Accountability: Friend or Foe?

New research from the Barna Group reveals that most Americans balk at the idea of accountability in the church and most churches do not have systems of accountability in place. Read article here.

As a pastor--and a young one at that--I struggle with how to handle issues revolving around accountability and spiritual leadership.

I always try to lead with grace and give the benefit of the doubt. But the truth is, I and others on my leadership team, often turn a blind eye to people, situations, and issues that ought to be confronted.

Such confrontation should take place both for their own spiritual well-being and that of the congregation. But too often it is not. This to me, seems both unhelpful to them (for their own spiritual growth) as well as unbiblical.

Yet having loving confrontation and difficult conversations are hard because, as the study showed, "Many of the exhortations in the Bible are not popular in today's world. But . . . one of the least favorite biblical principles might well be 'Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow'" (Hebrews 13:17, NLT).

The idea of spiritual leadership and accountability to other believers in our rights-ridden, hyper-individualistic culture seems to be a concept that many push back against. So what are church leaders to do? And what can we put in place at our churches to help people with accountability?

The study revealed that most people who said they have some accountability in their churches get that accountability from small group meetings. I wonder, though, how many small groups out there ask the tough questions that really get at the heart of the matter and provide accountability? My guess is, not many are asking the types of questions that John Wesley distributed to his small discipleship bands. Click here to view some of the types of questions Wesley posed for self-examination.

At the end of the day, accountability IS NOT about being judgmental. It's about striving for spiritual maturity and becoming more and more transformed and conformed to the image of Christ.

The truth of the matter is, without some accountability in our lives, we will probably be stunted in our spiritual growth. Recurring patterns of sin and spiritually destructive attitudes and behaviors may never be rooted out because no one ever challenges us to do so; and then come alongside of us to encourage us, pray for us, and help us in our battle. That is what an accountability partner (or group) can do.