The Benefits of Sharing Your Sin

By Nicole Arong  (Within Devotional Contributor)


​“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
As Christians, we talk a lot about sin. It is mentioned in our Sunday services, we thank God for our salvation from it and we are quick to point it out at work, in entertainment or in society at large. However, what we almost never talk about is our own sin. The sin that encapsulates the temptations, failures, and falls that we continue to experience in our own lives-post redemption.
You may ask, why does it matter and how would it help? So many of us have been taught to deal with things privately or that sin is to be kept between you and God. It is true that we should never exalt sin or make light of it. We shouldn’t joke about it or speak of it in such a way as to entice others to it. It is neither wise nor discerning to share the intimate details of our lives with the entire congregation. But keeping sin private is at best unfruitful and at worst-dangerous.

1. Sin that is hidden will only grow. God has given us multiple means of grace: the study of scripture, prayer, worship and the body (Godly brothers and sisters) to lean on. .  James says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) Too often we stop short of using the full means of grace in an effort to keep our sin private. We struggle and fall while repeating the same steps over and over again never leaning on our pastors, elders, or brother and sisters for a strength that supersedes our own.  A fully functioning body of believers is meant to offer encouragement, exhortation, wisdom, accountability and prayer. That can only occur when we are faithful to confess our sin to one another.  Sin in our spirit functions like cancer does in our body, when we don’t actively fight it, it will only grow.  And much like cancer, when it doesn’t respond to one form of treatment, it is wise to seek other forms of treatment or in the case of sin-other means of grace.

1. Authentic Christian friendships are a blessing but they require intimacy. Intimacy is designed to be a shared experience. Many of us long for Christian friendships to help us along in our walk but we aren’t willing to open ourselves up to it. We long to be known intimately but are hindered by a fear of sharing.  There is no intimacy without honesty and being honest requires sharing truth about yourself. Too often Christian friendships are an awkward dance between two people who are afraid to get real or let their real selves be seen. We build surface friendships based on sanitized versions of ourselves. The Bible calls us to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13) There is no exhortation without observation. In order to experience true intimacy in our friendships, we must first let others into our lives and that includes being honest about the sin we struggle with. Christians are called to do life together for this very reason. Close friends can help us see our blind spots without making us feel unsafe or judged. They can provide wisdom, comfort, and Godly counsel. When we are drowning in a sea of sin or negative thoughts, Christian friends can speak truth to our soul. And when we live honestly and transparently with our Christian friends, it creates a safe space for them to share their sin with us as well. The deepest bonds of friendship I have experienced are with people who have seen my sin and have exercised grace over my failures.
2. There is no room for plastic in the church. This is a big one. I church hopped for a long time and never felt “at home.” All of the congregates seemed too clean, too well dressed and the conversation felt limited to how Jesus “fixed” them. Sin felt over spiritualized like something that the Baptismal would magically remove. The pastor’s stories centered on the goodness of God’s grace in salvation (which we all need to hear) but never spoke of the continued struggles and sufferings of the Christian walk. Something that many of us are desperate to hear.  Consequently, the attendees never really spoke of their sin either, not in any personal way. It is important to speak of the continued struggle with sin post salvation. It is relatable and encouraging when pastors acknowledge that temptation does not just disappear-even for them. It is right theologically to inform people that Romans 6 and 7 exist for a purpose and that grace is living and active even when the flesh feels heavy. The Bible says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV) That includes David’s sin with Bathsheba, Abraham’s sin with Hagar, Peter’s denial of Christ, and their repentance thereafter. Each of them experienced intimate communion with God and yet fell back into sin. And all of us can relate.  The fight against sin is never over, spiritual warfare is real, and the church is an Army that is called to fight it together, honestly.

The weight of sin is heavy. So heavy that at times it can’t be carried alone. God has given us the means to get help and has given us means to help others. While sharing sin with others is scary, the weight of carrying it alone can be devastating. Let a Christian friend help you carry the load.  Don’t be afraid to share your sin.
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:James 5:16
2 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 3:13
Psalm 32:3


Questions to Reflect on:

1. Are you currently struggling with sin and do you have a Christian friend who you can confide in?
2. Do you trust that God’s Word is good and that all that He asks of us is for our good? If so, do you see commands like James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” as a command that your heart desires to follow?
3. Have you used your church body or the elders and leaders as a means of grace and accountability?