There are a lot of difficult passages of Scripture. They are difficult on a couple of different levels. Some are difficult to understand. Since the biblical documents were originally written in different languages, it is sometimes difficult for translators to find an English word that captures the meaning of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek word. Some are difficult to understand because we are separated from the original authors and audiences by vast cultural differences. Figures of speech or illustrations that the original audience would have no trouble understanding do not automatically translate well for us 2000 plus years later.

The next difficulty is not in understanding, it is in doing what the text says. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.” A little bit later he says, “For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others your heavenly Father will not forgive you.” It is certainly easy enough to understand. They are a clear as day. But they are still difficult to do.

Here’s another one. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16) Easy enough to understand. We don’t need an advanced degree in ancient Greek to make out what James is saying. It is still difficult, nonetheless. What responses come to mind when we encounter this instruction? We may wonder why we should do this. We may think to ourselves, “I can deal with this sin issue on my own.” Or, “Does everyone need to know my failings?”

Let’s take these responses in reverse order. We wonder, or may even ask aloud, if everyone needs to be aware of my sin, my weaknesses. Let’s face it; that can be a very scary thought. Imagine if everyone in the church knew all the ugliness that passed through my life last week, or yesterday, or even in the last few minutes. What would they think of me? Does James really think this is a good idea that my failings are on display for everyone?

I think from the context that James would say that not everyone needs to know. Not everyone, but someone. James appears to have the elders of the church in view in this section. In other words, the spiritually mature. Our sin failings do not need to be aired to just anyone, but to those who can handle it. Someone who wants the best for you. Someone who loves and cares for you. Someone who will sit with you, pray with you, cry with you, help you move forward, keep it to themselves, and not let you duck responsibility. Do each of us have someone like that in our lives to whom we can go for help?

I can deal with this issue on my own. This very independent attitude, a very pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps kind of thinking is incredibly popular in American Christianity in particular. It is also incredibly dangerous. It is very prideful and, quite frankly, anti-Christian. If we could deal with our own sin issues, we would have no need for the grace of God demonstrated at the cross.

It is also dangerous because of our capacity for self-deception. We can justify our actions; we can make excuses and tell ourselves lies about our sin enough times that we begin to believe it. We can scour Scripture looking for loopholes to convince ourselves that we are actually not sinning and that it is probably the fault of someone else that we find ourselves on the wrong side of the way God directs us to live. Think of Adam and Eve in the Garden. When confronted by God for their disobedience, Eve blames the serpent, Adam blames Eve and then blames God for giving her to him. 

The truth is that we cannot do this, we cannot live the Christian life on our own. God through Christ has called together a people, a community that work together to love one another, serve one another, help one another, and bear one another’s burdens. That would include helping one another deal with the temptations and the sin to which we are all drawn.

So why does James (and others) instruct us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another? Look at the text. So that you may be healed. Bringing our sin failings to light, being honest about our struggle with someone we trust who has our best interest at heart will bring healing. Getting our sins out into the light allows us to see just how ugly they are, what the consequences can be, and helps us to resolve to live differently.

We understand this concept in other areas of life. We can’t go to a doctor and refuse to tell them what is happening and hope to find the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment. You can’t take your car to the mechanic and refuse to relay to them what the car is doing and hope to get it fixed.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

The call in this verse is for us to be people of integrity. As difficult as it may be, it is vital that we pay attention to what James writes here. We are called to be honest about our sins and trustworthy in dealing with the struggles that are shared with us. We are called to be people who love deeply. We are called to be more like Jesus. We can’t do that alone.