But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron... (1 Timothy 4:1, 2)
For years, I've been an electronic subscriber to Joe Sobran's essays and newsletter. This from the essay recceived today:
Abortion and nuclear weapons have lost much of their power to horrify. Like Macbeth, we "have supped full with horrors," except that Macbeth still realizes what he has done and knows what should horrify him.
The modern world's case is worse. When you habitually violate your principles, you don't just harden your conscience; you risk losing it altogether. You even wind up forgetting what your principles used to be.
May the Holy Spirit keep our consciences tender--as tender as the skin of a newborn baby.
