How can this prayer be answered by one who has wronged his brother, and whose heart is not softened by the grace of Christ so that he will make confession? How can his brethren, who know the facts, still have unshaken confidence in him, while he seems to feel no conviction of the Spirit of God? He is doing a wrong to the whole church, and especially if he occupies a position of responsibility; for he is encouraging others to disregard the word of God, to pass along with sins unconfessed. Many a one will say in heart, if not in words, "There is an elder of the church; he does not make confession of his errors, and yet he remains an honored member of the church. If he does not confess, neither will I. If he feels that it is perfectly safe for him not to show any contrition, I, too, will risk it."

Hvordan kan denne bøn blive modtaget af en som har gjort sin bror ondt og hvis hjerte ikke er blevet berørt af Kristi nåde, så han vil gå til bekendelse? Hvordan kan hans brødre, som kender fakta, stadig kunne have urokket tillid til ham, når han synes at lade sig overbevise af Guds Ånd? Han gør en fejl overfor hele menigheden og især hvis han indtager en ansvarsfuld stilling, fordi han opfordrer andre til at tilsidesætte Guds ord, ved at lade synder ske uden at komme til bekendelse. Mange vil tænke i hjerte, om ikke i ord "Der er en forstander i menigheden, som ikke bekender sine fejl og alligevel vedbliver han at være et respekteret medlem af menigheden. Hvis han ikke bekender så vil jeg heller ikke. Hvis han føler, at det er i orden for ham ikke at vise anger, så vil jeg løbe samme risiko."