There should be no reckless, wholesale movements in this matter, for the cause of God may be made disreputable in the eyes of unbelievers. If they hear confessions of base conduct made by those who profess to be followers of Christ, a reproach is brought upon His cause. If Satan could by any means spread the impression that Seventh-day Adventists are the offscouring of all things, he would be glad to do it. God forbid that he should have occasion! God will be better glorified if we confess the secret, inbred corruption of the heart to Jesus alone than if we open its recesses to finite, erring man, who cannot judge righteously unless his heart is constantly imbued with the Spirit of God. God knows the heart, even every secret of the soul; then do not pour into human ears the story which God alone should hear. {5T 645.3}

Bekendelse vil ikke være antagelig for Gud, uden oprigtig anger og fornyelse. Der må ske afgjorte forandringer i livet; alt gudsanstødeligt må lægges bort. Dette vil være resultatet af ægte sorg over synd. Paulus siger, i forbindelse med angerens arbejde: »I blev bedrøvede efter Guds sind, hvor stor en iver har det ikke fremkaldt hos jer, ja, undskyldninger og harme og frygt og længsel og nidkærhed og straf! På enhver måde viste I, at I var rene i den sag."