In Defense of Opacity
Let's take a second look at the 'virtue' of 'transparency'
Cherie Harder
January 1, 1998
Several years ago, "being transparent" became a new Christian virtue. Various parachurch organizations began to encourage their members to "open up" with each other. Churches set up formal "accountability groups." Youth groups urged students to "get real." One campus evangelical group at my college explicitly called for total "transparency" before God and man, living without secrets, letting it all hang out. As with most trends, the fad of transparency spread from the young (youth groups, campus organizations) upwards (singles groups, church pulpits); unlike most trends it has failed to disappear with the passing of a few years. Instead, the virtues of transparency, having gone virtually unchallenged, have now evolved to the level of assumption in many Christian circles. But are we as Christians really called to be transparent? Much of the answer depends, of course, on definition—what "transparency" really means. Certainly we are called—even commanded—to be honest, to examine our hearts and motives before God, to exhort and encourage one another in the faith, and to shun deviousness and duplicity. This is the essence of "transparency" as it is preached. So far, so good. The problem arises in the way "transparency" is practiced. All too often, Christians in various fellowship groups are urged by their leaders to "be transparent" in a manner that conflates honesty and self-examination with supplying or demanding highly personal information. Judging by the way many retreats, conferences, and Sunday school classes are taught, divulging (or asking others to reveal) past hurts, injustices, abuses, sins, failures, inadequacies, insecurities, complexes, and anxieties is an essential part of godly worship. For example, a few years ago ...
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