Week 21 Kingdom Chat: Accountability
Our Kingdom Chat this week centers on the topic of accountability in Christian community. What is it all about and why is it important?
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. -2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that the substance of our lives on earth matters deeply to God. Our thoughts, our choices, our words, our attitudes, our actions… all of it matters. We will give account to Christ for what we have done – the ultimate display of accountability – and He will reward us accordingly. But in the meantime, God provides many opportunities for accountability here on earth. First, He has given each of us a conscience, the Holy Spirit inside of us and the written Word of God, so we are always confronted with awareness of what is good and what is not. Furthermore, God put us in families here on earth to practice this principle of accountability with the people in our lives.
Here at KLCC, we have a responsibility to hold each other accountable before we give our final account to Christ. The world might say that we ought to “mind our own business”, but that’s not what true Christian community is about. Scripture explains that we are called to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), and teach and admonish one another in wisdom (Colossians 3:16).
Accountability at KLCC is about holding each other accountable to God’s principles and standards. To be clear, accountability here is NOT about pushing someone to strive after selfish ambitions or goals (you might see this at work or school) or trying to enforce your individual preferences or expectations in someone else’s life. Instead, accountability is focused on what God says is important. We ought to regularly encourage those in our community to live according to the principles in the Bible and to stay true to His plans and purposes for them. And we must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us graciously point out when someone’s behavior is not pleasing to God.
Here’s the bottom line: We need one another! Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that we be must be close enough to “sharpen” one another. If you’re a part of this community, you should expect to both give and receive admonition and encouragement! If you’re not, then it’s time to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit inside of you and start reaching out. When accountability is consistently practiced in love and in truth, we become stronger as a community and more faithful representatives of Jesus in this world.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you have anyone holding you accountable to God’s principles? Do you take responsibility for admonishing and encouraging the people around you?
2) How can we use this digital platform to foster better accountability?
To complete Week 21 Kingdom Chat, reply beneath this post. In addition, be sure to comment on at least one of the replies.
- 9 Replies
Thanks you @purposefaith for the exhortation. Its quite instructive as well. The scriptures that readily came to mind were Hebrews 10:25 MSG “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching” and 2Cor 13:5 says, ” Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…”
It was easier to meet believers in my home country but when I came to the UK, I realized that I was in a new environment where Christian fellowship was not like I was used to. Some of my contemporaries saw this as an opportunity to be “free from prying Christian eyes”, I almost did too but I was trained to know that to be a danger sign, because when you are out of fellowship with other believers, you run the risk of growing cold in your love and faith. I quickly found myself a family of believers which boosted my faith.
The world is full of so much distraction that without holding each other accountable in love, we will risk failing in our faith. Our Pastors, and family of believers hold us accountable, not to count our wrongs but to uphold us because a three fold cord cannot be broken. Which is why this platform provides a forum for us to encourage ourselves and grow especially in these distracting times. Don’t think it liberty to be away from believers, its actually a trap. Lets get together to warm ourselves from the fire we all bring. Watching Christian TV alone is not enough, you need that connection which is what we provide here in Kingdom Concept. The world will get worse and we need each other the more.
I can definitely say for myself during this last season of studying for my master’s program and my license exam, I grew distant from my usual bibles study fellowship group as well as church family, although at the time I took that as being disciplined to my studies. However, one of my brothers in Christ kindly encouraged me to not forsake the fellowship of believers as it says in Scripture and I realized that once he said that, I felt convicted to get back into community with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s not that my love grew cold because I wasn’t in community but my fuel was running empty the more I was focusing on my studies and as I attend Bible studies and church more regularly, my desire to read the Word more and encourage those in the faith also grew. I’m grateful for my brothers and sisters along with our church community here at KLCC for nudging me back to what matters most, community and accountability in the faith.
That’s a great testimony @feng! When life gets busy or stressful, it’s easy to forsake fellowship but I’m glad you’ve learned to prioritize it and can see the benefits in your life.
We are glad @feng that you are finding purpose in your daily living. Life will always place a demand on us that requires our focus. But we must learn to remain steadfast in our Christian duties in the midst of the demands that pull on us frequently.
Perfect timing! I just had not one but two accountability calls today. Both very meaningful and encouraging, after all, all I can say is what a blessing it is to go through life knowing you can count on your family in Christ to check on u and share some wisdom when you need it the most.
As for me, the church as always been my second home. I thank God for the church fellowship that we have here in Virginia. It has been an awesome experience of growing together and learning to submit to one another in Christ.
We are encouraged to submit to one another, pray for each other and even confess our sins to one another. That’s how we get through the fires of life. This platform is quickly becoming another accountability system for me because it places a demand on my commitment to purpose and fellowshipping with other brethren to share my thoughts and learn from others as well.This is awesome! accountability is key, and i like how you made it clear that we cannot compare accountability for goals, to accountability for christ like living.
Yes! there are areas in my life that accountability has helped me better with.
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