PUBLIC CONFESSION
“Declare your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may find healing.” –James 5:16 The Lord clearly commands us to declare our sins to each other. He also commands us not to even mention shameful things (Eph 5:3, 12) and not to publicize others’ sins (see Mt 18:15). However, when we confess certain sins to others, we have difficulties avoiding giving scandal. For example, if you would confess publicly the sin of adultery, the people hearing this would naturally speculate on the identity of the person with whom you were sexually involved. They might be easily...