--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The third big idea is that we confess our…" description: "\"The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone close to us--a friend or our spouse. I don't mean a public declaration of our shortcomings; I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg" --- # The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone… ![“The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone close to us--a friend or our spouse. I don't mean a public declaration of our shortcomings; I mean confession in the security of a trusted and living friend.” quote by Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg) > “The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone close to us--a friend or our spouse. I don't mean a public declaration of our shortcomings; I mean confession in the security of a trusted and living friend.” [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) ## 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 to a trusted friend provides relief and accountability, unlike public confession. **In simple terms:** Share burdens with a trusted friend. Key Takeaway Find a confidant for honest sharing. Themes trust accountability spiritual growth Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - friendship support groups - personal therapy Key Concepts confession intimacy psychological relief Questions to Reflect On - Who can you trust with your deepest concerns? - How does private sharing differ from public? A Different Perspective Confession may cause strain if the friend is not prepared. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) [Big ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-ideas/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“I had another idea.” Ben rolled so that he could grin down at Maddox. “Yeah?” Maddox generally liked Ben’s big ideas—not that he wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabeth-albert/i-had-another-idea-ben-rolled-so-that-he-could-grin-down-at-maddox/) [Annabeth Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabeth-albert/) > [“And, if you'll investigate the history of science, my dear boy, I think you'll find that most of the really big ideas have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-if-you-ll-investigate-the-history-of-science-my-dear-boy-i-think/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I always tell people that revelling in big ideas for me is kind of like an antidote to existential angst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-always-tell-people-that-revelling-in-big-ideas-for-me-is-kind-of/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“There is a current perception is that science has overtaken Philosophy and in effect rendered Philosophy irrelevant. Science, when sufficiently abstracted, approaches Philosophy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/there-is-a-current-perception-is-that-science-has-overtaken/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [You never know when some small thing will lead to a big idea. Travel is very inspirational - but it's in the ordinary that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/you-never-know-when-some-small-thing-will-lead-to-a-big-idea-travel/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [I've never been shy about big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/i-ve-never-been-shy-about-big-ideas/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [All the big ideas for getting us onto a lower carbon trajectory involve a lot of people doing a lot of work, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/all-the-big-ideas-for-getting-us-onto-a-lower-carbon-trajectory/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-laugh-at-me-because-i-use-big-words-but-if-you-have-big-ideas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will never win fame and fortune unless you invent big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/you-will-never-win-fame-and-fortune-unless-you-invent-big-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [“You want the story of my life? Big ideas, small results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/you-want-the-story-of-my-life-big-ideas-small-results/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/believe-in-something-larger-than-yourself-get-involved-in-the-big/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [When you're a kid, you have these big ideas and these big dreams to make a change, or maybe you feel like you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annasophia-robb/when-you-re-a-kid-you-have-these-big-ideas-and-these-big-dreams-to/) [AnnaSophia Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annasophia-robb/) ## More by Ted Haggard > [I've never known anyone who has fallen into sin and been successfully restored by the formal church structure. Nor have I ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-ve-never-known-anyone-who-has-fallen-into-sin-and-been-successfully/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [Today's biggest headlines are stories about people who thought they were doing something that was secret: Jesse Jackson's secret girlfriend and child, Monica Lewinski's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/today-s-biggest-headlines-are-stories-about-people-who-thought-they/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I am a firm believer in living as if there were no such thing as a secret. If we hide our sins and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-am-a-firm-believer-in-living-as-if-there-were-no-such-thing-as-a/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I want a church I can stay in for years. I don't want surprises, scandals, or secrets from my church leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-want-a-church-i-can-stay-in-for-years-i-don-t-want-surprises/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [The importance of the Bible to a church is to keep the church on track. The role of the Constitution in government is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-importance-of-the-bible-to-a-church-is-to-keep-the-church-on/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [Sin will take you farther than you ever intended to go, it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/sin-will-take-you-farther-than-you-ever-intended-to-go-it-will-cost/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I called to buy some meth, but I threw it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-called-to-buy-some-meth-but-i-threw-it-away/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-fact-is-i-am-guilty-of-sexual-immorality-and-i-take/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-am-steady-with-my-wife-i-m-faithful-to-my-wife/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [There is no such thing as a secret among our leaders; communication is very open and honest, and if it's not, then it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-secret-among-our-leaders-communication-is/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-did-not-have-a-homosexual-relationship-with-a-man-in-denver/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [We don’t have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity, it’s written in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/we-don-t-have-to-debate-about-what-we-should-think-about-homosexual/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [How much is your sin going to cost me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/how-much-is-your-sin-going-to-cost-me/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [You know all the surveys say that evangelicals have the best sex life of any other group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/you-know-all-the-surveys-say-that-evangelicals-have-the-best-sex-life/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-think-that-probably-if-i-were-21-in-this-society-i-would-identify/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) [Explore all 19 Ted Haggard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) ## More Big idea quotes > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I really like Kickstarter because you don't have to be a Medici to fund the arts and sciences or to get behind a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/i-really-like-kickstarter-because-you-don-t-have-to-be-a-medici-to/) [Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/) > [Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/believe-in-something-larger-than-yourself-get-involved-in-the-big/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [“You want the story of my life? Big ideas, small results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/you-want-the-story-of-my-life-big-ideas-small-results/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [It takes a big idea to attract the attention of consumers and get them to buy your product. Unless your advertising contains a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/it-takes-a-big-idea-to-attract-the-attention-of-consumers-and-get/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [You will never win fame and fortune unless you invent big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/you-will-never-win-fame-and-fortune-unless-you-invent-big-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-laugh-at-me-because-i-use-big-words-but-if-you-have-big-ideas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the big ideas for getting us onto a lower carbon trajectory involve a lot of people doing a lot of work, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/all-the-big-ideas-for-getting-us-onto-a-lower-carbon-trajectory/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I've never been shy about big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/i-ve-never-been-shy-about-big-ideas/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [“The path to success involves two parts. Part One is all about imagination and dreaming up a big idea. Part Two is all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/the-path-to-success-involves-two-parts-part-one-is-all-about/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [You never know when some small thing will lead to a big idea. Travel is very inspirational - but it's in the ordinary that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/you-never-know-when-some-small-thing-will-lead-to-a-big-idea-travel/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [“There is a current perception is that science has overtaken Philosophy and in effect rendered Philosophy irrelevant. Science, when sufficiently abstracted, approaches Philosophy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/there-is-a-current-perception-is-that-science-has-overtaken/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [I always tell people that revelling in big ideas for me is kind of like an antidote to existential angst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-always-tell-people-that-revelling-in-big-ideas-for-me-is-kind-of/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) [Browse all 254 Big idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone close to us--a friend or our spouse. I don't mean a public declaration of our shortcomings; I mean confession in the security of a trusted and living friend.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Haggard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-our-sins-to-someone-close-to-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big idea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-our-sins-to-someone-close-to-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ted-haggard-28775_big-idea_the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-ou_2208372.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The third big idea is that we confess our sins to someone close to us--a friend or our spouse. I don't mean…” — Ted Haggard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ted Haggard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The third big idea is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-our-sins-to-someone-close-to-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/the-third-big-idea-is-that-we-confess-our-sins-to-someone-close-to-us/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```