How to Read the Bible With Reason and Conscience

The Teachings of Jesus Are the Bible’s Moral Center

For Christians committed to conscience and truth, Jesus stands at the center.

Jesus is the Word of God in the fullest sense (John 1:1–14), the living expression of divine wisdom, compassion, and truth.

What this means in practice:

When passages appear morally conflicting, Jesus is the measure.
When we are unsure how to apply a teaching, Jesus is the model.
When reading the Old Testament, we follow the interpretive method of Jesus, not a rigidly literal one.

This is not a rejection of the Old Testament. It means reading it the way Jesus did, seeking the thread of divine compassion while recognizing that human understanding of God developed over time.

This Christ-centered approach was used by many early Christians before doctrine was rigidly systematized, by Enlightenment thinkers, and by Jesus Himself.

Conscience Is a Gift, Not a Threat

A Christianity that fears questions struggles to produce moral maturity. A Christianity that discourages moral reasoning struggles to form morally responsible people.

Your conscience is not the enemy of scripture. It is the means by which God guides understanding.

The Apostle Paul speaks of a law written on the heart (Romans 2:15), pointing to the inner moral awareness we call conscience.

Jesus consistently appealed to inner judgment, not blind obedience.

Faith was never meant to bypass conscience.

Scripture Is Divine Truth Expressed Through Human History

The Bible reflects humanity’s long journey toward understanding God. That journey is guided by divine truth, but expressed through human language, culture, and evolving moral awareness.

God speaks. Humans receive, interpret, and record that revelation within their historical context.

This means some passages reflect early steps toward justice, others reflect fuller moral development, and Jesus reveals God’s character most completely.

This does not diminish the Bible’s value. It deepens it.

Why This Matters for the Third Enlightenment

This approach is not new. It has appeared wherever faith has taken conscience seriously.

The mission of the Third Enlightenment Church is to recover the moral clarity of Jesus, honor conscience as sacred, integrate reason and faith, promote compassion, justice, and truth, and restore a thoughtful and ethical Christianity rooted in Enlightenment values.

Reading the Bible with reason and conscience restores what Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and other Enlightenment Christians admired most, a faith that elevates moral wisdom, human dignity, virtue, and truth.

We are not discarding scripture. We are reading it as Jesus taught, with our minds and hearts fully engaged.

Practical Steps for Reading Scripture Thoughtfully

When you encounter a challenging passage, ask:

Does this align with Jesus and His teachings on love, justice, and mercy?
What was the historical and cultural context?
What does my conscience recognize as morally true?

Seek alternative interpretations and scholarly perspectives. Remember that Jesus is the lens through which all scripture is understood.

When passages seem to conflict, prioritize the direct teachings of Jesus. Look for the trajectory toward greater compassion and justice. Trust that reason and conscience are divine gifts meant to guide you.

When you are unsure, allow yourself to say, “I do not know yet.” Wrestling with scripture is part of mature faith. Truth withstands examination. Jesus promised it would.

A Faith Strong Enough to Think

If you have ever struggled with scripture, if you have ever felt torn between honoring the Bible and honoring your conscience, you are not alone, and you are not wrong to feel that tension.

The Third Enlightenment Church exists for those who refuse to choose between thinking and believing. For those who long for a Christianity that is thoughtful, honest, courageous, morally serious, and spiritually alive.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Freedom requires reason exercised responsibly.
Faith requires conscience formed by love.
The Bible requires both.

This is the path of the Third Enlightenment. We believe it is closer to how Jesus taught than systems built on fear and obedience.