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.
Another passage in the Scriptures pertaining to the issue of confession, is that of acknowledging our sin, or calling it by its right name. As was stated before, there are times when, if one is in the public square, it might be best to be vague in confessing your sins, if the sins in question were not committed against another, or a number of people. The tenor of the Bible is to keep the sins of saints as quiet as possible, hidden from public view wherever possible.
Every sin you read of in the Bible, where a child of God has been exposed, it’s because the sins were either done in public, or they were done to the public, some more, some less, without exception. This is the reason why Christians are cautioned in the Bible not to take wrongs between themselves to the public courts, where the name of Christ will be dragged in the mud. Wherever possible, let privacy be your watchword, so as not to give satan, and his minions occasion to blaspheme the name of Christ.
In fact, the Christian must be prepared to suffer loss, if doing so will keep the errors of the saints from public view. However, when damage has been done to others in the public square, confession in front of all who are concerned will be required. This is because the God of heaven must be vindicated as being just and fair, without bias or favoritism. For instance, when Achan caused thirty-six men to be slain, because of the items he stole from Jericho, he would need to confess the specifics, in the midst of the congregation, since other persons adversely suffered as a result.
Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. Good night” and God bless!