Confession is said to be good for the soul

... but it is bad for your reputation.  No?

I think it is.   There is this guy that Ann Barnhardt featured at least once.  Voris, I think is his name.  It was no secret amongst those close to him, but it must have been in a larger sense.  He, ahem, "came out" recently.  My reaction was quite negative- at first.  Then I thought... isn't that what the Gospel of John said: to paraphrase, those who do God's will must come to the light; those who do not, hate the light, because they do not want their bad deeds to be shown up.  Voris came to the light, admitted his past sins, and cleaned up his act.  That's what you have to do.

Unfortunately, there are reactions like my first reaction, which I now think is wrong.  The first reaction, within oneself with regard to one's own sin, is fear for one's reputation.  For those who hear this kind of news, there is great disappointment, disillusion, and even anger.  Especially for something like this.  Can you imagine what will get said about this guy behind his back?  He will be laughed at, and made fun of by some.  But those who do this are wrong.  One must look at the other way, in terms of what is right and good.

It is a hard thing to do to come to the light.  It takes courage.  Not everybody has such courage.  For that, he deserves respect.