Revealing

[Introverted1293]

Do we have to reveal our sin to other believers or I should say Christians? I'm not talking about hiding who I am, I am talking about my past sins after you repent of them. I have this rule that from now on I won't reveal to anybody who I was and what my sins were. No offense to the body of Christ but there are too many condemning Christians. I'm not saying this is true of every single Christian, but it is true in a lot of Christians.

I know the Bible says to confess your sins one to another; but do you have to get into details. I used to reveal my sin in detail, but I realize that that's probably not a good idea. And so, I don't think I want to reveal to other believers the struggles that I have. I don't want to tell them that I struggle with this sin or that sin.

Why can't I just say that I have this one stronghold in my life that I can't seem to overcome instead of revealing what that stronghold is?

For example, do I have to tell somebody if I struggle with covetousness that this is an area that I struggle with? Why can't I just say that I struggle with a particular sin that I prefer not to reveal?

I just don't want people to know who I was and what my struggles still are. I want my relationship with God to be just between us.

I am not expressing myself very well so I apologize if I am not making any kind of sense.

But is there something wrong with keeping my struggles to myself? Do I actually have to tell other Christians exactly what I struggle with in order for me to be healed or forgiven? Like I said, Christians can be very condemning. I am not at all going around saying Christians are judgmental because we are all judgmental. But it is how they judge that can be very hurtful. And I don't know if I can trust people in the church.

 

[My Brother's Keeper]

I'm sorry for your struggles, Jesse. The purpose of confessing our sins to other Christians is to have moral support and their prayers so we can overcome our sins and have strength to resist them in the future. If you have repented of your sins (which entails acknowledging you were wrong and changing your behavior), then you don't need to continue talking about them. They are in your past and you have a clean slate. Because you say you continue to struggle, you need to pray and study the Word of God often. Having the prayers and support of other Christians would be an asset to you, but I understand your discomfort in sharing your struggles. Many people, even Christians, can be brutal in their criticism and may gossip. Even if there are people you trust, discussing those struggles in detail may cause you to feel you're dredging up the old sins that you put away. You could just mention to people that you're having some struggles, without going into detail, and ask them to pray for you. I hope this helps.

 

[Introverted1293]

I'm sorry for your struggles, Jesse. The purpose of confessing our sins to other Christians is to have moral support and their prayers so we can overcome our sins and have strength to resist them in the future. If you have repented of your sins (which entails acknowledging you were wrong and changing your behavior), then you don't need to continue talking about them. They are in your past and you have a clean slate. Because you say you continue to struggle, you need to pray and study the Word of God often. Having the prayers and support of other Christians would be an asset to you, but I understand your discomfort in sharing your struggles. Many people, even Christians, can be brutal in their criticism and may gossip. Even if there are people you trust, discussing those struggles in detail may cause you to feel you're dredging up the old sins that you put away. You could just mention to people that you're having some struggles, without going into detail, and ask them to pray for you. I hope this helps.

Yes, it does. Thank you

 

[rockytopva]

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. - Revelation 12

First thing - The devil is a great accuser. He will take all your faults and failures and magnify them beyond measure, even to the point of accusing you of sinning against the Holy Spirit. I would not visit, or want to reveal, past things to anyone! When it comes to past faults and failures just thank God within youself that they are all underneath the blood!

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. - 1 John 5:4

Second thing - Begin a life of faith. Begin to search the scriptures for faith things and claim those promises for yourself!

 

[Sarah G]

Maybe discussing the details in a small, gender appropriate, church support group so as to get support and prayer for the issues and strongholds is useful.
Confessing online or even requesting prayer for specific issues seems like it may be a bad idea as there are people whom, for whatever reason, seem to delight in attempting to push others over the edge, kick them when they're down and or generally relish in making someone feel worse than they already do.
The majority of Christians have beautiful, soft, hearts of flesh and are keen to offer prayer, support and advice but sadly there seems to be a minority of bad apples that engage in spiritual warfare and spread an agenda of negativity and divisiveness.
It seems we must act with great discretion and discernment regarding when, where and to whom we disclose our private information.

 

[lastofall]

[for me anyway] the (James 5:16) owning of our sins is one to the other whom we have sinned against, and not as an AA (alcoholics anonymous) member who shares their failures with the group. It is one thing to discuss with a group of Christians our weaknesses with our sins; but it is another thing to tell the person whom we have wronged that we were wrong and are sorry.

 

[Little Lantern]

I love @My Brother's Keeper's Post (#2). I also have to agree with them about what they said here:

I understand your discomfort in sharing your struggles. Many people, even Christians, can be brutal in their criticism and may gossip.

Believers and non-believers alike, are all in varying stages of maturity, and you have to be discerning about who you open up to. There are people (even Christians) who will capitalize on your sins and even your mistakes and use them to attack you. Confess your sins, first and foremost, to Jesus. He will never use your sins or errors against you in order to bring you down. His way is to lift your burden, not make it heavier. Also confess your sin directly to the one(s) your sinned against and work to reconcile as they are willing.

If you continue to struggle and need support, ask for it, but you don't have go into detail about what you have already confessed to the LORD.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I'm similar to you - I don't feel the need to confess things to other Christians. I bring it all to God, and if something in life is bugging me or depressing me, I'll bring it up to friends for further support. There isn't an obligation that you have to tell others in church or Christian groups your personal business that you want to keep private.

 

[Introverted1293]

Thank you everyone.

 

[longwait]

Its better that you don't reveal too much of your sins to others whether they are believers or not because people will start to see you in that light unless your sins are that intense and you are tormented by it and you are desperate to break free from it then maybe you can confess it before a christian whom you can trust, who will not go around slandering you and who will pray for you.

 

[LoricaLady]

I think the phrase "to one another" refers specifically to those one is in close Chrsiitan fellowship with, not the whole world. I would say not to confess anything unless led by the Holy Spirit to do so, and of course you would pray about that first.

Personally, except with someone very close to be helpful, I don't really WANT to hear all about people's faults and sins! If could be upsetting and even boring. It is great that you want to be obedient to the Word, but we are also told in Proverbs to be discrete in evil times. Proceed with caution, if at all, and, again, with prayer.

 

[Introverted1293]

Thank you very much everyone. I now know that I don't need to reveal too much. I don't need to reveal too much.