We can glean from this that what God wants mankind to know and that with which God wants mankind to comply he caused to be recorded in so many words in the Bible. That is, God authorizes through what he specifies. In areas where God has not specified, man may and must use his judgment or opinion. Regarding elders, God determined the qualifications and duties of elders, but left the details of how to publicly acknowledge them as elders to human judgment. Therefore, any number of congregations may work out those details as they deem most agreeable to their respective congregations.
Biblical repentance involves a change of mind that precedes a change of conduct.
More biblical information about repentance appears in the archives of Gospel Gazette Online . As noted, a part of repentance involves a change of mind and a corresponding change of conduct where one brings his deportment into conformity with the Word of God. Whereas auricular confession is unidirectional, Christians confessing their sins to each other is a mutual or two-directional exercise. The dear sister who posed the question under review also noted that in some congregations, virtually every service the same people come forward and proceed to make some public statement of repentance and request for prayers. Those who might do that, and those whose tender hearts prompt them to respond publicly frequently, need to be taken aside and with gentleness taught more perfectly.