Informed Consent

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Pr 1:10 AV)

 

In Hebrew, the word ‘consent’ means, “yield, accept, to be willing”.  Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives the following as a definition for the word. “Agreement of the mind to what is proposed or stated by another; accord; hence, a yielding of the mind or will to that which is proposed”.  Therefore, there must be a proposal not generated from within the heart and mind of the subject.  And the subject must agree and yield to it.  This is pretty simple, right?  We can, to some degree, control the proposal in the sense we can remove ourselves from, or avoid circumstances where proposals are common.  If we know we can’t watch something on tv without compromising our character, then we can turn it off.  If we know going to a certain place will necessarily bring with it a slew of temptations, then we avoid it.  If we know certain people will always tempt us to evil, then we choose different acquaintances.  However, there are times when sinners entice and there is nothing we can do to avoid it.  It is all around us and unless we find an abandoned cave somewhere, live off the grid, and dwell alone, sin will always be a temptation.  Just because it is, does not mean we have to be a servant to it.  Consent is the key.  An argument must ensue.  One that you win.  Then consent is not granted.

One of the newer technologies I deeply appreciate is the rating and warning system provided for electronic entertainment.  When my wife and I sit down to stream a program, up in the top left corner the program rating is listed and single words tell you why it received that rating.  Then the savvy viewer can look on an app at the program’s description to see exactly what that one-word warning means.  This app will tell you exactly what scene and description of the scene in question.  We have averted many ungodly situations because we did our homework, first.  We avoid immorality, profanity, and excessive and gratuitous violence.  We avoid obviously dangerous theological themes and definitely refuse to watch anything woke.  Even the more subtly woke programs.  We will not watch things contrary to a Christian worldview or the values that come with that worldview, even if there are no obviously unclean scenes, cursing, or violence.  This is why this app is so valuable.  We even avoid watching anything on streaming services that show commercials of a profane nature.  In the month of June, I think we only watched some barbershop quartet videos or clean comedy videos.  We avoided programming because the commercials pushed a lifestyle that is offensive to God.  All this can be known and predicted ahead of time. 

There is no such thing as blind consent.  In fact, the legal world uses the term, informed consent.  One implies the other.  One cannot consent to something one has not examined.  We can fall.  We can slide.  We can trip.  But we cannot consent.  Consenting takes an examination of the temptation, reasoning it through, resulting in a purposeful act of the will.  Cornell Law School defines informed consent as, “Informed consent occurs when there is agreement to an interaction or action rendered with knowledge of relevant facts, such as the risks involved or any available alternatives. Informed consent often comes up in the contexts of legal ethics, medical treatment, and waiver of constitutional rights.”  Again, consent requires information.  The one yielding to the treatment for disease or the one consenting to a legal action must be informed.  This meant the above warning Solomon gives to his son is both simple and profound.  The implication is if we are informed as to the nature and consequences of sin, consenting or not consenting is a no-brainer.  If we are sufficiently informed, our logical reaction should be to not consent.  Why does Solomon need to state the obvious?  Because that is our nature.  Even though we are sufficiently informed, know the nature and risks involved, and desire pleasure more than principle, we still consent.  How foolish.  Better to follow the advice of a man who knew a few things than to follow the temptation offered by those who are fools themselves.