Create safe places for confessions on wrongdoings, corruption

JOHN VAN HEERDEN WRITES:Blind to our own corruption, dishonesty, selfishness, lying, cover-ups, theft, racism, wrong and false motives, self-enrichment, pride, arrogance, rudeness, lust and on and on the list goes.In the build-up to the free elections and independence in Namibia in 1990 I had the privilege to interview the well-known Bishop Desmond Tutu, from South Africa, on a live television program, After Nine, where we could talk openly and honestly. We decided and agreed not to talk political language and to be absolutely honest and transparent.He mentioned how blind men, or women, can be to their own wrongdoing, discriminating and putting down and breaking others, enriching themselves, selfishness and then, in those days, racism, ‘apartheid’ and even justifying killing others.He said “I’ll tell you a true event that happened when Nelson Mandela and I, and some others, were held in jail on Robin Island just off the coast from Cape Town, South Africa. Some of us, me included, were taken to Cape Town with a smallish boat for further interrogation.While on the way, a strong wind came up and the boat started swinging and waves caused it to turn over and we all had to swim and desperately tried to survive. I want to add something to make a point of how blind people, or a person, can be to their own wrongdoing, evil policies, corruption and racism. As we all tried to survive and swim in the stormy sea I began walking on top of the water while everybody else was desperately swimming and trying to survive. He said “Wow, I walked on top of the water and waves!” But, he said, in the blindness of wrongdoing and corrupted thinking, and justifying discriminating policies, a newspaper the next day reported on the front page “Bishop Tutu cannot swim”. Not “wow, Bishop Tutu walked on top of the water”. Only, he cannot swim! That is how blind one can be to your own sin, wrong doing, discrimination, corruption, theft, selfish policies etc”.That is how blind a politician, business man, any man or woman, can be to their own wrongdoing, corruption, theft, crime, tribalism and more.It does not spoil your happiness to confess your wrongdoing (sin). The unhappiness comes and is in not making the confession.“Concealment makes the soul a swamp. Confession is how you drain it”.Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon, all hope consists in confession; in confession there is a chance for mercy.“He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes (his sins) will obtain mercy. Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears (the Lord) at all times (regardless of circumstances), but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity”. (Emphasis mine).The Manual says “Confess to one another therefore your faults, your slips, your false steps, your offenses to one another, that you may be healed and restored”.And the Manual says “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).The Author of the Manual said “In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults”.We must create save places where men and women can share safely about their wrongdoing, failure, corruption, theft, crime etc. Real and powerful ‘Safe Places’.My email address is john.e.vanheerden@gmail.com.

Create safe places for confessions on wrongdoings, corruption

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Republikein 2026-06-26

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Create safe places for confessions on wrongdoings, corruption

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Republikein 2026-06-26

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