How To Gain A Clear Conscience When We Have Offended Someone Part 1

What basic steps should be taken in order to gain a clear conscience when we have offended someone?

Take responsibility for your actions.

When you have offended others, gaining a clear conscience involves taking responsibility for your actions, seeking forgiveness, and making restitution. The following steps provide guidelines for examining your heart and making things right with people you have offended.

Identify those whom you have offended.

Consider your actions toward other people. Based on the Ten Commandments, and the Precepts of the Catholic Church, as well as other passages in scripture, evaluate your interaction with others.

Have you stolen money or other items from stores, family members, neighbors, employers, or others?

Thou shalt not steal Exodus 20:15

He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need. Ephesians 4:28

Have you lied to anyone?

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16

Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds Colossians 3:9

Have you lost your temper with anyone?

Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. James 1:19–20.

Have you damaged the reputation of anyone by participating in gossip, backbiting, or slander?

The man that in private slandereth his neighbour, him did I persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an insatiable heart I did not endure. Psalm 100/101:5

Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29.

Have you been ungrateful for what others have done for you?

And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.Colossians 3:15

Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him. Praise ye his name: Psalm 99/100:4

Have you held a grudge against anyone?

Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. Colossians 3:12–13

Have you rebelled against people who are in authority over you or been disrespectful toward them?

Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God. Romans 13:1

Remember [Recollect] your prelates [Church dignitary of high rank]who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their [life]conversation Hebrews 13:17

Have you harbored a prideful spirit?

In like manner, ye young men, be subject to the ancients[elders]. And do you all insinuate humility one to another, for God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace. I Peter 5:5

For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety, and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.Romans 12:3

Have you failed to show genuine love when others reacted to you?

For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed himself to him that judgeth justly. I Peter 2:21–23

If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not? I John 4:20