Conscience Development

According to Romans 1:19-21 and 2:15, what we know about God is evident within us and the Law is already written in our hearts (the conscience). This being true, it is important that we as parents and teachers build carefully on that which God has already begun. We will train children either to have a keen sense of right and wrong or to ignore the conscience which God has put within them. Our own behavior and interactions with a child are important ingredients in establishing the internal values a child will live out as he grows up. Proverbs 22:6 teaches that a child will not depart from the way he wants to go if he is allowed to do as he pleases when he is young. This is a stern warning to begin conscience development early.

The Standard 

The only absolute standard for right and wrong is God (Ex. 3:14; Rev. 22:13) as revealed through His Word (2 Tm. 3:14-16). Our consciences must conform to the Word of God. Proverbs 21:2-3 says every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts, and He desires righteousness and justice more than sacrifice. And in Matthew 22:38-40 Jesus tells us that we must love God with all our hearts, minds and souls, and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. This requires a proper view of who God is and an attitude of humility toward God and others.

Topic Sections

Introduction 

Next Page:   Why Have Laws?
Sin and Culpability
Personal Responsibility
Appeals and Rewards