Silencing or Ignoring Conscience and Conviction Patterns
The concept of silencing or ignoring one's conscience and convictions is addressed in various biblical interpretations, often highlighting the spiritual dangers and consequences of such actions. One aspect of this involves sinning through ignorance, where an individual commits an offense against God's law without full awareness of the transgression [2, 7]. However, even in cases of ignorance, once the sin becomes known, there is an expectation to address it, typically through prescribed sacrifices in the Old Testament [2]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Leviticus, suggests that refusing to offer such a sacrifice after knowledge of the iniquity constitutes obstinate and willful sin, for which no other atonement remains [2].
Another dimension relates to actively suppressing truth or conviction. For instance, in Leviticus 5:1, Clarke interprets a scenario where a person, when asked to testify under oath, refuses to disclose what they know. Such an individual is considered guilty in God's sight for concealing the truth or hiding iniquity, and is expected to face divine punishment [1]. This implies a moral obligation to speak truth when called upon, and a failure to do so is a form of silencing one's conviction.
The New Testament also touches on the idea of silencing, though in a different context. In 1 Peter, the apostle encourages believers to live in such a way that their good conduct will "put to silence" the ignorance of foolish people [3]. Here, "silence" refers to stopping the mouths of those who misrepresent or slander believers due to their lack of spiritual understanding [3]. This is not about believers silencing their own conscience, but rather their actions serving to quiet external opposition.
John Calvin, in his commentaries, also discusses instances where individuals might act against their inner conviction or feign ignorance. one tradition notes that while God may acknowledge an individual's integrity in certain circumstances, He may still chastise them for their actions [4]. Calvin also critiques the act of pretending to be adverse to the truth to appease others, arguing that one should instead encourage adherence to truth, even if it means confronting anger [5]. He further connects the preservation of faith with a "good conscience," suggesting that those who abandon the gospel often do so because God punishes their hypocrisy with spiritual blindness [6]. This underscores the importance of maintaining a clear conscience as a safeguard for spiritual perseverance [6].
Sources
- Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 5:1: If a soul sin - It is generally supposed that the case referred to here is that of a person who, being demanded by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to tell what he knows concerning the subject; such a one shall bear his iniquity - shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God, of the transgression which he has endeavored to conceal, and must expect to be punished by him for hiding the iniquity to which he was privy, or suppressing the truth which, being discovered, would have led to the exculpation of the innocent, and the punishment of the gu”
- Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 4:2: If a soul shall sin through ignorance - That is, if any man shall do what God has forbidden, or leave undone what God has commanded, through ignorance of the law relative to these points; as soon as the transgression or omission comes to his knowledge, he shall offer the sacrifice here prescribed, and shall not suppose that his ignorance is an excuse for his sin. He who, when his iniquity comes to his knowledge, refuses to offer such a sacrifice, sins obstinately and wilfully, and to him there remains no other sacrifice for sin - no other mode by which he can be r”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:15: Ground of his directing them to submit themselves (Pe1 2:13). put to silence--literally, "to muzzle," "to stop the mouth." ignorance--spiritual not having "the knowledge of God," and therefore ignorant of the children of God, and misconstruing their acts; influenced by mere appearances, and ever ready to open their mouths, rather than their eyes and ears. Their ignorance should move the believer's pity, not his anger. They judge of things which they are incapable of judging through unbelief (compare Pe1 2:12). Maintain such a walk that they shall ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 24.8: which men abstain from force and acts of injustice. Besides, the interrogation which Abimelech used proceeded from a common feeling of religion. For nature itself dictates, that God preserves a just discrimination in inflicting punishments. 6. Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart . We infer from this answer of God, (as I have lately remarked,) that Abimelech did not testify falsely concerning his own integrity. Yet, while God allows that his excuse is true, He nevertheless chastises him. Let us hence lear”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 14.11: I do not doubt that he feignedly reproved his son, from a desire to appease contention. Nevertheless, this method of pretending to be adverse to the truth, when we are endeavoring to appease the anger of those who rage against it, is by no means approved by God. He ought rather ingenuously to have exhorted his sons not to “kick against the pricks.” Or at least he should have used this moderate address, “If this is a common dream, let it be treated with ridicule rather than with anger; but if it has proceeded from God, it is wick”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 8.4: more than to have it taken from us. But Paul here informs us, that there is only one way of keeping it safe; and that is, to secure it by the locks and bars of a good conscience. This is what we experience every day; for how comes it that there are so many who, laying aside the gospel, rush into wicked sects, or become involved in monstrous errors? It is because, by this kind of blindness, God punishes hypocrisy; as, on the other hand, a genuine fear of God gives strength for perseverance. Hence we may learn two lessons. First, T”
- Leviticus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Leviticus 4 (introduction): SIN OFFERING OF IGNORANCE. (Lev 4:1-2) If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord--a soul--an individual. All sins may be considered, in a certain sense, as committed "through ignorance," error, or misapprehension of one's true interests. The sins, however, referred to in this law were unintentional violations of the ceremonial laws,--breaches made through haste, or inadvertency of some negative precepts, which, if done knowingly and wilfully, would have involved a capital punishment. do against ”