Saul cum Paul proclaimed himself the chief of sinners.
In much of churchianity today, one hides one’s sins for the ostensible sake of one’s (so-called) Christian Witness.
I know one famous (and published) Pastor who wanted to confess his adultery to the congregation - but was dissuaded from doing so by the Elders of that church. (It became a much-publicized scandal ten years later.)
I was raised Lutheran. My father’s idea of an entertaining evening was reading aloud first the Word of God, then the Book of Concord - to all of us.
I spent six years at a now-prominant “Christian” junior/high school. I have attended pastoral conferences, and become acquainted with scores of preachers, and all major denominations, over decades.
I know whereof I speak:
Today’s churchians would try to bury Paul conspiring to murder Stephen - for the sake of his ministry.
I recall trying to live out the Word by confessing my own sins to those closest to me. They did not want to hear it. (”That’s enough!” my “Bible-believing” roommate once yelled.) I see now it is because they had no intention of confessing their own.
Most people do not understand Sin or Grace.
Great post!