It has managed to make Christians impotent in their walk because of their fear of the rejection of man. Many believers walk in fear of telling the truth about someone to warn others and the offender.
Psychology has also managed to remove any desire for loyalty or sacrifice that will bring about righteousness, while facilitating self will and easy superficial Christianity. Doing things God's way hurts, it isolates us from others, it causes the world to hate us, but it is the way that brings the greatest rewards and blessings.
1 Timothy 5:20 " 20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin."
Proverbs 29:24-26 "…24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing. 25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.…"
Proverbs 29:25
"25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."
The most prominent reason for Christians remaining silent is their fear of man's rejection.
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
Matthew 10:34-36 "34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ‘A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’…"
God never told us make sure we are appreciated and liked by anyone. He did say however that we should be depending on Him for everything. He said that when we do this we will be hated by everyone, they will want us to depend on and follow them.
Even in secular court, allocution (removes any doubt as to the exact nature of the defendant's guilt in the matter) is required for a criminal to get a shorter sentence or lesser punishment. Even the secular's understand in a court of law that no one should get a reduced sentence unless they tell the whole truth and are remorseful.
Telling the truth cleanses, if it is authentic repentance. There should be no rewards or reduction of sentence if there is total lack of remorse.
This principle, believe it or not comes from the Bible. Many of our court proceedings were based on the Bible in the beginning of this country.
There is also the principle that if we commit a crime against another person, that crime is not just against the person but also against the state and against God. No one has the right to diminish the punishment merely because there has been confession, when we are dealing with the court system.
If someone has committed a crime against another person, then the guilty party needs to serve their time, whether or not they are sorry. Punishment changes people, adequate punishment commensurate with the crime is Biblical and life changing.
If someone steals from me, convicted in the courts and taken to jail, there would be no reason to let this person off, even if they were sorry. Those who are truly sorry for their crimes want to do the time, it is cleansing to pay for our deeds against others.
When trust is broken, no amount of superficial forgiveness is going to restore that broken relationship. Only a confession and further demonstration over time, words being backed up by actions, will be the evidence that a relationship can be restored.
When we can see that someone has changed, it will be known through the Holy Spirit through discernment. No one else outside that relationship can tell someone else when to resume the relationship.
I depend on the Holy Spirit every day, when I fail, I see how God's way was better and triumphant. Man's way is a band aide over a gaping wound that only drastic surgery would have fixed. God's way fixes things for a lifetime and for eternity.
When a believer offends us God tells us to go to them to tell them, appeal to them to repent and if they will not, then we are to remove ourselves and avoid them until they see their sin.
Since this is no longer the practice in the church, sin is rampant, very few feel guilt about their sin and many rage against those who wish to fix the problem through confession and forgiveness. The one who will not confess is the one who remains in their sin as we move on to leave them to God.
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