Pondering Point

When this verse gets quoted, focus often goes to the latter part on powerful and effective prayer. But note the first part: “confess your sins to each other.” This was a practice Martin Luther embraced, once writing “when I urge you to go to confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian.” (Large Catechism 32.27). In fact, Luther wrote that he questioned the faith of anyone unwilling to confess his or her sins to another. By the way, he also had an issue with professional clergy being the sole focus of hearing sins confessed. Luther saw confession AND absolution (forgiveness) as falling in the realm of all followers of Jesus, referenced as the “priesthood of all believers.”

As you mull over James 5:15-16, take God’s word seriously and consider to whom you can confess your sins and receive absolution. Tomorrow we look at being in a position of forgiver or absolver in Jesus’ name.