James 5:16a

“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Confess (exomologeo: profess, acknowledge openly) your sins (paraptoma: faults, trespasses, offenses) to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed (iaomai: made whole, cured, brought into salvation).”

SUMMARY
Openly acknowledge your sins, faults and offenses to one another. And pray for one another so that you may be healed, made whole and brought into salvation.

MEDITATION

Ah, the age-old “unspoken” prayer request. I remember clearly countless times within my Baptist upbringing this mysterious activity. Hands pop up all over the group whenever prayer requests were well, requested. Once one person would say “unspoken”, it seemed the rest of those who followed would say likewise. As I’m nearing forty now, I reflect back on these activities with a heavy heart as I now know that this directly contradicts Scripture. (Do people still do the “unspoken” prayer thing?!?) The teaching of James that instructs us to openly share our shortcomings and errors has been replaced by quiet solitude and shame. Darkness to be exact for that is where secrets and lies live and thrive. Taking away this simple act of being transparent with each other might seem trivial but as I look at the Body of Christ, She’s often veiled in secrets and fabricated holiness. “How are you this morning Jason?” “Me, I’m just great! God is so good. And how are you and your family Richard?” “Oh man, we’re just all awesome!” All the while both families are hurting and in desperate need of being healed. Nothing is revealed, therefore nothing is cured. Salvation is never found. 

How sad that we’ve been taught to run from one of the main things that will bring our sins and shame into the light? I’ll admit, confession is often not easy. (Not to mention, most Christian gatherings don’t even allow for this to properly take place.) But if we’re really in true biblical relationship with one another, it has got to be a part of our journey together. So first of all, share life with those who desire transparency and openness and give you the freedom to do likewise. Time after time after time I’ve experienced one person stepping out to share some pretty intimate issues in their life and it absolutely opens the floodgates for others to do likewise. We must heed the wisdom of James. Confess. Pray. Receive salvation and healing. Amen.