Healing through Confession

Confession: a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime

But to who are we confessing to? Many would respond that they confess their sins to God, but none have ever answered that they would confess to others. It seems that exposing our black souls to God is much easier because in a way, God is almost like a fairy tale, void of any concrete touch. There is no face-to-face, no eye-to-eye contact that makes most individuals uncomfortable. As a result, we trick ourselves into believing that confessing our sins to God is enough to clear the charges, so there is no need to confess to others. When we don't confess to others, we usually fool people into thinking we're better than them, and our hidden sin digs deeper into our broken hearts. Arthur Dimmesdale is a prime example of a sinner who exposes his darkest secrets to God each night through physical and mental torture, but never gathers the courage to confess to the world. As a result, his health visibly deteriorates as his secrets burrow deeper, and sooner or later, will consume his entire being.

That being said, the obvious answer to his "sickness" would be a public confession, even to one or two people. Take a look at what Tenth Avenue North has to say about confession.

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good

Dimmesdale is intent on maintaining a clean reputation--he preaches powerful sermons about sin and helps others come to terms with themselves and their relationship with God (when he himself can't!). Although he physically abuses himself because he cannot gather the courage to confess, he has already become a symbol in the town, a model of Puritan excellence that cannot be easily erased.

And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside
Although Dimmedale has built layer upon layer around his broken soul, it seems that Hester and Chillingworth especially can see right through his walls for who he truly is.

So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
The only path to freedom, whether literal or figurative, is if Dimmesdale exposes his inner secrets. Even if the public is not forgiving of his sins, Dimmesdale himself will find redemption in the Lord and himself.

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

In order to heal his tainted heart, Dimmesdale must find the power himself to come to terms with his guilt. As a result, the "light" will be able to flash through his thoughts and purify his soul.

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear

No matter how deep Dimmesdale shuts his secrets, they won't ever disappear. In fact, because he is too scared to expose himself, his sin begins to command his life, consuming his physical and mental health.

Many are scared of confessing publicly because they fear to lose their reputation in society. However, the only way to truly release the chains of sin is through confession to God and to others. No matter what the consequence, there will be freedom in our own minds that allows us to finally live the way God teaches us to live.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.