Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. Titus 1:15
The Greek word ‘seared’ is καυτηριάζω kautériazó (kow-tay-ree-ad’-zo) means to ‘sear with a hot iron’. Used in translation to mean to properly, brand (sear) with a red-hot iron; (figuratively) cauterized, which destroys the “spiritual nerve-endings.” We get our English word cauterize from this Greek word. Paul is using the imagery and act of searing the nerve endings with a hot iron to describe what people do to their own consciences.
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says…
“Having their conscience seared with a hot iron – The allusion here is doubtless to the effect of applying a hot iron to the skin. The cauterized part becomes rigid and hard, and is dead to sensibility. So with the conscience of those referred to. It has the same relation to a conscience that is sensitive and quick in its decisions, that a cauterized part of the body has to a thin, delicate, and sensitive skin. Such a conscience exists in a mind that will practice delusion without concern; that will carry on a vast system of fraud without wincing; that will incarcerate, scourge, or burn the innocent without compassion; and that will practice gross enormities, and indulge in sensual gratifications under the mask of piety.”
This act is deliberate by the individual to go against their own moral God given conscience, so that they can continue in the acts and ways which they ‘know’ inherently to be ‘wrong’ and untrue. So to do away with that nagging conscience within them — they go to ‘sear’ their own conscience to help them to believe what they WANT to believe. This unfortunately is VERY prevalent today. So much of what is being ‘pushed’ on the culture today are coming from leaders, “experts”, from every sect of society, even deeply within the religious communities, with VERY seared consciences. People are TOLD / and now in many ways demanded to believe lies.
We’re now being taught / told that asking questions is wrong. We are to believe everything our ‘leaders’ tell us. This is blatant indoctrination of the masses. This is the exact opposite of being led by the Holy Spirit within you. How would one know if something is a lie? By the Truth that dwells within you.
Who is the Truth? John 14:6
Who is to be your Teacher? John 14:26
Be brave and ask the questions out loud the Holy Spirit whispers in you mind. Be willing to be uncomfortable in the midst of the masses and walk the ‘other’ path, the path He is directing you in. Seek the Truth in all things. Ask the Holy Spirit what the truth is about every matter. Repent of the lies you have believed, that the Holy Spirit has pointed out to you.
Is the Holy Spirit leading you into deeper truths? Is He having you dig deeper into relationship with Him? Is He giving you a desire for Him to teach you through the scriptures? Do you really have a desire to grow spiritually rather than just show your membership badge once a week?
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Matthew 6:33
This isn’t about just attending the Sunday entertainment hour, it’s about every hour of your life.