Whilst openness is good, post the Fall, we see both that God hides to an extent from his people, they are not able to see all of his glory face to face and he hides then, clothing them with animal skins. These examples are good, I think we might summarise them as saying that all things will be revealed at the right time, we cannot keep things hidden for ever.
Steve Midgely, writing for the Journal of Biblical Counselling notes that churches often operate with a mindset that their confidentiality reflects the medical world’s approach. He quotes the Hippocratic Oath as saying:
“Whatever…I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.”[1]
This language has been updated in the World Medical Association’s International Code of Medical Ethics to say that the medic
““shall preserve absolute secrecy on all he knows about his patient because of the confidence entrusted in him.” [2]
However, he observes that reality is different to theory. In practice, doctors do share information, whether with colleagues to ger advice and in reports for accountability and transparency. Confidentially is not the same as absolute secrecy of necessity.
He then goes on to suggest that we follow the approach to confidentiality you would find in a family setting, there will be expected situations where a child would presume that telling one parent is to tell both. [3] There are also situations where things would appropriately be hidden from wider knowledge apart from permission. For example, a daughter tells her dad that she has passed or failed her driving test. He would not tell wider family without checking with her for permission first. However, there will be times where it is appropriate to conceal information, for example when a son tells his mum what he has bought his sister for her birthday. [4] So, Midgely distinguished expected, permitted and concealed communication. [5]
This approach seems helpful and to align with Scripture.
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