Confession is Good for the Soul

Everybody says it. Everybody knows it. But why is confession so good for us? And are there other things we might want to make full disclosure about, besides our sins? Here’s a quote from an online blog called Lifesigns:

Researcher James Pennebaker studied health benefits of confession. Some people’s secrets literally make them sick. He discovered that criminals who confessed to lie detector technicians were often so grateful for the relief they felt after “getting it all out,” that they sent birthday, holiday and thank you cards to the polygraph personnel who heard their stories. (Goodier)

Trying to hunt down more details of James Pennebaker’s studies reveals that today there are many online sites that offer anonymous confessions, even charging for the privilege! And they’re swamped. One site says it is nearing a million confessions, and it’s moderated by one person. Obviously there are plenty of people who think it will do them good to “get it off their chest” and plenty more who find it titillating to read the juicy details. I’m pretty sure this is not how God defines community. Knowing God, I’m also pretty sure He’s working, even in those sites and the people who use them. After all, God already knows the personal stories and details of each, every one of them.

It turns out Dr. Pennebaker has run studies for years that show the healing powers of what he calls “confessional” sharing, journaling, talking out loud even to oneself, and prayer. He found that it improves blood pressure, insomnia, psychological well-being, and immune function. Confession enhances both psychological and physical health. In other words, science once again agrees with what Seventh-day Adventists have believed for years—we are whole, not dualistic beings. Our personalities and living bodies are our souls, and what affects one affects the other.

It is important to note that Dr. Pennebaker includes in his definition of confession the act of telling stories of traumatic events, rather than sins. His point is that keeping powerful secrets of any kind can make us sick. This is not confession in the Biblical sense, but it is often about being sinned against. For Holocaust survivors or survivors of rape and abuse, being able to open up and tell the whole story is like confessing the sins of one who may never confess for himself or herself. Frequently, victims feel guilty and ashamed, as if they are the ones who have done wrong, or as if they deserve no better. Sometimes the very act of hearing themselves talk helps them realize this is not true, and this realization is the first step to healing.