Vol. 4, No. 23, Aug. 7, 2005

Closet Sinners

Written by Christopher Mentzer

The definition of a Closet Sinner is one who appears to be a Christian, or just a righteous individual; to the world and behind close doors they behave in a worldly manner. Like the Closet Christian, they wear a secret identity and only reveal their true nature when not in the public eye. An example of such a person: A guy recently wrote an e-mail claiming to be a Christian; he read the Bible every day and talked to others about Jesus Christ. However, he smokes marijuana and no one knows that he does it. His defense is that since it is a plant, which God provided, he has a right to use it. Plus he also sites the scriptures of what goes into the body doesn’t defile you but what comes out does (Matt. 15: 17-20). My response to him was:

You also say you don’t blatantly smoke it in front of people or make it known. This is totally against the Christian belief. To keep it a secret means you are “hiding something” and sinners are those who hide things.

Look at this passage from 1 John 1: 5-10, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

A Bible example of a closet sinner was Achan from Joshua 7. Jehovah commanded that no one took of the spoils of Jericho. In verse 1 of chapter 7 we see that Achan disobeyed God and took from the spoils. No one else in the camp knew about it; perhaps not even his own family! But as with all sin, there were consequences for the whole congregation of Israel. 36 innocent men died at Ai for this trespass, which Achan committed, and as the latter of verse 5 reads: “and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” In verse 20, Achan confesses to sinning against God. He admitted to his sin knowing that he caused much grief in the camp. In the end justice won out as Achan, his family, and all his possessions were gathered together and stoned and then burned with fire.

Today, we don’t stone people who sin but it is still a grievous time. People have told me that they don’t hurt anyone when they do certain things and, to them, it is not sin. It doesn’t have to hurt others to be considered sin. But it does, however, hurt one individual and that’s God. “but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59: 2) If God were not hurt, why would He hide from you? King David knew his sin with Bathsheba hurt God for he said, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight…” (Ps. 51: 4)

People cannot live a double life. Their private life has to match their public one otherwise you will be attempting to serve two masters (Matt. 6: 24). If you are a closet sinner, you need to come out and publicly confess what you are doing is wrong. As Paul wrote in Eph. 4: 22-25, “that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23. and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24. and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. 25. Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”

If you are not a Christian but are trying to act like one, you need to become a New Testament Christian. You can find out how below:

To Become a Christian you must:

Hear the Word of God (Rom. 10:17)

Believe Jesus is the Son of God (John 8: 24)

Confess Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 10: 9-10)

Repent of your sins (Acts 2: 38)

Become baptized to wash away your sins (Acts 22:16)