It’s true that when you share honestly about your struggles, you may receive negative reactions—even from Christians. Their jaws may drop in surprise. They may raise their eyebrows in dismay. Or they may simply be silent.
But the truth is that the shocked, unable-to-respond, shunning Christians are probably hiding something from you, too. Even though their struggles are as real as yours, it’s unlikely that they’ll share them. As I talked about in Part 1, being authentic is hard. It’s easiest to hide because other Christians might judge us or reject us if we’re honest.
Struggling but Hiding
I’m sometimes disgusted by the unattainably high goals that some Christians set for other Christians. Though they don’t say it directly, many act as like we’ll never struggle with sin—or they act like we can make a quick change and completely turn our lives around if we do struggle with sin.
What they don’t realize (or admit) is that dealing with sin isn’t quick and easy. It’s messy.
We’re going to struggle with sin as long as we live on Earth. No motivational speaker, encouraging article, or inspiring sermon will change that. If you set a goal to stop sinning, you’re going to fail. It’s just part of the sin nature you were born with.
It’s unrealistic for us to expect perfection from anyone or anything in this life, but that doesn’t stop us from judging believers when they sin, shunning those who struggle with certain issues, and doubting that they’ll ever get themselves together.
Personal Confessions
To be honest, I judge people, too. I mentally drop my jaw and raise my eyebrows when I hear about the sins of fellow believers. Yet I conveniently forget my own sins and struggles. I want to believe that my sins are less significant than the sins of other Christians. I want to think that I’m better than them.
But the reason that I judge other believers is because I’m failing to evaluate myself and my own struggles.
I want to claim that my habit of lying isn’t as bad as having sex outside of marriage. I want to claim that my choice to harm myself isn’t as wrong as the choice to harm other people. I want to claim that disobeying my parents is less severe than disobeying the law.
I want to claim that I’m not a bad person, but the truth is that we’re all bad people. We simply belong to a good God if we’ve trusted Him for salvation. And that’s why we can stop hiding and start being real with each other.
Why We Can Stop Hiding
Friends, I know that it’s hard to be transparent when so many Christians set unrealistic goals for other Christians yet refuse to talk about their sins and struggles. But just because people don’t talk about their issues doesn’t mean that they don’t have issues.
It’s time to stop hiding our struggles because everyone is struggling with something.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1-3 ESV)
The Christian life isn’t meant to be lived alone or in hiding. We were designed to share our sins and our burdens with other believers—even if it’s scary or uncomfortable. Knowing that everyone is struggling (whether they admit it or not) will help us do that.
You don’t have to hide any longer, friends. Let the light in by letting others in.
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