Effective righteous man

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 (KJV)

Various cultures throughout the world either pray for, or to, the dead. I think I know why. It's because we aren't afraid to say what comes to our mind when we pray to the dead. Their ears are closed. They can't raise their eyebrows. They can't judge. Dead souls tell no tales.
But if we heed God's Word, our attention is to be paid to the live souls in our midst. And that's where we falter. But consider these words from James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sin to each other."
Aagh! What a terrible thought," we respond. Telling another Christian that we've lied or listed seems out of the question. "Why would we do that? Because other Christians are to pray for each other."
We confess our sins so that our brother can pray for us. Such prayer will assume complete trust, compassion, and acceptance. No judgement of any kind is mentioned by James. In fact, just the opposite. We are to pray for one another so that [we] may be healed. "
You see, when we sin our soul become sick. Just like when you come down with a cold, you aren't at full capacity. Prolonged unconfessed sin will eventually gnaw like a cancer and leave us virtually dead, spiritually. And when you feel that you at the point of no return, look at what James say next: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Just think: if we turn our attention  to all the souls in need of confession, prayer, and healing, it would revitalize our churches and draw great number into the kingdom.