The Accountability Question

To Whom Are Believers Accountable, God or Man?

The Accountability Question

Have you ever encountered a "lone ranger" Christian, one who is accountable only to God? This type of individual will often isolate himself from other believers because he thinks that the only way God speaks to him is directly. Frequently this type of Christian views himself as more spiritual than anyone else and therefore is unwilling to receive any leading, whether it is correction or guidance, from another individual. He mistakenly interprets John 14:26 to mean that the Holy Spirit never teaches or directs us through the ministry of another human instrument.

Over the years I have met more than a few people who fall into this category. One in particular, I will call him John, was an avid soul winner. He would walk the streets sharing the Gospel with anyone who would listen. John has led many to the Lord over the years. He is, however, a lousy disciple maker. Why? His personal testimony is poor and his personal life is a mess. He has been married and divorced several times, his children are estranged, he struggles with feeling of insecurity and depression, he could easily slip into alcoholism, and he is totally unwilling to allow anyone to question him or try to guide him. His "lone rangerism" has left him stunted, unable to reach the full potential for which God made him. Individuals like John pick and choose the Scriptures they need to justify their particular "brand" of Christianity. They stay away from any organized Bible preaching church opting instead to form their own fellowships where they can be the teacher and teach their own brand of spiritual "truth".

The fallacy of this type of behavior is seen throughout the New Testament where believers are called to be a body; a body that functions together; a body where each member uses their God given gifts to help the body grow; a body whose head is Jesus Christ; a body where the members are accountable to Christ and to one another. Here are a few references:

Romans 12:4-5: "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." (NLB)

1 Corinthians 12:12: "You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ." (The Message)

Ephesians 4:15-16: "but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ: from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love." (Darby)

Colossians 1:18: "And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy." (NIV)

As the body of Christ, we believers have a responsibility to one another. As members of one body, whose head is Christ, we are never instructed to be "lone rangers" setting about to do God's will on our own. Instead, we are exhorted to relate to one another. How? We are to:

ü "carry one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2)

ü "confess our sins one to another" (James 5:16)

ü "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)

ü not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:25)

If we choose to live our Christianity as a "lone ranger", cut off from the rest of the body, not only is our spiritual growth stunted but by neglecting our responsibility to the rest of the body we cause others to be stunted also.

Unfortunately we are living in a world, and a church, where people are becoming more and more isolated from each other and from Christ. A friend recently shared with me that his granddaughter had fifteen thousand (15,000) text messages on her cell phone in one month! She and her friends would walk side-by-side texting each other instead of talking with each other. Too often the same thing is happening among Christians; we come to church late and leave early to avoid having contact and speaking with others who are there. We choose to not participate in church functions because we don't want to be "forced" into relationships with other believers. How sad and how counterproductive to spiritual growth such behavior is! As the Universal Church is the body of Christ, we are all members together in Christ.

So how do we become "connected" with the other members of Christ's body? How do we protect ourselves from becoming stunted "lone rangers"? Here are a few suggestions:

Ø Attend Sunday worship services at a Bible preaching/teaching church. Come a little early and stay after the service allowing God to bring you in contact with other members of the body who may need your encouragement or who may be able to encourage you.

Ø Get involved in a Sunday School class appropriate for your age. Not only is this an excellent opportunity for you to grow spiritually, but it also allows you to fellowship in a smaller setting.

Ø Join a Small Group Bible study. The Small Group ministry is available to help all of the body grow in knowledge, fellowship and service to others. This is the easiest setting to get to know others in an informal and friendly atmosphere, grow in your understanding of the Word, and make yourself available to serve others.

Ø Find an accountability partner. Ask God to help you connect with someone who, like you, wants to be held accountable, wants to grow in their Christian walk, wants to pray together, and wants to encourage you as you encourage them.

So, what is the answer to our original question? To whom are Christians accountable, God or man? The answer is "yes"! If you want to be all that God wants you to be, commit yourself to Christ and His Word, learn all you can from your personal study of the Bible and allow God to speak to you through other believers who are walking in faith after Jesus. Become an active member of the body of Christ.