James 5:16 (NIV)
[16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
I was listen to someone preach the word today. He made an interesting statement. It struck me as interesting because it didn't sound biblical. I believe the Bible informs us as to how we should live and believe as citizens of the kingdom of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ. (1 Tim 4:16) So that when I hear something from a preacher I measure what he says against what I read, specifically in the New Testament .
He stated that he doesn't agree with the concept of accountability partners. The reason that he used was that he thought that most men when they get together aren't honest with their sins. And that when someone confesses their sin the men tend to gang up on that person for the sin they committed. This may be true for him however just because something is true experientially, this doesn't mean that the idea of accountability partners is not biblical. If that is his experience with accountability partners then that experience is unbiblical but that doesn't make the teaching of accountability partners unbiblical and we shouldn't practice it.
In the book of James the author is writing to the body of Christ which is made up of believers. And he says to them to confess their sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed. Now whether this prayer is for spiritual healing or physical healing the idea that we gather together and confessed to each other our sins and pray for each other is the accountability partner concept. So for this preacher to dismiss the idea of accountability partners and what it's meant to be is not a biblical idea. This preachers idea is born out of personal experience not biblical truth.
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
[25] Let us 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.
He also made another interesting point that I thought was on unbiblical. He wanted to make a point about using the word "obey". He said that as a father when his child goes out into the community without parental supervision, he doesn't tell her to obey but he does tell her not to disobey. And he wants to also tell her to live (in accordance with the Holy Spirit). He really emphasized that he doesn't tell his kids to obey. From my perspective, as I was listening to him, it was as if he was trying to say that it is not good for Christians to use the word obey when talking about living for Jesus. I get that he's trying to deal with the sinful human nature. Because our sinful human nature is inclined to resist the idea of obedience.
There are two things here. First, Jesus in the book of revelations tells his people to stop sinning, repent and obey. Now since the Bible is what informs us as to how we should live our lives as citizens of the kingdom of God and since Jesus is our Lord and Master and he is the one that demonstrates the best pattern for us to live by, if He uses the word obey in regards to living as citizens of the kingdom of God here on this earth as strangers within the kingdoms of man, we should, therefore, what this guy was teaching would be considered unbiblical. It's like saying, "Jesus you got it wrong and I know better when it comes to communicating to your people." So the question I ask myself is, should I listen do this teaching or should I listen to what the Bible teaches me about how Jesus speaks to the believers?
The second point is that if we are living by the Holy Spirit the word "obey" should be no problem for us. If we are living by the Spirit, who moves us in the direction we are live our life, we are being obedient. We are obeying therefore we should have no problem with the word "obey" or using the word obey in our conversation with brothers and sisters in Christ. The only time that we have a problem with the word obey is when we are living according to our sinful human nature. You might even go as far as saying that his teaching on the word obey comes from a place of the sinful human nature and not the Holy Spirit. Because who doesn't want to hear the word obey? Our sinful human nature doesn't want to hear it or use it unless we get some kind of personal advantage from it. If he is resistant to using the word obey then the real question is, who is he really following? Because the scripture doesn't resist using it when it is speaking to the followers of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:3 (NIV)
[3] Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
What is the ultimate goal of this practice we call accountability partners we see in scripture or calling people to obey? So that Jesus will be glorified and not be diminished. After all we are His ambassadors. We read throughout Paul's and the other apostles letters reminders to the believers to stop sinning, to watch over one another, not only for those that are suffering because of life circumstances or because of their testimony of Jesus but also if they are living in sin. These reminders are first and foremost to protect the image of Christ as it is reflected through the church and individuals who claim to be followers and the gospel of the kingdom of God.
When the people who don't know Jesus and see the brokenness in the kingdoms of man. When they know their own individual brokenness and they see the brokenness around themselves, their neighbors, their culture, the world itself. When they see this now on a global scale. There is a time when they stop and look around and attempt to see if their is something else, something different, something that offers a better hope or a solution to the brokenness of mankind or maybe for their own shattered soul. The question then is do they see it when they look to what is being held out today as Christianity in the USA? Do they see the kingdom that is not of this world. Do they see that kingdom that's from another place? Do they see a kingdom of people that love God the creator? Do the see a nation of people without borders worshiping Jesus? Do they see a tribe of people loving, encouraging, exhorting, serving, teaching each other? Do they see a people trying to be the best citizens they can be for God's kingdom so that Jesus would be praised and His message followed so that those on the outside looking in say to themselves "yes I want that!"? Or do they just see a bunch of institutionalized religions, unequally yoked with the kingdoms of man, living by the standards of this world in the name of Jesus?
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