The Burden of Hidden Sin: A Call for Truth, Grace & Redemption
Up until recently, I lived much of my life hiding the shame and guilt of others. In many religious settings, it seems that hiding truth has often been expected, rather than bringing it into the light.
For years, I was complicit in this, thinking that by protecting others from the consequences of their actions, I was somehow doing the right thing.
But the truth is, by hiding sin, whether my own or someone else’s, we are preventing forgiveness, grace, and ultimately, healing from taking place.
As Christians, especially within the context of communities and organised religion, we need to rethink how we handle sin. The example that Christ set for us was one of truth, transparency, and grace. And as painful as it can be, I’ve come to realise that truth must be brought to light for the sinner to receive forgiveness and for true healing to happen.
The Power of Exposure
I have spent nearly two-thirds of my life avoiding the uncomfortable and often painful process of exposing sin. I protected others, even when it came at the expense of my own healing. But over time, it occurred to me:
What sins we hide, whether our own or others’—we prevent the sinner from experiencing grace and the chance to receive forgiveness.
You might wonder how that works. Well, there are countless passages throughout the Bible that speak to the need to confess our sins and bring them into the light, rather than hiding them.
One of the most powerful verses on this topic is Proverbs 28:13, which states:
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
This verse is clear: hiding sin, whether it’s out of shame, fear of repercussions, or concern for appearances, leads to spiritual stagnation, but confessing it allows us to receive mercy and forgiveness.
The Cost of Hiding Truth
In my own life, I’ve seen the destructive consequences of hiding sin firsthand. After my mother learned of my abuse, she secretly continued to spend time with the person who had hurt me. She didn’t just protect herself from the shame of the truth being exposed; she also shielded him. This silence came with a heavy cost.
Not only did it harm me emotionally, but it also left my younger sister vulnerable to further abuse. For years, I carried the weight of this secret, and the consequences of keeping it hidden extended far beyond what I could have imagined.
When I eventually found out that my mother had continued to see the predator, I felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal. She was complicit in further harm. But what troubled me most was that no one in our religious community knew about her actions.
By hiding the truth, my mother never had the opportunity to confess her sin, face the consequences, and ultimately receive grace. And in her failure to take responsibility, the cycle of harm continued.
Why we must bring Sin to light
The longer we hide sin, the more it festers and causes harm.
There’s a profound difference between shielding someone from the consequences of their actions and providing them with an opportunity for redemption. Confession and exposure of sin allow the sinner to receive forgiveness and begin the process of healing.
Sadly, in organised religion, sin is often swept under the rug, hidden for the sake of reputation or to avoid the messy complications of confronting wrongdoing. But how many people have been harmed because the truth was never brought to light?
How many victims have suffered because someone chose to protect the perpetrator instead of confronting the reality of the situation?
Exposing sin isn’t about judgment or condemnation; it’s about healing and restoration.
We can’t experience true forgiveness until we’ve acknowledged the wrongs we’ve committed. When we hide our actions, are we really seeking forgiveness? Are we truly willing to repair what has been broken?
The Danger of Silence
It was through my own painful experiences that I came to understand the significance of exposing sin, not just for the sinner’s sake but also for the protection of others. Recently, I visited a church where I noticed the grooming behaviour of a particular individual towards my daughter. Having experienced grooming myself, I recognised the signs. I approached the church leader, asking for more information about this person. Their response was one of dismissal: they had heard of others’ concerns, but it wasn’t considered a real issue.
Despite this, I kept my distance and ensured my daughters were never left alone with this individual. Afterward, I learned that this person had previously been investigated for similar concerns. Shouldn’t this information have been shared with me, especially after I disclosed my own abuse to the church? If the truth had been exposed earlier, would the person involved have had the support they needed to deal with their issues, or would their actions have continued unchecked?
In the end, by failing to speak up and address the issue head on, the church allowed the potential for harm to persist. If we don’t expose sin, how can we help those caught in it? And how can we prevent others from suffering?
The role of confession in true healing
As we look at Scripture, we see the importance of confession and transparency. In James 5:16, we are told:
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
When we confess, we open the door for healing not just for ourselves but for those around us. Healing can only take place when we stop hiding, when we stop covering up sin for the sake of appearances or fear of the consequences.
Confession and honest dialogue with one another create the space for true healing and restoration.
Breaking the Silence - A Call to action
In Genesis 35, we see the consequences of silence when sin is not dealt with appropriately. Jacob’s failure to address the wrong done to his daughter Dinah led to greater harm and conflict, both within his family and the surrounding community. Leadership requires wisdom, courage, and the alignment of our actions with God’s justice.
When we choose to remain silent about sin, we perpetuate cycles of dysfunction and harm.
Matthew 18:15-17 offers a clear process for addressing sin, calling us to approach the person involved first, and if necessary, involve others. Nowhere does it say to keep things secret or to hide sin for the sake of peace.
We must choose to bring sin into the light, not out of judgment, but out of a desire for healing, forgiveness, and redemption.
When we do, we allow the sinner to come to God with true humility, seek forgiveness, and experience the grace that only God can offer. And ultimately, we protect others from further harm.
Don’t hide in the shadow of shame. When something uncomfortable and shameful happens, we must resist the urge to hide or protect someone at the cost of truth. By bringing sin into the light, we allow grace and healing to flourish. John 8:32 reminds us,
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Only when we expose the truth, both to ourselves and to others, can we experience true freedom and healing.
Let’s choose to be a community that values truth over silence, grace over shame, and healing over hiding.
