At the graduation ceremony for Duquesne University Law School Sunday, commencement speaker Gov. Tom Corbett urged the graduates to practice law morally and with compassion, looking beyond the law and to their faith and consciences to guide them.
“It’s not something the law will ask of you,” he said. “You must ask it for yourself.”
Not quite good enough. The conscience is subject to hardening, distortion, rationalization and is not a reliable guide; it must be tuned and maintained in congruity with GOD’s LAW and WORD(statutes, commandments, precepts)….these are perfect, converting the soul (mind, will, emotions) and putting them under the reign of GOD. The Spirit convicts and brings us to remembrance and to understanding and restores health and uprightness to the conscience. Being restored and reconciled to GOD (to His way and word) can be a very painful and humbling process, but afterwards comes the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. GOD is merciful and compassionate and wants only good for us, our pride and willfulness, fear and shame often get in the way of His restoring us to His far better way of truth, love and life. Taking GOD at His word in faith is a good first step.
Seek God’s word, seek godly counsel, from saints living and dead. Fast and pray, but do not rely on your own conscience.
One might get a sense of how well-formed Corbett’s conscience is by studying his budget and checking the backgrounds (family and corporate) of his political appointees.