Accountability – Developing a Godly Character, part 3
Posted by aaronjen | Filed under Books, Theology
I thought before I move on to the next chapter of Who You Are When No One’s Looking, I’d share some further thoughts on Christian accountability. While it’s not a character trait as such, I think it is a deeply important part of our character. The Mike Foster article I referred to in my last post at first glance seems to disagree with the idea of Christian accountability, but once you read it through you realize that really he’s talking about a radical vision for what Christian accountability should look like, and his preferred term for this is ‘Christian advocacy’. I think he is really on to something here, for in acting as someone else’s accountability person, you really do need to be their advocate, being prepared to show them grace above all else. Otherwise, how can a person be able to be genuinely open to sharing their struggles with you?! I also agree that there’s the tendency to ‘game the system’ by trying to promote how good you are to those you’re accountable to, or how hard you’ve had it, rather than owning up and taking responsibility for your actions.
The biggest pitfall I see in accountability set-ups is in their usually forced nature (someone needing to have security checks to make sure they are staying in line), and usually these will be from the bottom up, rather than the top down. The problem with this is that I think we should be focussing on who we model ourselves to, and when we become aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with, it forces us to be accountable to those people. I think that’s why Paul can confidently say stuff like:
I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.
(1 Cor 4:16)
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
(1 Cor 11:1)
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
(Phil 3:17)
I used to think that this was very arrogant of Paul, but in reality, I think he is setting up accountability self-checks because they are to imitate him as he imitates Christ. I think this is the tell-tale sign that you are being open and honest about your character and actions, if you are confident enough to say to others that they can/should imitate you as you imitate Christ. If you’re not able to do that, well, then I think there’s work to be done (keeping in mind I haven’t reached that state yet myself). - JRR
Tags: accountability, advocacy, Bill Hybels, character, grace, Paul, Who You are When No One's Looking
Courage – Developing a Godly Character, part 2
Posted by aaronjen | Filed under Books, Theology
Bill Hybels is spot on in suggesting that people need to work on courage as part of their character, especially Christians (Ch 2, Who You Are When No One’s Looking). In the section ‘Courage to Be Vulnerable’, he writes that in order to become a Christian, one must have courage to own up to their sins before a holy God, but not only that, being a Christian takes courage, to be openly repentant when we slip up (p15-16). I think this is a very important point, and something that we so often fail to do as the Church. I sometimes wonder if our model of Christianity is just a way of masking our sins behind judgmental attitudes. I’d love to write a book on ecclesiology sometime and call it, Naked and Unashamed, and maybe subtitle it: Who You Are When Everyone’s Watching. I think we really need to restore true accountability into Christian living (ie ‘transparency, authenticity, and brutal honesty’ – see very good article by Mike Foster) and get away from our individualism, only being accountable for the easy stuff, or else becoming better liars.
Really, my only gripe with this chapter comes with the personal examples Hybels provides. I think it takes far mare courage to admit our sinful tendencies and open ourselves up for correction and seek forgiveness, than it does to learn to drive a semi-trailer, fly a plane, and sail a boat (p19-20). Again he seems to be talking outside my level of understanding - I don’t need to be a thrill seeker to have courage, nor the financial means to do so. I wish he would’ve come up with some better examples because I think it takes any action points in having courage in our own lives into the direction of thrill-seeking or bettering our social statuses, rather than truly be open and vulnerable. - JRR
Tags: accountability, Bill Hybels, character, courage, Who You are When No One's Looking
