Accountability requires consistency and systematic approach

Greetings to you, dear friends! Grace and peace to you from Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Yesterday we talked about the price of accountability. We established that accountability requires a willingness to learn and be taught, as well as openness. We also discussed that there must be an atmosphere of love and acceptance among us, instead of fear, distrust and rejection. We must carry each other’s burdens and not spread around their secrets or problems.

The Bible says that those who spread private information destroy relationships and cause people to start hiding their feelings and situations. But since we want to change and to help others, we must learn to be cautious with our words. Not everything we know should be announced to the world. (It does not apply to the information that can affect someone’s life and safety.)

John Wesley, the leader of Methodist movement, used accountability groups to ensure the spiritual growth of his congregation. During the weekly meetings believers gave account to one another. The members of these groups signed a document promising to open their lives to the others by answering specific questions, like: «What sins did you commit this week? What temptations did you experience? How did you fight these temptations off? Did you lie answering these questions?» People in these groups were transparent before one another and it helped them keep themselves in purity. It helped them stay alert, because every one of them knew that comes next week they will have to give account of how they lived.

So, accountability requires being open.

• Besides, accountability requires honesty.

An accountable person must be committed to always tell the truth, even if it hurts him. If I want to be accountable, I must always tell the truth! If you tell half-truth, it is the same as a lie, because you are hiding something being afraid to the whole truth. If you give partial answers and hide something, it is not accountability. Accountability implies being totally honest. Accountability implies revealing all your cards, so to speak, to a person that has spiritual authority over you.

• Also, accountability requires consistency and systematic approach.

What does it mean? For example, I give account to someone once in six months, – it is a long period of time; I really can mess up during six months. So I need some structure or system that would allow me to give account regularly and systematically, at least once a week. In the early church it happened daily:

«And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved» (Acts, 2:42-47).

Usually a home group or a church gets together weekly, not once in six months. Unfortunately, some believers go to church once in six months or one a year. It happens because they lack consistency.

«Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to do also: on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collection when I come» (1 Corinthians, 16: 1-2).

In this passage we see the importance of a system and consistency! On the first day of each week they had a meeting that provided accountability and spiritual structuring. Such a system helps us draw power from one another, serve one another with our spiritual gifts and be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Accountability is not to limit us; it is a God-given system which helps a person change and acquire true freedom – freedom from sin, fear and falsehood!

May God bless you abundantly!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye