"The Danger of Keeping Secrets"
“The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the Lord their God.”
We always had a “no secret” rule in our home. I kept no secrets from my wife, and she never asked the children to keep them from me. I never hide pertinent business information from my clients. The practice of secrecy enables people to form unholy alliances. Those possessing ‘secret’ knowledge profit from the ignorance of others. Secret societies create division and promote class distinctions. Secrets keep those who deserve to know out the information loop. Secrets impart power to their holders and advance agendas outside of God’s will.
We always taught our young children if asked, “Can you keep a secret?,” to respond automatically with, “No, I cannot. Whatever you tell me I will tell my mom and dad.”
We do make a distinction at home between secrets and surprises. Surprises are short term events with happy endings. Surprises are kept private for the benefit of those from whom we keep information. Secrets are about what I can gain. Surprises are about what I can give. For example, when I bought a gift for my wife’s birthday I asked the children to help me wrap it, reminding them during this teachable moment: “Don’t tell mom. It’s not a secret. It’s a surprise!” Hopefully, Mom will be feel loved when we celebrate her birthday and present her “surprise.”
Surprises are fun and exciting, but nothing good comes from keeping secrets. In our home surprises were encouraged, secrets were exposed. Surprises make others happy. Secrets would hurt them if they knew. We must face the consequences and reveal our secrets.
Except for promoting secret times of personal and private prayer (Matthew 6.5-6), Jesus was anti-secret. He taught full disclosure. The Lord hid nothing from the world He came to save. His life was an open book.
“I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.”
We cannot hide and keep secrets from God. Adam and Eve tried and failed. No secret you try to keep will be kept that way. You will eventually be found out.
“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
“The sons of Israel did things secretly” forming unholy alliances and creating a spiritual chasm between themselves and “the Lord their God.” They never got away with the secret plans they hoped to pull off.
In 423 Communities, we teach full disclosure, transparency, and authenticity. We are not required to tell everybody everything, Rather, 423 men and women are asked to hide nothing about their addictive behaviors from the members of their groups or their spouses.
People tend to be as sick as their secrets. The first step in the healing journey is joining a trusted group of 423 Men or 423 Women with whom you can safely tell the whole truth.
At 423 Communities International, our doors are open for business. We are still offering recovery options for those struggling with temptations and trauma around pornography, sexual fantasies, and addictive behaviors. Want more information? Click here: https://www.423communities.org/join