[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
Throughout my life I have heard the advice given ‘Let your conscience be your guide.’ The purpose of the advice is to encourage individuals to think about what the alternatives are for a given situation and make the right choice for the right outcome. At times this may be good advice, but only assuming that the conscience has been properly trained to know what is right and that which is conversely wrong. A child taught to trust in self for making decisions may grow into adulthood only referring to self instead of sources more credible for decision making. In attempts to point out an error to a person, a popular response is, ‘But it feels so right. How can something feel this good and not be right?’ The emphasis is usually on how the person feels and his/her wants, instead of looking for a standard for guidance.
The Preacher made the observation that there may be a way that seems right, but the end consequence is death (Prv. 16:25). The task in essence in determining what is truly right, and therefore a standard that is constant and sure. If one declares that he/she will act according to a standard of self, he/she makes a declaration that self is reliable and perfect. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Oh Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). It is easy to note the dynamic nature of man. For this fundamental reason, man is not able to accurately direct his own steps in true righteousness without an external source to set a fixed standard. Man is able to change his mind, what may seem right one day may not be right the next day. In contrast, God is static and has set the standard and will not move it.
The static nature of God allows the creation of a static standard. James said that there is no variation, or shifting of shadow in God (Js. 1:17). As God is unchanging, the things that God states is true will also be unchanging (Jn. 17:17). This is made manifest with the examples of the unalterable messages given by angels (Heb. 2:1-4). If the message of angels were sure, how much more would the words of an unchanging God? Changing the message causes confusion, disorder, chaos, and unrighteousness. It causes variances and dynamic flows of moral activity, which by nature is contrary to God (1 Cor. 14:33). What God calls for is peace, which is produced from the standard He has given.
Knowing that there is a static standard is not enough until it is identified and then followed. Investigating will show the identity of the standard as the gospel of Christ. Standards are used to make judgments, and it is the gospel that will judge man (Jn. 12:48). God will judge man justly based upon man’s actions in light of the gospel. The fixed nature of God and His word yields perfect, impartial judgment (Rom. 14:10-12, 2 Tim. 4:8). Even as society and its views may change, the standard of right and wrong will remain fixed and unalterable.
What feels to be right, can in fact be wrong in reality. While there are areas of opinion which can allow for multiplicity of acceptable actions, what is under discussion is only using self as the standard. It can be hard to determine if a matter is just a matter of opinion. However, opinion is not the default or catch net for every question. Diligent studying of the standard will show if we can use our own opinion of if God has already stated what is acceptable. In the end, actions cannot be justified by just saying it felt right. If actions can be justified by self alone, then right and wrong become subjective and relative. In this circumstance, judgment of any kind becomes impossible. Anything and everything would be justified and judgment cannot be exercised. In reality though, truth is established and preserved by God forever (1 Pet. 1:25).
