Is 'accountability' scriptural?

This question occurred to me today, because it seems to have been taken on trust by the modern church, as if it [i]is[/i] a biblical concept.

Well, I'm not suggesting it's not a biblical concept.... because Ephesians 5: 20 and 21 come to mind.

But, is this what anyone is thinking of, when they think of [u]holding [i]themselves[/i] accountable[/u] - that is: 'in the fear of God'?

Is there any difference at all between the accountability of an elder before God, and the accountability of a sheep in his flock?

If so, how is that difference to be measured?

And by whom?

SimpleLiving said

I don't know if it's biblical per se

To explain.... slowly, as God has been answering a question I asked Him around three years ago 'What is the gospel?' He has been leading me through a variety of considerations. One of those is the matter of how does a preacher know that his listeners are hearing him?

Another is, how does he know whether they have honestly responded to\\transacted with God, as a result?

Although the specific answers are different, the common factor is that he will perceive [u]changes[/u] in answer to both quesitons.

This (somehow) led on to the whole business of people who are [u]un[/u]changed, going to church at all - when 'church' attendance, is supposed to be part of their [i]testimony[/i] of a living relationship with God.

In fact, one could easily contend that if a person has not changed at all, then his non-response to the gospel disqualifies him from church attendance. (Isn't this what hypocrisy is about - going to church but not obeying God in personal things?) But, if he [i]has[/i] been challenged to seek God in an active way, then he has broken through the pain barrier of pride, may have repented, ceased from sin, and been filled with the Holy Spirit, of which previously he was none of those things.

Thus.... churches should be full of people with a living relationship with their Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom else need they be 'accountable', if they have understood that 'all things [i]are[/i] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do' (Heb 4)?

So... is 'accountability' as it is practised amongst and between mere men, really scriptural, or is it another variety of veritable [i]psychobabble[/i] which some are otherwise quite quick to condemn?

Please don't misread the above thesis as my certified [i]opinion[/i].

Just reasoning with myself.... that's all.

Hia Sis Dorcas. Had to think long and hard on this while I was posting on the Watchman Nee thread.

Yes, I still love Nee.

Anyhow - I feel that because of my background, that I had to learn the hard way on accountability.

Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a [b]friend[/b]; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

FRIEND - key word.

I put myself to my friends to tell me when I'm off. I wait and watch who I feel has the best CHRISTLIKE spirit and ask they tell me when I'm not seeing my own "blindspots" - which we ALL have BTW.

I don't choose them by their "doctrine" but by their "spirit".

I'm pentecostal - and you know the rest - but most of those who've I requested accountability or oversight from are either Baptist or Presbyterian and maybe just two that's more believing the wacky things I do. Both on here and in Church and in my private life.
Only one sister knows everything about my entire life and private life and we've known each other for over 20 years and she's a true Christ-like Saint and not like me. She's softer etc. etc..

Those are the batch of folks who I ask to please tell me when I'm going off. I have blind spots - and no one can make all the people happy, all of the time.

On here - I have folks looking in that are not members that are in the ministry - and then there's others.
At Church, of course I have the elders that are Christlike - Praise GOD only.

Took me 28 years to find a Pastor since I left my home Church. Horrible looking around for that long for a Pastor with Love/Holiness in one package. He knows about my life and he's practically saved my life, in a sense.

I don't know if you'd call all of this accountability or Body Ministry or just being wise to yourself. If I can't be wise in everything - at least I can be wise enough to know that I'm not. :-?

Thanks for letting me blabber on.

Following are two definitions of accountability. One from the Websters 1828 Dictinary, and one from the Websters Online Dictionary of 2008.

In 1828 it seems that the definition of accountability referred more to mans accountability to God because it also mentions judgment and reward. Christ is the the one that will judge us all. As believers, we are told not to judge fellow believers, because Christ is the one who judges all.

Websters 1828 Dictionary

ACCOUNTABIL'ITY, n.

1. The state of being liable to answer for one's conduct; liability to give account, and to receive reward or punishment for actions.

[b]The awful idea of accountability[/b].

2. Liability to the payment of money or of damages; responsibility for a trust.

Websters online Dictionary, 2008

accountability

Main Entry: ac·count·abil·i·ty
Pronunciation: \\ə-ˌkau̇n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\\
Function: noun
Date: 1794
: the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions

Hi waltern,

Thanks for that thought from the older dictionary.

'Websters 1828 Dictionary

ACCOUNTABIL'ITY, n.

1. The state of being liable to answer for one's conduct; liability to give account, and to receive reward or punishment for actions.

[b]The awful idea of accountability.[/b]'

Can we base our theology on this?

If so, does the Bible agree with the [i]limitations[/i] of the dictionary definition, or, does it go further?

And if it goes [i]further[/i], in which direction does it go?

Picking up on the word 'awful', should we [i]fear[/i] 'account'ing to God?

I think what is considered "accountability" among Christians today is not a bad thing, but the modern version of it that we see today has it's roots in modern, humanistic phsychology. We need to be leary of that side of it because humanistic phsycology has replaced the Bible in modern churches today.

However, the NT has a lot to say about "submitting one to another", and how the church shared everything in the 1st century. This, of course, speaks to personal property and what not, but it is implied here that they lived among each other... sharing their lives together as well. I dont think it was like "I make you accountable to me", as many pastors seem to think... but more "I make myself accountable to you".

They also confessed their sins to each other, not as the wicked Catholic Church twists that passage so as to make a Catholic have to confess to a priest, but rather to keep each other humble. Knowing they all failed, but helping one another to grow beyong the failures.

I think organizations like Promise Keepers put too much emphasis on "accountability", making the person you're accountable to the Holy Spirit, if you understand what I mean. A believer becomes too dependant on their accountability partner and not dependant at all on the Holy Spirit. It's out of balance. And Promise Keepers should be avoided anyway... it's steeped in apostacy and ecumenism. Always has been. I noticed it when I used to attend... and at that point I didnt even know what apostacy and ecumenism was!

Anyway... just my 3 cents worth.

Krispy

I think we have all heard stories about believers that have shared their past or present problems with other believers, and then have it broadcast all over the Church.

I recently heard a true story of a man that went to his Pastor for advice and council in regards to his marriage. Instead of helping him, the Pastor immediately tried to break the couple up, and take the other mans wife for his own. It did not work, but the damage was done, exposing the Pastor as a man of the flesh, and not a man of God.

Over the years, we have all heard about these things. Back in the 1990's my son and I went to Promise Keepers. After the main promise keepers meetings were over, we met in our Church each week. The Pastor broke us up into groups. In one of the groups, a fellow brother admitted that he was having an affair with another woman. Within one week everyone in the Church knew of his affair, and his wife left him.

This has all been a lesson for me. I confide in my Lord and Savior in prayer. When I pray, I am somehow, supernaturally, in the Throne Room of Heaven when I pray and talk with Him. He is the one that gives me advice, and he is the one that forgives me when I sin and make mistakes. And He is my Shepherd, that I am accountable to, and that keeps me on His path.

Thank you, brethren who have replied here. I appreciate the thoughtful ways you've expanded the issues.

waltern said

This has all been a lesson for me. I confide in my Lord and Savior in prayer. When I pray, I am somehow, supernaturally, in the Throne Room of Heaven when I pray and talk with Him. He is the one that gives me advice, and he is the one that forgives me when I sin and make mistakes. And He is my Shepherd, that I am accountable to, and that keeps me on His path.

Tyndale emphsises in his New Testament, the fellowship we have [i]among ourselves[/i]. I believe this only is where we may be safe and loved, and bold enough to confess our faults on to another for prayer and healing, without fear of ostracism.