Accountability? Well....uh.....

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

I belong to a men's group that meets every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. at What-A-Burger in Gresham, Tx. We get together, share, and do a devotional. Last week Doug mentioned being accountable; Chrsitain accountability. So, what are we doing? We talked about starting with prayer and being accountable for a certain amount of time in prayer everyday. I did some research on Biblical accountability and here is some of what I found.


Christian Accountability - A Need for Support
Accountability is essential for any society to function and Christian accountability is no different. We are all held accountable in one way or another. For example, there are laws to obey and if we fail to be obedient, we may have to suffer the consequences set by the officials who hold us accountable. Accountability is simply being responsible for one's actions.

There are several accountability groups that specialize in assisting people who would like to overcome an issue, addiction, or other tendency. As humans, we find support, comfort, and motivation from others who are struggling with similar life circumstances.

There are Christian accountability groups as well. Christians need support and comfort and often find this through Christian accountability. There are two essential elements to accountability: trust and the ability to relate.

Christian Accountability - The Essential Element of Trust
In order to establish Christian accountability, there needs to be trust. Developing trust is a slow process and it takes time to develop and grow. As people meet together to share, they begin to establish a rapport with one another. How is this accomplished? Let's see what the Bible says.

Active listening is essential to developing trust. James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
A non-judgmental attitude is another essential element. Remember, we can be accepting of an individual while being discerning of the situation. Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Caring for each other is also essential. 1 John 4:21 says, "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Accountability involves a willingness to open yourself up and share sensitive or personal information. This is why trust is so imperative. If you sense trust, you are more open to share your innermost thoughts without concern of betrayal.
Do you have an accountability partner? Do you feel you need one? Remember, character is what we do when no one can see us. How is your character? Is it something you could share with an accountability partner? Love you all. Think about it.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny