OPINION:
Dear Dr. E: Is there a difference between righteous indignation and conscience? Does everyone have a sense of indignation, and does everyone have a conscience? If everyone possesses these things, why does anyone exhibit bad behavior? — Pursuing Answers in the Heartland
Dear Pursuing: Maybe the best way for me to respond is to cite your questions one by one and then try to do my best to offer an answer. Here goes:
First: “Is there a difference between righteous indignation and conscience?” The simple answer is yes. The conscience is that part of you that understands right from wrong. It is your moral IQ, if you will.
Your conscience tells you there is a moral code. Indignation is your reaction when this code is broken.
Your conscience tells you the truth exists. Indignation is your reaction when someone lies to you.
Your conscience tells you that animals should be treated humanely. You’re righteously indignant when you see your neighbor beating his dog.
Your conscience tells you that it is wrong to steal. You’re indignant when someone takes things from your house without asking. And so on.
Second: “Does everyone possess a conscience, and if so, how is it developed?” There is undeniable evidence that everyone has a conscience. In “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis tells how this was one of the things that led him from agnosticism to a belief in God.
As he looked at the various cultures and communities, he couldn’t avoid the evidence of a shared moral code that crossed the boundaries of time, geography, race, gender, and even religion.
While there were some modest anthropological differences, the bottom line was that people shared basic moral assumptions from tribe to tribe and from age to age.
And everyone seemed to have a common reaction of indignation when this code was violated.
As to how the conscience is developed, Genesis tells us that what distinguishes human beings from the rest of creation is that God breathed the breath of life in us, thus creating us in his image. Is it possible that this “breath of life” and “image of God” is moral awareness?
God didn’t breathe this conscience into a tree, a rock, or a cow. The book of Romans tells us that “the truth of God is written on every human heart.” All men and women have a moral compass — a conscience — whether we are Christian or not.
Third: “If everyone possesses a conscience and a sense of indignation, then why does anyone exhibit bad behavior?” Frankly, it all comes down to the concept of sin.
As I said above, it is irrefutable that we are moral agents and that everyone has at least a general understanding of right and wrong. Our propensity to be offended or become indignant when the rules are broken proves this point.
So, if we are moral beings, why do we all act immorally? Why do we do bad things? Why do we all cross the boundaries at one time or another?
It all boils down to freedom. God created us in “his image,” and, by definition, this means we are free. We are not like a rock, chemical compound, pig or mule.
We function at a higher level than inanimate material or even mere animal instinct. We can choose to do something or not do it.
We are not robots. We are not automatons. We are not mindless bacteria.
We are created in “the image of God.” This image implies that we can choose between right and wrong.
And whether we like to admit it or not, one of the most proven facts in human history is that at one time or another, we all choose to do what’s wrong.
All we have to do is turn on the evening news to see proof of human sin. And if I don’t see it in the news, all I have to do is look in the mirror.
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans). Why? I don’t know for sure, but it might be because we all are guilty of the original sin.
We all want to be “as God” — to be in charge — to be the ultimate measure of good and evil. We all want to be the final judge as to what’s right and what’s wrong.
But when all the evidence is in, it seems pretty clear that there indeed is “none righteous, no not one,” and this is why I have to turn back to the only standard of righteousness and forgiveness that I can find — Jesus.
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