"Christian Accountability" What is it?

I have been asked to write about Christian Accountability. This request came out of the blue. That is one reason why I believe it was God-sent. Mostly, like many men, I have been a “Loner” all my life. I cannot speak with much experience about the advantages of having a deeply honest and personal fellowship with another Christian, who responds in like manner. They have been short-lived, and intermittent.

Generally, Christian Accountability is based on scriptures that urge us to edify and encourage one another. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) to stay on the straight and narrow path of eternal life, and biblical verses about confessing our sins to eachother and forgiveness. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) More specifically, it refers to a practice of each church member having someone, or some friends, they meet with regularly that they can be open and honest about their lives. Ideally, this should be mutual, and a relationship that is beneficial to both, especially when in crisis.

“Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord the continued to meet daily in the Temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals together with gladness of heart. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.…” (Acts 2:24)

I have witnessed the Agape and the Phileo love that Christian Accountability requires. In 1969, I evangelized hippies. I had been one, so it was natural for me to turn and save those with whom I associated. We met on Wednesdays in the vestry of an old church built in the 1920s for fellowship. It had an ancient, but once very expensive carpet, high backed stuffed chairs with wooden lions feet legs, a fireplace, and old, dusty pictures of  European landscapes. We had glorious fellowship. When we worshipped and sang, we could hear angels joining in. – Before we gathered in that room, we used the church’s large kitchen to make a communal meal for all. Everyone pitched in, including the small children. Afterwards, most of us went back to Woodland Drive, where before coming to Christ, we lived in a commune established by the LSD guru, Timothy Leary. We were his Brotherhood of Eternal Love, focused on finding God through psychedelics, before some of us became Jesus Freaks and converted the others.

Before the reality of finding real jobs, and taking on the real world responsibilities of adult life crushed us, we were able to live together on a that shady street for a while, with a creek that ran to the beach, in several old wooden houses and shacks, rejoicing in our new-found faith. “Praise the Lord!’ and “Maranatha,” and “I love you, brother,” or “I love you, sister, “ was heard constantly. We read the bible and quoted it all day and all night. The sound of men and women and children singing praises to the Lord were also always in our ears.

Then, as we got married and had children and took on more grown up responsibilities, we all moved away and began other lives. We tried to stay in contact, and some did; but most of us faded away and were never heard from again.

After that, I helped start a church in Isla Vista, next to UC Santa Barbara. We were all young and excited about Jesus. We spoke in tongues, prophesied, laid on hands, and danced and sang for sometimes 2 hours, before beginning our teaching service. It was wonderful! – But, as in seemingly all churches, as we grew, divisions and contentions increased. The wonder and the glory faded. We became a staid, “normal” church, as so many.

I have been a member of a dozen churches since then. I have pastored, taught, helped, and cleaned the toilets. I have also created charitable programs of my own to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have had a personal and a positive impact on many lives. But I have never found the fellowship and the intimate friendship and true, honest, righteous love that I bathed in when I first came to Christ.

In Revelation, Jesus exhorts us to “Remember your first love.” (Revelations 2:4) I have never forgotten it. I have been searching to find it again for 5 decades.

To me, Christian Accountability is how all Christians should live their daily lives. We are all accountable ultimately to Jesus Christ. And he commands to “love eachother as he loves us.” (John 13:34) There are daily Christian courtesies that we must all practice in order to experience the ecstasy of holy Christian fellowship. These are summed up in 1 Corinthians 13. But in this world in which “the love of many has grown cold,” (Matthew 24:12) it has become increasingly difficult to associate with Christians who do not pass judgement and find excuses to be separate from their brothers and sisters in Christ. There are cliques and factions and divisions galore throughout the American Church. The hatred spewed by Christians of opposing political views is an abomination. It has brought shame and dishonor to Christ and to the name “Christian.”

Christian Accountability is what every Christian should be practicing every day. It is synonymous to “waking in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16) Love and respect all men. Treat everyone as you do yourself. Seek to serve. The greatest witness in the world is the Love of Jesus Christ in us. Share it every day, especially with those that are particularly difficult to like and love. Indeed, be children of the true Light! (Ephesians 5:8)The world is in darkness. It needs Christians to unite in love and to show the world how much God loves them. – This is the ultimate Christian Accountability.

Mark Baird