Possible to Be Conscientiously Wrong—The idea is entertained by many that a man may practice anything that he conscientiously believes to be right. But the question is, Has the man a well-instructed, good conscience, or is it biased and warped by his own preconceived opinions? Conscience is not to take the place of “Thus saith the Lord.” Consciences do not all harmonize and are not all inspired alike. Some consciences are dead, seared as with a hot iron. Men may be conscientiously wrong as well as conscientiously right. Paul did not believe in Jesus of Nazareth, and he hunted the Christians from city to city, verily believing that he was doing service to God.— Letter 4, 1889. {1MCP 322.4}

Det er muligt at fejle med god samvittighed. - Mange nærer den tanke at et menneske kan praktisere hvad som helt han tror, som han har god samvittighed med. Men spørgsmålet er: Har mennesket en veloplært god samvittighed, eller er den påvirket og pakket ind af hans egen forudindtagede meninger? Samvittighed er ikke at tage pladsen for et "Så siger Herren." En samvittighed harmonerer ikke altid med andre og er ikke lige inspirerede. Nogle samvittigheder er døde, udæsket som et brændende jern. Mennesker kan være samvittighedsfuldt forkerte på den såvel som samvittighedsfuldt rigtige. Paulus troede ikke på Jesus af Nazaret, og han jog de kristne fra by til by, troede virkelig at han gør Guds tjeneste. - Brev 4, 1889.