Accountability

3 thoughts on “Accountability

  1. Thanks, Andrew for this encouragement to move out of my “safe zone” and follow Jesus’ consistent of example of “speaking the truth in love”. The three ingredients required for this kind of living to produce fruit that makes a difference in this world are these:

    1) love — you didn’t specifically mention it in your offering above, but i’m certain you’d agree that even if we follow your advice to the “T”, if we do it motivated by anything other than love, we can very easily sound “like a clanging gong or a noisy symbol.” Our hearts have to be motivated with compassion and humility. It’s what can give us a voice that reminds people a Voice they were made to hear, whether they know it or not.

    2) being real — if i am willing to continually take the risk of being authentic with others by telling the truth both to myself and others — even in small things, admitting mistakes and being slower in my judgments….I will be much more open to letting go of my attachment to being right and looking good all the time. It also gives me an amazing source of insight and freedom by committing myself to being truthful. Do you realize how much stronger and effective I become when I trust YOU to love me and share what YOU see in my life? Even if you sometimes make mistakes in the process? The depth and level of our relationship, as it grows more honest and intimate, generates power and boldness that can literally shake up the lives in a world around us that is literally starved for the authentic.

    3) grace — ah, that friggen’ beautiful, mysterious thing that we are offered that can step into that space that happens when we really begin paying attention to what others are saying. Listening with hearts that ache to hear the truth rather than what “tickles our ears.” I believe that as we allow the spirit of Jesus to permeate the details of our lives, we gain access to the deepest fountains of His grace. We’re able to forgive and be forgiven in richer ways. We invite constructive criticism rather than run from it. We repent, less out of guilt and more out of love. We learn to speak with sensitivity, clarity and humility when exhoriting a struggling brother…all because of that incredible cloak of grace.

    I love how you gave both perspectives above, because every one of us, as we commit to deeper relationships with each other will find ourselves in need of being reminded of what it’s like to see a “speck in our brother’s eye” or “find a plank in our own.”

    In Ruiz’ amazing little book “The Four Agreements”, he outlines much of what you shared with us so well.
    1) Be impeccable with your word.
    2) Don’t take anything personally.
    3) Don’t make assumptions.
    4) Always do your best.

    If we truly wish to be people that TOGETHER impact our corner of the world, we have to be willing to be less sensitive, more vulnerable, more truthful and above all, more loving. Your encouragement to us to do that is remarkable. Thanks again.

    sT

  2. Steve- Love your additions. I was struck by your idea that we become so much stronger when we trust others to love us and share what they see. It reminds me of how great artists, musicians, inventors, etc., often have a group of peers who are all working on the same thing, sharing ideas, critiquing each other (in love). Their remarkable growth is partly attributable to this group. Same holds true in learning to follow Christ. Thanks!

    Andrew

  3. Very good post, this. Speaking from experience, accountability can be a tough balance between the “therapist” who simply listens to his partner, and the hardened police officer, always hammering home the point of sin and repentance.

    As I was reading your article, I was reminded of a recent interview I heard with with Daniel M. Bell, author of “Just war as Christian Discipleship.” He argues in his book that a “just” war can only be waged by a just people, who seek not to destroy their enemy, but to love their enemy by overcoming their evil. (That really doesn’t do the book justice, but I’ll stop there…)

    So often in Scripture, you can find of imagery of war describing the battles that Christians or Jews fought against their own sin, and in the case of accountability, another believer helps you purge yourself of that sin. The idea of just war that Bell espouses seems to me quite similar, especially in that a just war is waged by a “just” or “righteous” people for the purpose of discipleing, justifying, or simply quitting the evil of their enemy. Could you describe a military campaign against the Hutus during the Rwandan genocide as a “just” act of discipleship, one where a just people is demanding repentance from the Hutu majority for their sin against the Tutsi minority?

    Just a thought. There’s lots of tremendous scholarship going on these days, most of which I’ve never heard about but which I find to be brilliant.

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