of the soul,
25:01a divine gift
25:02from God
25:02and reflects
25:03the image of God
25:04in each person.
25:06However,
25:07the Church
25:08also acknowledges
25:09the reality
25:10of ancestral
25:11sin
25:12which affects
25:13the human
25:13condition
25:14from birth.
25:16Orthodox theology
25:17teaches
25:17that a baby's
25:19conscience
25:19is present
25:21from conception
25:21as part
25:22of the soul
25:23but not yet
25:24developed
25:25enough to discern
25:26moral choices.
25:28The baby
25:29has spiritual
25:30potential.
25:31Their conscience
25:32is considered
25:33pure
25:34in the sense
25:35that it hasn't
25:36been distorted
25:37by personal sin
25:38or worldly
25:39influence.
25:41Every human
25:42being
25:42is created
25:44in God's
25:45image
25:45and the
25:46conscience
25:47is one of
25:48the ways
25:48that image
25:49is expressed
25:50especially
25:51as a child
25:52grows in faith
25:53and understanding.
25:56The impact
25:56of ancestral
25:57sin
25:58is not
25:59inherent
26:00personal guilt.
26:02Unlike
26:02the western
26:03concept
26:03of original
26:04sin,
26:05the Orthodox
26:06Church
26:07teaches
26:07that babies
26:08inherit
26:09the consequences
26:10of sin
26:11like mortality
26:12and corruption
26:13but not
26:15guilt of
26:15Adam and Eve's
26:16sin.
26:18You know,
26:18we would be
26:19remiss
26:19if we didn't
26:21look at the
26:21remedy
26:21in its need
26:23for healing
26:23of the effects
26:24and passions
26:25of the darkened
26:27conscience
26:27as one comes
26:28to understanding
26:29that they are
26:30sinners saved
26:31only by the
26:32grace of the
26:33Almighty.
26:34In the Orthodox
26:35Church,
26:36baptism is
26:37seen as a
26:38sacrament
26:38of spiritual
26:39rebirth
26:40which is
26:41a cleansing
26:42of the soul
26:42and initiating
26:44the child
26:45into the life
26:46of God's
26:46grace
26:47which is
26:48his all
26:48powerful energy
26:49at work
26:50in one's
26:51life
26:51to restore
26:52them back
26:53to the place
26:53where Adam
26:54and Eve
26:55were in the
26:56undefiled
26:57and perfect
26:57garden
26:58where there
26:59was no
26:59imperfect
27:00thing
27:00or sinful
27:01pleasures
27:02until they
27:03sinned
27:04against God
27:05from eating
27:06of the one
27:07tree
27:07that they
27:08were told
27:08not to
27:09touch.
27:11Through baptism,
27:12chrismation,
27:14and nurturing
27:14in the Church,
27:16the child's
27:17conscience
27:17begins to be
27:18shaped by the
27:19divine truth
27:20of God.
27:21It is a role
27:22of the parents
27:23that the nurturing
27:24of a pure
27:25conscience
27:26begins.
27:26They vow
27:27to raise
27:28the child
27:28in the
27:29Orthodox
27:29faith
27:30which helps
27:31to cultivate
27:32a conscience
27:33that reflects
27:34God's will.
27:36By living
27:37a liturgical
27:38life
27:38and participation
27:40in the
27:40sacraments
27:41and prayer
27:42and teachings
27:43of the Church
27:44help to
27:45awaken
27:45and purify
27:46the conscience
27:47over time.
27:49So while
27:50the Orthodox
27:51Church
27:51doesn't teach
27:52that babies
27:53are born
27:53with a fully
27:55active
27:55moral conscience
27:57it does
27:58affirm
27:58that they
27:58come into
27:59the world
28:00with a
28:00God-given
28:01spiritual
28:02faculty
28:03that is
28:04pure
28:04in origin
28:05and meant
28:06to be
28:06cultivated
28:07towards
28:07holiness.
28:09And I
28:10have learned
28:10that by
28:11spiritual
28:12discipline
28:13in order
28:13to keep
28:13the conscience
28:14clear
28:14that regular
28:16repentance
28:16and confession
28:17are very
28:18necessary.
28:20The Church
28:21teaches that
28:21sincere
28:22repentance
28:23and confession
28:24are essential
28:25to cleanse
28:25the conscience
28:26and to
28:27restore
28:27peace
28:28to the
28:28soul.
28:29Prayer
28:30and fasting
28:30as well
28:31are practices
28:32that help
28:33quiet the
28:33worldly
28:34distractions
28:34and sharpen
28:35the soul's
28:36sensitivity
28:37to the
28:38conscience.
28:39As our
28:40title today
28:41in this
28:41sharing again
28:42is called
28:43Did You Know
28:44That a Pure
28:44Conscience
28:45Brings Peace
28:47and Not
28:47Torment?
28:48It is only
28:49in our
28:50obedience
28:51to God's
28:51command
28:52and living
28:53according to
28:54Scripture
28:54and the
28:54Church's
28:55teachings
28:55that will
28:56nurture
28:57a person's
28:58conscience
28:58that reflects
29:00divine truth
29:01rather than
29:02personal
29:02preference.
29:04The Holy
29:04Scripture
29:05in Proverbs
29:06chapter 4
29:06verse 23
29:08gives us
29:09a direct
29:09command
29:10not a
29:11suggestion
29:12for maintaining
29:13a good
29:14or healthy
29:14conscience
29:15when it
29:15exclaims
29:16Guard your
29:17heart
29:18more than
29:18anything
29:19you treasure
29:20for it is
29:21a source
29:21of life.
29:23Dear
29:24listener
29:24and followers
29:25to not
29:26take this
29:27word
29:27seriously
29:28this deeply
29:29impacts our
29:30freedom and
29:31awareness of
29:32our moral
29:32condition
29:33and our
29:34moral
29:34responsibility.
29:36With these
29:37words the
29:37Scripture
29:38calls us
29:39to preserve
29:40our moral
29:41cleanliness.
29:43Children
29:43or those
29:44lacking
29:44reason
29:45are not
29:46held
29:46accountable
29:46in the
29:47same way.
29:49Neglecting
29:49the
29:49conscience
29:50is like
29:50willfully
29:51suppressing
29:52or ignoring
29:53its importance
29:54and will
29:55eventually
29:56lead to
29:57great
29:58spiritual
29:58danger.
30:00The
30:00Church
30:00warns
30:01of a
30:01seared
30:01conscience
30:02as being
30:03a state
30:04where one
30:04no longer
30:05hears the
30:05voice of
30:06God
30:07clearly.
30:08Saint
30:08Dorotheus
30:09of Gaza
30:10taught that
30:11even minor
30:12lapses
30:13like
30:13wastefulness
30:15or careless
30:15speech
30:16can dull
30:17the conscience
30:18over time.
30:19And we
30:20are called
30:20to maintain
30:21a clear
30:22conscience
30:22in relation
30:23to God
30:24that is
30:24through purity
30:25of thought
30:26and intention.
30:28We are called
30:28to love our
30:29neighbor by
30:30avoiding harm
30:31in words
30:31and deeds
30:32or even
30:32gestures.
30:34And as far
30:34as material
30:35things that
30:36can be
30:36distractions
30:37we are
30:38exhorted to
30:39use our
30:39resources
30:40responsibly
30:41and with
30:42great
30:42gratitude.
30:44Now in
30:45wrapping up
30:46this sharing
30:46today in
30:47my research
30:48I found
30:49that the
30:50understanding
30:50of conscience
30:51as the
30:52voice of
30:53God
30:53differs
30:54greatly
30:54in the
30:55orthodox
30:56and western
30:57theology
30:57and primarily
30:59in the
30:59Roman Catholic
31:01Church
31:01both
31:03traditions
31:03affirm
31:04sacredness
31:06of conscience
31:06but they
31:07approach
31:08its origin
31:09and function
31:10and authority
31:11quite differently.
31:12in western
31:14Christianity
31:14and theology
31:16the conscience
31:17is viewed
31:18as a
31:19moral faculty
31:20and judge.
31:22It is
31:22especially
31:23in Roman
31:24Catholicism
31:25that the
31:26conscience
31:26is also
31:27seen as
31:28sacred
31:28but with
31:30a more
31:30judicial
31:31and rational
31:32emphasis.
31:33But in
31:34eastern
31:34orthodox
31:35teachings
31:36the conscience
31:37is seen
31:38as an
31:39innate
31:39spiritual
31:40faculty
31:40a divine
31:42imprint
31:42placed
31:43in the
31:43soul
31:44of creation.
31:46And it
31:47was
31:47Saint
31:47Dorothus
31:48of Gaza
31:49who lived
31:50in the
31:516th century
31:51around
31:52560
31:54to
31:54580
31:56AD
31:56who taught
31:58that God
31:58planted
31:59in man
32:00a spark
32:01of divine
32:02reason
32:02to distinguish
32:04good from
32:05evil.
32:06And this
32:06spark is
32:07the conscience
32:08the natural
32:09law written
32:10in the
32:10heart.
32:12Saint
32:12Dorotheus
32:13of Gaza
32:14also said
32:15when God
32:17created man
32:18he breathed
32:19into him
32:19something
32:20divine.
32:21This is
32:22called the
32:22conscience
32:23which is
32:23the law
32:24of his
32:24nature.
32:26Saint
32:26Basil
32:27the Great
32:27and Saint
32:28John
32:28Christosom
32:29emphasize
32:30that the
32:30conscience
32:31is not
32:31learned
32:32but is
32:33planted
32:33by God
32:34and it
32:35functions
32:36as a
32:37divine
32:37guide
32:38towards
32:38theosis
32:39which
32:40means
32:40becoming
32:41partakers
32:42of the
32:42divine
32:43nature
32:43of God
32:44as
32:45described
32:45in
32:452nd
32:46Peter
32:46chapter
32:471
32:47verse
32:484
32:48and declares
32:50by which
32:51have been
32:52given
32:53to us
32:54exceedingly
32:54great
32:55and precious
32:56promises
32:56that
32:57through
32:57these
32:58you may
32:59be
32:59partakers
33:00of the
33:00divine
33:01nature
33:01having
33:02escaped
33:03the
33:03corruption
33:03that is
33:04in the
33:04world
33:05through
33:05lust.
33:07Saint
33:07Paul
33:07the Apostle
33:08was often
33:10considered
33:10the earliest
33:11Christian
33:12thinker
33:12on the
33:13conscience.
33:14In
33:14Romans
33:15chapter 2
33:16verse 15
33:17he speaks
33:18of the
33:18Gentiles
33:19conscience
33:20bearing
33:20witness
33:21showing
33:21that
33:22the
33:22law
33:22is
33:23written
33:23in
33:23their
33:24hearts.
33:25In
33:25Acts
33:26chapter
33:2724
33:27verse 16
33:28he says
33:29I strive
33:30always
33:30to keep
33:31my
33:31conscience
33:32clear
33:32before
33:33God
33:33and
33:33man.
33:35Saint
33:35John
33:36Christosom
33:36a 4th
33:37century
33:38saint
33:38emphasized
33:39that
33:40conscience
33:40is
33:41the
33:41inner
33:42tribunal
33:42where
33:43God
33:43judges
33:44us
33:44and
33:45he
33:45taught
33:45that
33:46a
33:46pure
33:46conscience
33:47brings
33:47peace
33:48while
33:48a
33:49defiled
33:49one
33:49causes
33:50torment
33:51even
33:52if
33:52no
33:52one
33:52else
33:53knows
33:53our
33:53sins.
33:56Saint
33:57Basil
33:57the
33:58Great
33:58a
33:594th
33:59century
34:00saint
34:01described
34:02conscience
34:02as a
34:03God
34:04given
34:04guide
34:05that
34:05must
34:05be
34:06trained
34:06through
34:06asceticism
34:08and
34:08prayer
34:08and
34:09he
34:09warned
34:09that
34:10by
34:10ignoring
34:11it
34:11it
34:11leads
34:12to
34:12spiritual
34:13blindness.
34:14Saint
34:15Maximus
34:15the
34:16confessor
34:167th
34:17century
34:18saint
34:18taught
34:19that
34:19conscience
34:20is part
34:21of the
34:22noose
34:22the
34:23spiritual
34:23intellect
34:24which
34:24must be
34:25purified
34:25to perceive
34:26God.
34:27He
34:27saw
34:27the
34:28conscience
34:28as a
34:29bridge
34:29between
34:30divine
34:30law
34:31and
34:31human
34:31freedom.
34:33He
34:34taught
34:34that
34:34the
34:34conscience
34:35is the
34:36natural
34:36knowledge
34:37of good
34:37and evil
34:38placed
34:38in the
34:39soul
34:39by God
34:40at
34:40creation.
34:42He
34:42writes
34:42do
34:43not
34:43dishonor
34:44your
34:44conscience
34:45perfectly
34:46instructing
34:47you
34:47always
34:47because
34:48she
34:48suggests
34:49to
34:49you
34:49the
34:50divine
34:50and
34:51angelic
34:51opinion.
34:52This
34:53suggests
34:53that
34:53the
34:54conscience
34:54is not
34:55just
34:55a
34:55guide
34:56but
34:56a
34:57participation
34:57in
34:58divine
34:59wisdom.
35:00For
35:01Saint
35:01Maximus
35:02when
35:03the
35:03noose
35:03the
35:03mind
35:04is
35:04purified
35:05the
35:06conscience
35:06he
35:07says
35:07becomes
35:07a
35:07mirror
35:08of
35:08divine
35:09light.
35:09In
35:11orthodox
35:11tradition
35:12the
35:13noose
35:13is
35:14a
35:14Greek
35:14word
35:14and
35:15is
35:15far
35:15more
35:16than
35:16just
35:16the
35:16intellect
35:17or
35:17the
35:17rational
35:18mind
35:18it
35:19is
35:20considered
35:20the
35:21eye
35:21of
35:21the
35:22soul
35:22the
35:23spiritual
35:23faculty
35:24through
35:24which
35:25one
35:25perceives
35:26and
35:26experiences
35:27God.
35:28The
35:28noose
35:29is
35:29the
35:29innermost
35:30part
35:31of
35:31the
35:31soul
35:31and
35:32often
35:32associated
35:33with
35:33the
35:34heart
35:34or
35:35conscience
35:35in
35:36patristic
35:36writings.
35:37It
35:38is
35:38a
35:38spiritual
35:39center
35:39that
35:41enables
35:41direct
35:42instinctive
35:43or
35:43spontaneous
35:44knowledge
35:45of
35:45divine
35:46truth
35:46not
35:47through
35:47logic
35:48or
35:48reasoning
35:48but
35:49through
35:49noetic
35:50perception.
35:52When
35:52purified
35:53the
35:54noose
35:54becomes
35:54capable
35:55of
35:55theosis
35:56or
35:56union
35:57with
35:57God.
35:59Saint
35:59Maximus
36:00links
36:01conscience
36:02to
36:02freedom
36:03and
36:03synergy.
36:05The
36:05more
36:05we
36:05align
36:06our
36:06will
36:06with
36:07God's
36:08will
36:08the
36:08more
36:09clearly
36:09the
36:09conscience
36:10speaks.
36:12Saint
36:12Isaac
36:13the
36:13Syrian
36:147th
36:15century
36:16saint
36:17wrote
36:18that
36:18a
36:18quiet
36:18conscience
36:19is
36:20a
36:20sign
36:20of
36:20humility
36:21and
36:21repentance
36:22and
36:23he
36:23emphasized
36:24that
36:24the
36:24conscience
36:25becomes
36:25more
36:26sensitive
36:26as
36:27one
36:27draws
36:28closer
36:28to
36:28God.
36:30These
36:30saints
36:30didn't
36:31treat
36:31conscience
36:32as
36:32mere
36:33psychology.
36:35It
36:35was a
36:35spiritual
36:36organ
36:36capable
36:37of
36:38being
36:38illumined
36:39or
36:39darkened.
36:41Dear
36:41listeners
36:42and
36:42followers,
36:43the
36:44precious
36:44saints
36:44teachings
36:45remain
36:46vital
36:47for
36:48understanding
36:48how the
36:49church
36:49views
36:50moral
36:50discernment
36:51and
36:52repentance
36:52and
36:53inner
36:53life.
36:54And I
36:55know
36:55this
36:56is a
36:56big
36:56subject.
36:57I've
36:58covered
36:58a lot
36:59of
36:59material,
37:00but I
37:00have only
37:01highlighted
37:01or
37:01possibly
37:02outlined
37:03somewhat
37:04of the
37:04understanding
37:05of this
37:06vital
37:06truth.
37:08And I
37:08am with
37:08you in
37:09learning as
37:09I myself
37:10delve into
37:11researching and
37:13gathering these
37:13facts together
37:15as a
37:15presentation of
37:16understanding
37:17that having a
37:18pure conscience
37:19will bring
37:20peace and
37:21not torment.
37:23And I
37:23invite you
37:24to come
37:25along with me
37:26as we
37:26journey and
37:27grow together
37:27in this
37:28wonderful truth
37:29called the
37:30ancient
37:30faith of
37:31orthodoxy
37:32that began
37:33in 29
37:33AD at
37:35the time
37:35of
37:35Pentecost.
37:37I am
37:37not yet
37:38a baptized
37:38member of
37:39the church
37:40yet,
37:40but will
37:41be baptized
37:42in two
37:42weeks of
37:43this sharing.
37:45And may
37:45the Lord
37:45bless us
37:46all who
37:47hear and
37:48heed these
37:48truths that
37:49are discovered
37:50on our way
37:51to our
37:52heavenly home
37:52above.
37:59Pentecost.
Recommended
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