The Limits of Accountability

A word I hear concerning the benefits of Christian fellowship is "accountability."  It seems to be part of being a disciple of Jesus to be held or "hold others accountable."  This can be little more than keeping tabs on someone else, to watch over their shoulder to confirm they are doing the right things or avoiding sin.  The more I think about this concept of what passes as a need for serious discipleship from a biblical vantage point, I wonder if we can actually stand in the way of spiritual growth and maturity.  With a desire to be accepted by others we can seek the favour of an accountability partner rather than seeking God and relying upon His strength to overcome sinful desires of the flesh.  Accountability without the governance of God's love has the potential to become prescriptive, controlling and suggests to find favour with God people must labour to please man.

The Bible does speak about giving an account of ourselves, and the context typically concerns a person giving an account before God in judgment.  Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   Paul wrote in Romans 14:12, "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."  A day will come when we must give account of our words and deeds before the living God who will judge the living and the dead.  Since we will need to do so in the future, confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another is a fitting reminder and practice to prepare for that day (James 5:16).  Those who are not born again will face a judgment of condemnation, while believers will give an account of their stewardship and receive rewards or suffer loss.

I have had people over the years ask for me to hold them accountable for a particular struggle they faced, to agree to be a person with whom they could contact to confess sin.  I have been asked to inquire at random intervals with "how someone is doing" concerning an issue they previously discussed.  This is a good thing when important boundaries are established and maintained:  sin is between a man and God before whom he will give an account, and only God is able to forgive and cleanse from sin.  As we bear one another's burdens everyone is to carry their own load, and no effort of the flesh can do the work of the Holy Spirit.  Because sin is between a person and God, in one sense it is impossible for a person to keep anyone accountable because we only know what we are told or see ourselves.  It is God's sovereign role to punish sinners, discipline saints and reward those made righteous by faith--not because they avoided sin or complied with the directives of men.

How important it is to pursue the living God and remain close to Him in faith and obedience!  This is how by God's grace a healthy, growing relationship with Him is found.  It would be a strange thing for a husband to confess to his friend he had been unfaithful to his wife without confessing to her first since he sinned against her by his infidelity.  In a similar way, if we have sinned before God it is important we go to Him first, that there is no one we report to in place of Him or look for support or encouragement besides Him.  Isn't He the One who has called us to walk righteously, given us His word, an example to follow in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit who fills us, convicts us of sin and the God before whom we will ultimately give account?  Accountability before men is no substitute for fellowship with God.  Giving an account before men has merits, but never allow a person to stand in God's place where favour is received by compliance and disobedience avoided by fear of shame.