To Share Or Not To Share

Q. I was in a men’s small group and the leader of the group told me not to share with the group the sin I was struggling with. I was always told that you should share your sins with a group of men so they can pray for me and they might even be suffering from the same sin and be to afraid to come forward. I felt the leader of the group was wrong and I decided to leave the group. I would love your opinion on this.

My group leader said that I shouldn’t share it because it could cause other members of the group to sin. I feel like you are only as sick as your secrets and I felt it was a denial thing. We all sin and I was ashamed but Im not going to hide it . I felt the leader wanted me to hide things and not be real and honest. If the members of the group hide their sin in shame and didn’t share and let us pray that it would be wrong.

A. If you were in a so-called accountability group that had agreed on confidentially, then getting specific about the sin you’re battling is appropriate. If it was just a men’s small group Bible Study, then I’m with the leader. Where the special bond of trust hasn’t been created for an assurance of confidentiality, other members might not be able to resist gossiping about you, adding to their sin.