James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Therefore, in order to understand what confession is we must study line upon line, precept upon precept, so as to avoid the many erroneous views about the issue of confession, which abound in our day. We will now take a few passages of scripture which deal with confession, and we will clear up some of the misconceptions, using the Bible as our guide. The above passage should never ever be interpreted to mean that we are to lay our personal weaknesses, faults, and sins before the brethren, if wrongs were not committed in the public square, or against any person in particular.
The writer is speaking in the context of prayers for healing, in situations where sin in the individual has contributed to the illness. That is the context, but it has now morphed into very many strands which are neither recognized, or endorsed by God. Shortcomings in persons do not necessarily have to be shared with friends, and family, especially if they are not directly affected.
There is a huge difference between out breaking sin, where our sinful thoughts have matured into actions, and internal struggles of the mind, which God alone can see. For instance, if a man is struggling with adulterous thoughts, as is quite often the case, it would be very imprudent for him to spell out his sin in great detail during family worship, in front of his wife, especially if he has been struggling with the sin over a number of years, as was the case with king David.
James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!