Mutual Confession

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16a).

Most of us like the middle part of that sentence. Praying for one another is what we say we'll do.

We're pretty uncomfortable with the confessing of sins to one another. And we're not real sure about how that is all related to healing.

So, we take the middle part and run with it.

But if we look at the verses before and after this command, it makes sense.

Not only that, it provides an excellent avenue of ministry, discipleship and encouragement that should be found among followers of Christ.

James begins, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (v 13).

The word "suffering" refers to enduring evil treatment by people, not physical illness (2 Tim 2:9; 4:5). James is addressing those who are suffering at the hands of others. Those who suffer in this way are called to pray.

And if someone in the midst of their suffering is cheerful, he is to sing praise. The one who is suffering prays for strength. The one who is cheerful in the suffering praises God for the strength he has received.

The next person described has moved into a deeper struggle in his suffering. James uses "sick" to describe this person. The word translated "sick" can be translated physical sickness, but in the epistles it is primarily used to refer to spiritual weakness produced by the sufferings of life (2 Cor 12:10).

The Bible often connects physical suffering with spiritual struggles. In Psalm 38, David describes his physical ailments brought on by unconfessed sin. Paul explains that some in the Corinthian church are weak and ill, and some have died, because they have participated in the Lord's Table in an unworthy manner (1 Cor 11:30). And the author of Hebrews connects suffering with God's discipline (Hebr 12:3-13).

The weak brothers, those who are suffering at the hands of others, are to call the elders of the church and ask them to pray for them.

They are so downtrodden that they are no longer able to pray for themselves. The mature believers are called upon to bring them before the throne of grace. This parallels the idea of Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness."

So far, we have a beautiful picture of mature believers coming alongside and praying for their brothers who are spiritually weakened due to extensive spiritual suffering.

We'll look at the rest of this passage tomorrow.