--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confession is a difficult Discipline for…" description: "\"“Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/richard-j-foster-1460_brothers-and-sisters_confession-is-a-difficult-discipline-for_2344237.jpg" --- # Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all… ![“Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We cannot bear to reveal…” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/richard-j-foster-1460_brothers-and-sisters_confession-is-a-difficult-discipline-for_2344237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/richard-j-foster-1460_brothers-and-sisters_confession-is-a-difficult-discipline-for_2344237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/richard-j-foster-1460_brothers-and-sisters_confession-is-a-difficult-discipline-for_2344237.jpg) > ““Confession is a difficult Discipline for us because we all too often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We cannot bear to reveal our failures and shortcomings to others. We imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore, we hide ourselves from one another and live in veiled lies and hypocrisy. But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God's love and to confess our needs openly before our brothers and sisters. We know we are not alone in our sin. The fear and pride that cling to us like barnacles cling to others also. We are sinners together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied, but transformed.”” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confessing sins together reveals shared humanity, breaking isolation and fostering healing love. **In simple terms:** Open confession creates community and healing. Key Takeaway Share struggles to find support. Themes community humility confession spirituality Mood introspective encouraging Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - church groups - support circles - therapy sessions - friendship gatherings Key Concepts psychology theology vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from honest confession? - How does shared confession change relationships? A Different Perspective Some may fear judgment or misuse of shared vulnerabilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [God'S Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-love/) [High road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-road/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinners/) [The-church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-church/) ## Related quotes > [But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/but-if-we-know-that-the-people-of-god-are-first-a-fellowship-of/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [ “\[each\] confess those sins by which he remembers that he has mortally offended his Lord and God; whilst the other sins, which do not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/each-confess-those-sins-by-which-he-remembers-that-he-has-mortally/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [“I believe there is a great deal too much mutual confession going on today, as if sharing one’s problems somehow makes them go away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-simonson/i-believe-there-is-a-great-deal-too-much-mutual-confession-going-on/) [Helen Simonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-simonson/) > [“The church has unfolded in many forms, and no one single external form stands alone as the CORRECT visible expression. As the church settled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webber/the-church-has-unfolded-in-many-forms-and-no-one-single-external-form/) [Robert Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webber/) > [“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-a-kind-of-listening-with-half-an-ear-that-presumes-already/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“In other words, The­ol­ogy is prac­ti­cal: espe­cially now. In the old days, when there was less edu­ca­tion and dis­cus­sion, per­haps it was pos­si­ble to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/in-other-words-the-ol-ogy-is-prac-ti-cal-espe-cially-now-in-the-old/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“My recommendation instead, however, is that we do not surrender questions of value, whether absolute matters of truth, goodness, and beauty or relative judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-stackhouse-jr/my-recommendation-instead-however-is-that-we-do-not-surrender/) [John G. Stackhouse Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-stackhouse-jr/) > [“God’s side is determined not by geography, but by those who do His will. If Germans, English, Japanese, and Americans prayed right, they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/god-s-side-is-determined-not-by-geography-but-by-those-who-do-his/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“How many winds of doctrine we have known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking. The small boat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/how-many-winds-of-doctrine-we-have-known-in-recent-decades-how-many/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Humankind, which discovers its capacity to transform and in a certain sense create the world through its own work, forgets that this is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/humankind-which-discovers-its-capacity-to-transform-and-in-a-certain/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/i-have-three-things-i-d-like-to-say-today-first-while-you-were/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“Jesus said the weeds would grow with the wheat until the Judgement," Dietrich answered, "so one finds both good men and bad in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-flynn/jesus-said-the-weeds-would-grow-with-the-wheat-until-the-judgement/) [Michael Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-flynn/) > [“Surely we can only come to understand each other's beliefs by means of direct encounter and open, honest discussion. In the meantime, many free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/surely-we-can-only-come-to-understand-each-other-s-beliefs-by-means/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“They wander on earth and live in heaven, and although they are weak, they protect the world; they taste of peace in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/they-wander-on-earth-and-live-in-heaven-and-although-they-are-weak/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/there-is-an-old-proverb-to-the-effect-that-all-those-who-open-their/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Lord God, you deserve my best. Forgive me for the times I have offered you only the dregs, whether it be half-heartedly muttered prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/lord-god-you-deserve-my-best-forgive-me-for-the-times-i-have-offered/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Brothers and sisters quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) Spencer Moody > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. 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