the critical conscience part three 

Dismantling the argument.


Undergirding this weak conscience is a stronghold, that is maintained and based upon an argument. An argument that must be fully dismantled.

Part of the overstrict and harsh consciences weaponry is the lie that inattention to the any and all feedback from the conscience could result in the dangers of a seared conscience. (1 Timothy 4v2). The seared conscience is a dead conscience. It has withered and become ineffective because its voice was ignored. The immature conscience falls for the deceptive logic that says “if you ignore the emotion of guilt you will end up with a seared conscience, and then run the real danger of deception”. Thus the undiscerning conscience, lacking judgement is left unable to refute any guilt. This perverse reasoning sees the over scrupulous, hypercritical voice as a ‘safety net’. The logic being it’s better to be overly sensitive, and have a hyperactive tender conscience than have a silent, rarely accusing and dead conscience.

Both the seared conscience and the spoilt conscience are spiritual liabilities.  The defiled, harsh, overstrict voice is like a faulty fire detector that constantly misfires, sending false warnings of non existent danger. In the end the sensitive soul is unable to discern the real threat from the false alarm, leaving the person paralysed by both real guilt and false guilt, resulting in the person being unable to enjoy the protection the healthy conscience provides and so responding with genuine repentance.

The mature believer is liberated from the tyranny of being over scrupulous by simply enjoying their freedom in Christ without making the effort to arouse intense scrutiny. It is living without constantly asking questions of the conscience (1 Corinthians 10:25). With faith in God’s ability to lead, and being in possession of a healthy conscience the mature person simply lives. Scrutiny, reflection, introspection, self-question are healthy employed when the healthy conscience sounds a genuine alarm, providing the opportunity for good guilt to lead to adjustment.

Instead of the preoccupation with rule keeping, strict boundaries, and legalism the mature believer is only ensuring that their freedom doesn’t cause a problem to someone with a tender conscience. They understand that accusation is disarmed by the cross, the harsh overstrict voice has no case against them, the case rightly raised by the law been thrown out out.

As a helpful tool to discern if the alarm sounded by the conscience is healthy or over strict is the practice of asking this question, How do you feel when you are done introspecting and listening to the alarm? You can tell if it was the healthy conscience speaking to you by what spirit it leaves you with. When you are finished thinking, what was left? God always brings hope and motivation, He never leaves you demotivated, despairing and heavy. Before you engage with the alarm ask who is talking to me right now? Am I getting heavier and heavier and more hopeless? Or is joy, peace, life and hope being ignited? Even when God is bringing transformation and correction it always brings who He is, He is the God of all hope, life is always attached to His voice.

If you are constantly looking at yourself you are going to get hopeless, your hope isn’t in yourself it’s in the finished work of the cross. Yes it’s good to allow Holy Spirit to show you areas you need to grow in, but that can’t be where you spend most of your time. Most of your time needs to be spent celebrating who you are in Christ, and what Jesus has done.   

For more resources to encourage Intimacy, connection and trust in Father God please download the Dream Revolution smartphone App by clicking the link.

http://get.theapp.co/4ee1

Jamie Lee, 16/09/2018
Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
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Planning your Visit

New to Church?


Welcome! Whether you've just moved to the area, or have lived here all your life, we hope our website helps you to find out everything you want to know about our Church.

 

Some key information about the church...

 

Where & when does the church meet?

The church meets every Sunday at 11:00 am for our Sunday Service. There is plenty of free parking around the CCK building. We are walking distance from Plumstead Train station and local buses. It’s good to get to the meeting 15 minutes early to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee before the service starts.

We meet at the church building in the middle of Plumstead

The address is:

46 Lakedale Road
Plumstead
London
SE18 1PS

You can see a map on our contact us page.

 

What should I expect when I visit the church?

You will receive a very warm welcome particularly from our Welcome Team who will be able to answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go.

Sunday is special because it’s the main opportunity in the week for the whole church family to gather, worship God, enjoy his manifest presence together, minister to one-another, receive encouragement and exhortation from God’s word and be refreshed by God’s Spirit and one-another’s friendship and support.

There will be approximately 45 mins of singing with opportunity for church members to pray, prophesy or read a passage from the bible. After the notices there will be a preach, we take time to understand the bible’s message and how this can teach us about God, about ourselves, about the world that we live in and about what authentic Christian lifestyle looks like in practice. At the end of the preach there is always a chance to respond.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.

 

What happens to the kids at church?

As a family church we are thrilled to have people of all ages involved in our Sunday morning meetings. Typically, after worshiping together for 30 minutes or so, the children and young people will leave for their own activities.

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church for ages 0–14. Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the relevant age groups for you under church life.

Is there a dress code?

No! Please just be yourself and come dressed in your 'normal' clothes.

 

Will I have to join in?

Not at all!
You are free to simply observe or participate as much as feels comfortable for you.

 

Useful Links...

We have more information for you specifically if you…

 

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them.

Please feel free to contact us.