Ask Fred > Faith > Should we call people to publicly share and confess?

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Dear Fred

Dear Fred, I want to give you an example of something that is being practiced in the youth group at my church. There are a few things that I want to know: 1) Is this a spiritual gift? Please give bible refernce 2) If it is a gift, is it being misused? 3) If it is being misused, what shall I do about it, if anything? Here is the example: During prayer time at youth night at my church, the youth pastor's wife will tell the group that she has a heavy burden on her heart from God that someone in the room has sin that they need to bring out into the open and confess before everyone there. There have been times when the room has been silent for more than 5 minutes. Sometimes someone will confess something and other times no one says anything. There are usually about 70 Jr high and high school students there. This is an outreach night so many of the youth that are there are not saved. Of the ones that are saved, many are very new believers. She also does this at yoth camps, and I have seen her do it at a women's retreat.

Fred's Response

I once attended a small group where I had been warned that one of the men would use prayer to invade other people’s privacy. After the meeting he called me and asked me if I had any specific problems such as personal sin that he could pray for. I told him that I would appreciate his praying that I would not be pestered by a gossip trying to invade my life with the pretense of prayer. I certainly would be very careful not to promote in the type of group that you have. I don’t know of any scriptural foundation for this as the exercise of a spiritual gift. I know of no “gift of curiosity” in scripture. I have seen people publicly reveal things about themselves that later alienated them from the group. When we are admonished to confess our sins one to another I feel that this is a very private matter one to one and only when a mature Christian is hearing the confession. If you have a good rapport with her I would suggest a private conversation pointing out the damage that can be done. And never forget the power of prayer.