Accountability vs. Excuses

 

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

 

* (1) Police officer Thomas Wilson pleaded guilty to having 8,742
images of child pornography on his computer, but the judge
acknowledged that Wilson might have acquired them "somewhat
accidentally" (Brisbane, Australia; March). (2) Ernest Simmons
was convicted of attempted murder of two sheriff's deputies
despite his defense that he only "accidentally" shot at them (11
times, using two guns) (Orlando, January). (3) Accused purse-
snatcher Derrick Dale, 21, said that the purse fell on his foot and
(according to the arrest report) "the next thing he knew, [it] was in
his hands" (Destin, Fla., January). [Brisbane Times, 3-13-08]
[WFTV (Orlando), 1-31-08] [Northwest Florida Daily News, 1-18-
08]

 

 

Accountability

 Love never means a lack of confrontation. It does not look away or wink at the sins of others. Love actually gets in peoples faces and tells them the truth in love. When my Dad caught me playing with matches in the basement… he didn’t just roll his eyes and close the basement door leaving me to my own demise. He ran down the stairs snatched the matches and spanked me on the spot… Why… because he was mad… of course, but the foundational why was because he loved me and our family. A good house fire has a way of ruining perfect week… especially if there are deaths involved. 

 

How sincere, honest and brutally committed are you in the life of being a disciple… a true follower of Jesus? 

Yes, we often hear excuses about the time it takes, the awkwardness, the men at the group are not my type of guys, we are busy, I do my own devotionals etc…

 

The truth is that accountability is in fact a major player in becoming more like Christ, dealing with our sin nature and growing in strong manly relationships. 

 

John Wesley was so concerned with building a righteous fellowship that he devised a series of questions for his followers to ask each other every week. Some found this rigorous system of inquiry too demanding and left. Today, the very idea of such a procedure would horrify many churchgoers. Yet some wisely follow just such a practice. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions that he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with periodically: 

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me? 

 

I might add a few of my own…

8. When was the last time you told your kids and spouse you loved them?

9. Do you tithe to your local church regularly (thats 10% of your income)?