Find a congregation that believes in confession. Avoid a fellowship of perfect people—you won’t fit in anyway. Just seek one where members confess their sins and show humility, where the price of admission is simply an admission of guilt. Healing happens in a church like this.
Followers of Christ have been given authority to hear confession and proclaim grace. Jesus said, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:23). The Bible also says, “If we say we have no sin, we’re fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done” (1 John 1:8-9). Not he might cleanse us, could, would, or has been known to cleanse us. He will cleanse us! Oh the sweet certainty of his words.