Secrecy

Secrecy involves keeping something hidden or concealed. In it's most benign form, it is simply not revealing something. There's nothing particularly sinister about not telling your friends what you bought them for their birthday. Even if they ask you what it is, you are under no moral obligation to reveal it. But secrects quickly move from this stage to demanding deception and eventually outright lying to protect them. When those who have the moral right to know start asking specific questions, we'll have to choose between protecting the secret with lies or speaking the truth. Because of this, secrecy has an air of suspicion about it. The questions may be asked "Why must this secret be kept?" "Is this secret legitimate, or is it hiding moral evil?"

With the exception of surprise birthday parties and Christmas presents, usually people consider secrecy necessary only when something has gone wrong in some way. But secrecy can be a virtue when it is used to divert attention to God instead of to ourselves. This is contrary to our usual inclinations, but aligns perfectly with true spirituality. The natural human tendency is to practice secrecy in regards to our sin and to be open and transparent about our virtues and good deeds. Since this study is about the spiritual disciplines of the Christian, we will find this natural tendency turned on its head. We will emphasize the importance of secrecy about anything which might bring us the approval, adulation, honour, and recognition of the crowd.

Our interest, just now, lies in secrecy as a spiritual discipline which brings glory to God first of all and appropriate honour to His servants. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus taught about this in these words: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-4 ESV)

Several things will stimulate the true follower of Christ to practice this discipline. First, it allows us to experience freedom from the need for human approval. This is a crucial issue in our culture where "getting credit" and "avoiding blame" are the two big factors in social advancement. Secrecy weans us from this need.

Jesus clearly indicated that when we do things to be noticed, and we are noticed, then we have had our reward. With this in mind, we might practice secrecy to discover the true motives for our behaviour.

Secrecy also helps us to learn that we are loved because God chooses to love us, not because of our ability to perform. Some Christians confuse God's acceptance and love with the approval and appreciation of the people they serve. If people don't know that it was me who blessed them, they will not thank me, which clears up this potential confusion - a confusion, I would contend, to which people who serve are particularly subject.

Secrecy can also play a positive role in teaching me how to love people as God does - without a test of worthiness or expectation of return. It lets us experience freedom from the spirit of mutual back scratching which is so common. Best of all, secrecy stimulates thanksgiving and worship. When people are blessed, they instinctively desire to express gratitude. If they know the human agent of that blessing, they thank that person directly. If they don't know the human agent, then all of their appreciation is expressed to God. When God is most glorified, we are most blessed.

There are a couple of potential pitfalls associated with secrecy. We can become paranoid about anyone finding out about our spiritual exercise. The object is simply to avoid unnecessary knowledge of our service. When we become obsessed with keeping the good we do secret, we can move beyond mere secrecy to overt misrepresentation by lying. This is sin of a different kind. Our objective should be to deflect credit to God. After all, He is the one who gives us everything. If He gives us the grace to share with someone who has less, then He should get the credit and be thanked accordingly.

Secrecy is not so much about results as it is about motivation. Acts of kindness and sacrifice are likely to be noticed at some level. The key question is “Would I do these acts if I knew there was no chance they would be noticed?” That will show you something about yourself. Some other questions you might want to ask yourself as you explore your motives are:

Though practicing secrecy prompts us to do good without recognition, we need not mislead or deceive people. If our motives are pure, God is honoured.

Ron Hughes
© August 2008