Confession Vs. Isolation

I am currently reading, Edward T. Welch's book Addictions-A Banquet in the Grave. The book offers sound biblical advice on how we should help others who are struggling with addiction. Throughout the book he reminds us that we all struggle with sin. Today I came across a statement that reminded me of an important truth. Concerning our own struggle, he states, "Any steps toward isolation and independence are steps into darkness. Don't go there" (page 114).

That simple warning expresses a profound truth. Sin seeks to isolate us from others so it can wreak more havoc in our lives. The author of Ecclesiastes writes, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Eccl. 4:9-10, ESV).

Sin uses our shame to isolate us in order to push us farther into the darkness, so it may devour us. That is why confession is so important. When we live transparent lives, sin can't consume us. If we are continually open to rebuke and correction from others, if we are continually walking in a spirit of humble repentance, if we are continually confessing our sins to the Lord, then sin cannot have power over us.

It may trip us. It may fall upon us with rage and drag us kicking and screaming down with it, but I can't truly own us. When we place our faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are given Christ righteousness. As we mature in Christ, we find ourselves running to the cross more and more. For it is through the atoning work of Christ that we find forgiveness and cleansing. It is wrongheaded to believe that the closer we grow to Christ, the less we need the cross. In actuality, it is the opposite.

As we become more openly confessional, sin cannot drive us into isolation. First, in order to confess our sins to one another we must walk in humility. Humility leads to transparency. Second, when all of our skeletons are out of the closet, so to speak, what can sin hang over our head? How can it keep us hiding? Or more importantly, how can it keep us obedient to it, if we open ourselves up to rebuke and correction from our Christian brothers and sisters? The truth is when believers walk in continual confession and repentance, before God and one another, sin loses strength.

If you don't believe me, try an experiment. Think of a struggle (with sin) you are currently having. Now, have you talked to anyone about it, in order to overcome it? If you say, "Yes," how did you feel about it? Better or worse? If no, do you feel better keeping it a secret? Or does that secret make you afraid of what people might think if they found out? Do you get nerves around people when are talking about their struggles, and wish you could be so free? If you feel like there is a cloud hanging over your head, if you feel ashamed and weary, if you are absolutely terrified at the thought of sharing you personal life with another, sin has a tighter grip on you than you think. Sin always seeks to isolate, then it dominates. As long as our sin goes on unconfessed to God (and when necessary to others), as long as it goes on unrepented of, then sin has us tight within its teeth.

Break free today. Confess your sins to the Lord and he will forgive you (see 1 John 1:9). If need be, confess your sins to one another (see James 5:16), and you will find healing. Find someone with whom you can share your darkest secrets, speak to them openly and honestly about your struggles, ask them to pray for you and to hold you accountable. With confession we step out of the dark into the light.