As Christians, we are not meant to live out our faith alone. Rather, God has created us for fellowship with others in the Christian community. We may see this in Hebrews 12: 24-25, where we read: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” A major aspect of Christian community is accountability. Most people, however, cringe at the thought of accountability. Why? There are numerous reasons for this, but to begin we must first understand what accountability is.
As Christians, we need to realize that we are responsible and answerable for the manner in which we live our lives. Ultimately, we are answerable to God, yet we are also answerable to fellow brothers and sisters whom God has placed in our lives. Accountability, then, is the means by which we are answerable to one another, whereby we receive both encouragement and reproof, when needed. Unfortunately, many relationships in life are superficial, and so accountability provides a way for us to share the deep inner workings of our lives in a mutual atmosphere of trust. God has created us for Himself, and through accountability we are able to open up and be challenged in the varying aspects of our lives, all of which lead to character growth and maturity. Accountability is undoubtedly one of the many tools God uses to sanctify His children.
Because accountability calls us to be open and vulnerable, however, it comes as no surprise that many are adverse to it. In fact, before I had experienced the grace of an accountability relationship, I hid from it in fear, seeing is as an assault upon my lifestyle and plans. Like many others, I did not want to hear my failures or become tied up in bringing them to the forefront of my attention. I convinced myself that I could do well enough without the time-commitment and hassle of accountability. Now having been in a relationship of accountability, however, I know that accountability is far more than confrontation (though at times we may need to be confronted or confront others). Rather, accountability is more about challenging one another to grow in Christ’s likeness. This accountability is essential for Christians to grow and produce Godly character and fruit. In fact, I think it is safe to say that real growth cannot occur without it. We must allow our human pride to yield to the need for accountability—we are not self-sufficient, and it is time we stop believing the world’s lie that we are.
Another misunderstanding surrounding accountability is that it is reserved for those who are “weak” or “needy”, designed primarily to help along those who are struggling. While this is true in that we are all weak and needy in sin, accountability is far more than this, for it is just as much for those who are strong and want to become stronger! Sadly, the common belief is that accountability is not something that “real” women do, and especially not “real” men. This is a lie from the pit, one meant to keep us in our present, self-dependent state! No, “real” men (and women) pursue Christian accountability with other godly men and women. And so, though accountability may not be what we would desire on our own, Christians nevertheless need to actively pursue it, humbling ourselves to the point of recognizing our weaknesses and our need to be held responsible.
And so, despite the dangerous misunderstanding that accountability is a system based on domination, manipulation, and the invasion of privacy, accountability is something far more beautiful. Like sheep that are prone to wander, we too go astray, and so God provides us with Christians brothers and sisters to teach, exhort, support, and encourage us in our faith and hold us accountable to Him. Accountability is where we develop relationships with fellow Christians to help drive us to a place where we are real, honest, and obedient to God. Such relationships challenge us in our walk, and by allowing others to speak into our lives we allow the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word to penetrate out lives through both inward spiritual conviction and faith.
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