Understanding and Developing Christian

Accountability
Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

What is accountability?

Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6; 27:17; 2 Corinthians 12:19-13:6; Galatians 6: 1-

10; Ephesians 5:21; Colossians 3:9-10; James 5:16

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and
good deeds. 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. Hebrews 10:25

A popular American TV show from the 1960’s was Dobie Gillis. In this hit
show, there was a character played by Bob Denver called Maynard G. Krebs,
better known for later playing Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island. Maynard was a
“beatnik,” a precursor to a “hippie” and a pioneer stereotype of the atypical
“teenage slacker.” He was the person who refused to work, was very lazy, and all
of his energies were spent on conniving to get what he wanted without earning it.
His catchphrase was “wooooork?!?” when confronted that he needed to work for
something in order to receive something. He was very funny and was just listed
in the top 100 memorable entertainers of the twentieth century. The TV episodes
can still be seen today (I know this stuff because my church is near Hollywood
and many people in that industry go there). Maynard represents a lot of Christian
mindsets today—not the fear of work, but, rather “acccountabilityyy?!?” We fear
and hide from it as if it were an assault upon our lifestyle, fears, and plans. We
do not want to hear about it nor be tied to it. Yet, it is essential in order for us to
grow and produce godly character and fruit.

What is accountability? It is a check and balance system to protect us

from harm from ourselves and others. We do this by being open to what we are
thinking and doing so we can receive encouragement and reproof, when needed.
Christian accountability is accounting for what we are up to. It is the realization
that we are liable, responsible, and answerable for our actions in life to God
(Matt. 12:36; Rom. 2:16; 14:2; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10), as well as to key
Christians in our life (John 13:34 Gal. 6:1-2; Philip. 2:4; Heb. 10:23-24; James
5:16). Thus, we need to hold to our beliefs and keep in line with what we believe
so it does not distract us from God’s path for us or discourage others from their
path.

Accountability allows us to be answerable to one another, focusing on key

relationships such as with our spouse, close friends, colleagues, coworkers, a
boss, small group members, and pastor. It is sharing, in confidence, our heartfelt
Christian sojourn in an atmosphere of trust. Then, we can give an answer for
what we do and understand where we need help in areas where we are weak
and struggling, where and how we are growing, what we are learning, and to be
encouraged. These precepts help us to stay on track, and get prayer, care, and
support when we fail. We can also model guideposts for one another in order to
keep going.

Accountability enables us to share our lives with one another in a deep,

introspective way. This helps us to get to know ourselves and others in a deeper
manner. Even though most of our relationships in life tend to be casual and
superficial, we need deep connections; that is what God has made us for (Eccl.
4:10-12; Rom. 12:5; 14: 13-23; Eph. 5:21; Col. 3:9-10; 1 Peter 3:15). In this, we
can have a place to open up, share, and be challenged beyond sports, weather,
fashion, or makeup. The goal is our spiritual formation which is Christian maturity,
growth, and character derived from God working in us and our working out our
faith with one another.

Some Christians have seen accountability groups alone as a place to vent

all of their frustrations in life. Yes, we need a place to vent, but if all we do is vent,
we accomplish nothing. Real growth cannot take place, as the venting will be all
consuming and will leave no time for instruction or feedback. The group will
merely become a place to gossip. Accountability is also not a place to find our
inner child or inner warrior, or warrior princess. Accountability is not about just
complaining about how life has dumped on us or a place to put others down;
rather, it is a “compact” (a deeper agreement beyond a contract) and system on
how to become more Christ-like (Psalm 133:1). A good accountability group will
have questions, Bible study, prayer, listening, and support at its core.

Accountability is not about confrontation. We may, at times, need to be

confronted and to confront another, but accountability is more about challenging
one another to grow in Christ, so there is no need to rebuke people.
Accountability helps instill the warning precepts that God has given us, but it also
has the necessary support, counsel, encouragement, and affirmation we all
need. Accountability enables us to be ...in Christ, we who are many form one
body, and each member belongs to all the others (Rom. 12:5). This enables our
connectedness to lay aside the island mentality. We do not stand independent of
one another. Because such interdependency exists within the Body of Christ, we
are responsible to one another to do our part and to help others do theirs.

As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the
hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
. . . If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part
rejoices with it (1 Cor. 12:20-21, 26).

Why Do We Need Accountability?

 We are accountable to God and to one another (2 Chron. 19:6-7; Ezek.
34:2-4; Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Pet. 2:10-11). We are all fallen creatures; as Christians,
we are still fallen, but are saved by His grace. We are declared clean before God
by our Lord’s work; however, we are still full of sin. We all have items and
thoughts in our lives that diminish our relationship with God and our effectiveness
with others. There is still a process on which to embark to become cleaner (which
I believe we never totally become); this is called sanctification. As Christians, we
are in the process and practice of our faith, growth, learning, and maturity all the
days of our lives. At the same time, we are still sinners and susceptible to
temptation, spiritual warfare, and our misplaced desires. We have blind spots
and need input from others to find them. If you really want to grow in faith and be
effective in ministry, you must be held accountable; otherwise, you will fall,
backslide, or be ineffective because of imbued pride. Sin will get you; maybe not
today, but tomorrow is still coming. Accountability is essential for every Christian
to help reach his or her full potential; it is a mandate to those in leadership and
ministry!

Having other people around whom you can trust and get to know more
deeply will enable you to know yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, and
opportunities—more deeply. You will be able to see in the mirror to your inner
being and desires and see if they line up to what God has for you. You will
become more aware of issues, relationships, and life as life’s purpose and God’s
call are unfolded before you. Because you see life and God’s Word more deeply,
your behaviors and response to others will also change for the better (Eccl. 4:8-
12; Rom. 15:7; Eph. 4:9-13; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24; James 5:16).

The pages of the Bible are filled with stories of people leaning on others
for growth and personal and spiritual development. Deep connections help great
leaders overcome their struggles and see what they cannot see on their own.
Most prominently in the Old Testament are Moses and Aaron (Exodus), and
David and Jonathan (1 Sam. 18-20). In the New Testament are Paul and
Barnabas, and then Paul with Titus, Silas, and Timothy (Acts 11-14; 2 Cor. 2:12).
And, of course, our Lord Jesus, while He walked this earth, had His twelve with
an extra connection to the inner three, Peter, James, and John.

Thus, we can surmise that accountability is not for just for those who are
weak, needy, or for wimps; it is for the strong who want to be stronger and the
unconnected who need to be connected. If you think, as a man, this is still just for
the weak, consider that greatness and authenticity cannot come about without
humility and connection (James 4:7-12; 1 Pet. 5: 1-11)! “Real men” will be
accountable to other real men, and real godly women will be connected to other
godly women (Prov. 31). There is no way around this vital call! God gives us the
call to be deeply connected to one another because we need it. The leaders in
the Bible knew this well, Jesus modeled this for us, and the only hindrance is our
willingness to comply. Leaders and pastors who are not accountable will
eventually fall, and, until then, be very ineffective! God has called you to be the
iron that sharpens others’ iron, as their iron will sharpen you (Prov. 27:17)!

Accountability is nothing new, although it seems it is by the topics of

sermons and books or from some popular movements within the last ten years;
however, it was practiced by pious Jewish teachers before Christ. Accountability
was insisted on and practiced by Christ, Himself. Just observe how Jesus led the
Disciples and how He modeled to the Disciples. This was picked up by the early
church; the Reformers all had men in their lives who held them to account, in
whom they trusted, took advice from, bounced ideas off of, and who prayed for
them.

Calvin was especially a proponent of accountability and insisted all of His

leaders be held in account, “believers (who) seriously testify, by honoring mutual
righteousness among themselves, that they honor God.” It was the system he
established that became the model of the “check and balance” system of modern
governments, first established in the U.S. in our Constitution. The Methodist
movement, founded by John Wesley, was started as an accountability and prayer
group. Every effective minister, leader, and growing Christian I have ever met
was in some form of an accountability group, including Billy Graham and my
mentor, Francis A. Schaeffer. In fact, I have never met an effective Christian,
pastor, or leader who was not in an accountability group. For every bad and
ineffective leader I have ever met, none of them believed in or practiced
accountability! This should communicate to us loudly.

Thus, the bottom line of why we need accountability is, we will be tempted;
and, unless we have a system to protect ourselves, we will fall to that temptation
(Prov. 6:27; 1 Cor. 6:18, 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:9-11; 2 Tim. 2:22)! The world is rich in
temptations and we can not fight against them effectively unless we allow the
One who overcame the world to infuse us (John 5:4), and not love the world (1
John 2:15). It comes down to having trusting faith in Christ, and allowing His work
in others to help keep us connected to Him. His empowerment will be synergized
when we are connected with others whom we trust and who can warn us of
coming dangers in our pursuits and thinking, encourage us when we are down,
and who will hold us accountable. The love of God is often best reflected in the
love and care of others. Allow that care to shield you from the wrong pursuits in
life.

Many Christians think, all I have to do is leave Satan alone and he will
leave me alone so I do not need accountability. The response to that is no, he
will go after you even more! We will be tempted by Satan and by his influences
that seem enticing but will only hurt us. Satan seeks, not to give us what we
want, but to steal from us all that which God has given. Thus, if we submit to
God, then the devil flees; if we run to Satan and his ways, God is far off from us.
We can try with all of our might and effort to have accountability, but unless
others are there for us, and unless we are headed toward God, it just will not
work! The only thing that can thwart Satan is God. So, be in Him and not in the
world (Eph. 6:10; James 4:7-10; Rev. 12:11).

James is saying to first turn to God and surrender to His ways. If not, the
ways of Satan and the world will gladly take up that role. We need others in our
lives to point out to us the pitfalls before us, as we may not see them ourselves,
blinded by desires and wanderlust. We cannot do this solely by our own efforts
and strength; we need others, too. Others will see what we refuse to see, or what
is blocked by our desires. It is about the insight of others and the power of the
Spirit working in us all. It is not the strength of others; rather it is their eyes,
words, and assistance, and our allowing God to be our strength. To remove
Satan from our lives, we have to fell him—not just ignore him, but run away from
him and to God, and allow others to help us in our scurry.

Objections to Accountability

Accountability may seem to go against our self-sufficient, individualistic

mindsets and fear of conviction. Most cultures and individuals like to be “my own
person,” and thus do “my own thing.” Most people do not like being told what to
do or how to do it. But, we need godly people in our lives to do just that—with
love and care. Thus, we have to learn to overcome our barriers of conviction so
we can grow more in Christ and with one another.

Many Christians see accountability as meaningless because conviction is

the role of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; Acts 1:8; 4:31; 10:45; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph.
3:16-17; Heb. 13:5-6). Yes, they are correct about the conviction part, and wrong
to say that it does not matter. Why? Galatians tells us to carry each other's
burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). The meaning
refers to moral issues and guarding weakness (Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:21).Take
heed, we are also responsible and answerable for our actions in life to God and
to other key Christians. Thus, we need to be held to our beliefs and kept in line
about what we believe so it does not distract us from God’s path for us or
discourage others from their own path.

The other typical objection believers give is that we are not under any kind
of law, and now we have liberty and Grace, so it does not matter. A prominent
Christian leader a few years back asked me, after I had done a workshop on
accountability, Why is this important? Can’t I just live my Christian life as I
please? After all, I have liberty in Christ! I answered him to the best of my ability,
but he just would not get it; shortly thereafter, he fell and fell hard. It turned out he
did not like accountability because he has been having a long-term affair. He did
not want to be convicted! Our liberation is not to protect us from conviction; it is to
enjoy our Lord so we can pursue His precepts as we realize our indebtedness to
Him.
 Liberation simply means Christ has set us free (John 8:32-36; Rom. 6:3-
23; Gal. 5:1). Paul was overcome by his liberation in and by Christ (Mark 7:18-
19). He stressed that we must behave and be responsible in the correct manner.
We many enjoy our freedom, but freedom does not entitle one to do anything one
wants, just as living in a “free” county like the U.S. does not, as we cannot steal
or murder or not pay taxes. What about free will? Yes, we have “free will;” Calvin
spent most of his writings discussing this fact. He taught that we have
responsibility, and duty to faith and prayer, three areas that require free will. We
are still to allow His work to continue in us; the Holy Spirit will lift our sin and our
will out of the way. If you truly give up your will to God, will you be liberated or
would you be obligated as a servant/slave with no real life as you would see it?
The fact is that you are free in Christ! The question is how will you live your life of
freedom?

The liberty of the Christian life is by surrender. It gives us:

1. Freedom from law. (Rom. 3:19; 6:14; -15; Gal. 2:20-21; 3:23-25)
2. Forgiveness, acceptance, and access to His presence. (Rom. 5:1-2)
3. Freedom from having to base our acceptance on our performance. (Rom. 7:
7-11; 10:3)
4. Freedom from sin, and declared cleaned! (John 8:34-36; Rom 3:19; 6: 3-23;
1 Cor.15: 16; Gal. 3:10-20; 4:21-31)
5. Freedom from our own faulty thinking and superstitions. (1 Cor. 6:12-13; 8:7-
13; 1 Tim. 4:1-5)

Because of these five reasons, we respond with obedience—not out of

obligation (as a slave does), but out of gratitude and love. This new obedience is
because of a changed heart and will. We are enabled to respond and continue in
our new life by the Holy Spirit. Accountability helps us in our freedom in Christ,
because we give up on our self will and focus on His. Like driving a car in a
strange unfamiliar area and making Christ a passenger, we, as human beings,
spend most of the time arguing, complaining, and debating the destination. Yet,
we do not have a clue to where we are going. If we would allow Christ to get into
the driver’s seat, He would be able to take us where we could never have gone
before. In addition, if we sign over the “pink slip” to our Lord Jesus Christ, then
He will take us to places that, even in our wildest imaginations, we could never
fathom. Then, perhaps the love we are to receive and exhibit will flow ever so
much more freely! The bottom line is: accountability is letting Christ drive!
Accountability becomes the map to keep us moving on His road to His
destination; if we throw away the map, then we go in the wrong direction; we will
never get to the destination, and perhaps, even crash. It begins when we stop to
ask for directions, His Directions!

We are not to allow our liberation and freedom in Grace to cause people
to stumble by our actions or inactions. Our faith and actions are monitored
closely by God as well as by other people, and we must realize that our actions
are more influential than our words. We will either lift people up or bring them
down! Hypocrisy is perhaps the most deadly threat to new or weak Christians
who fall victim to it, and is a heinous sin against Christ and His children by those
who cause it! We, as a body of Christ, must seek to show right actions to one
another, to be cautious, and to act with charity, humility, and self-denial within our
Christian liberty. We are still called to be responsible in the correct manner. We
may enjoy our freedom, but freedom does not entitle us to do anything we
want. A true Christian will never destroy another person's faith so he can have
his own way! Our freedom must not bring dishonor, division, or disrepute to the
church.

The first two objections are from theological standpoints, but what most of
us struggle with is emotional—our fears and cultural hesitations. Connecting with
others and exposing our feelings may be much easier for most women; but, for
men, this is sometimes a seemingly impenetrable barrier. It can be a scary
business to share your feelings and be open and introspective, as people may
betray us, belittle us, or ignore or step on our heart. And to tell you the truth, yes,
that can happen. It has happed to me several times, as close accountability
partners have betrayed confidences and spread rumors. However, the benefits
have far outweighed the few times I have been wronged.

Women tend to be better at opening up than men, especially generations

born before 1965. We were brought up to think that a man is to show no emotion
or share feelings—the John Wayne type. This makes a good movie character but
is not good biblical character. So, we become fearful of sharing our lives with our
spouse, coworkers, or even a trusted friend. These fears debilitate relational
connections and the support we need in life and in ministry as well as hamper
trust (Rom. 8:15). Another factor that ties in with this is shame. We feel
embarrassed or that we are the only one going though this. We may feel they will
reject me when they get to know me. Or, we feel no one will understand or they
will think less of me. The fact is, as growing Christians in Christ, when we get to
know one another, we get to know ourselves as well; love supercedes judgment
and care overpowers fear. This leads to forgiveness and openness. If we let our
shame and fear rule our emotions and ability to be held accountable, we will not
be able to share or receive godly instruction. Thus, sin will rain upon us. When
we start to realize that the love and care we send and receive is far better than
the isolation we build, it will allow us to grow more in maturity and faith because
we will be open and honest. As a result, all of our relationships and our ministry
will vastly improve.

We need to realize we are already accepted by Christ. He no longer

condemns us, as, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus… nothing can
separate me from the love of God (Rom. 8). Thus, to be in a Christian
accountability group, you are in a group with sinners who all have been
wounded, all who fear, all who are saved by grace, and who all are together
exercising the faith. We are all in the same boat here. We learn of one another’s
battles which helps us with ours, and ours helps with theirs. Insights are gained
and shared, and the transformation from fear to maturity commences. Together,
we are not to be ashamed of who we are in Christ, living out our faith with
passion and conviction. The real shame is a Christian who does not seek help
from God and others. Being accountable will promote healing and growth in all
aspects of your life!

Remember, people will hurt you, because people who hurt are usually
hurting themselves and they do not know how to relate (which an accountability
group can help with). What can we do to overcome this obstacle? Be vulnerable,
yet discerning. Only allow people whom you already know and trust to be a part
of your support group, and advance slowly. Start off with a few of the simple
questions and prayer; as you get to know one another, you will build the trust. (I
did not do this with the people who betrayed me!) When we feel safe, we are
more apt to share; this goes for both men and women. When we feel safe, we
better receive essential positive feedback, listen to constructive criticism, and
have a longer and deeper prayer time.

The key to effective accountability is to allow our pride to yield to the

necessity of being accountable to one another. Our justification in Christ is no
escape from bad things happening, because the world is still full of sin. It is a
starting point to build and develop character, patience, and dependence on God's
grace, as Abraham did by faith; we are accountable for our choices. God
approves when we are walking in Him! God does not approve when we are
walking by ourselves, comfortable in our own petty presumptions, and ignoring
His love and truth!

Accountability Can Help Prevent Burnout

Burnout occurs when our spiritual energies are totally exhausted, and we
have no will or vitality to make relationships, or whatever our task is, work. We
are completely worn-out and spent. Thus, if we stay in our position without being
refueled, we will just be throwing a monkey wrench into vital components,
causing them to break. If you are a leader, your burnout is especially devastating
to others because you will be the monkey wrench that sabotages the machine of
ministry. We may not desire or be willing to do so, but because of our lack of
availability due to the fact that there is nothing left of us, we are of no service,
and are, in fact, endangering the vitality and ministry of others.

The stresses of life and the hassles of family will get us down and test our
limits; even the best-run family will have this problem from time to time. So, how
can we tell if we’re just tired or are experiencing burnout? First, we need to ask
ourselves the accountability questions. If we are operating in His precepts, it is
probably just exhaustion. However, if we find ourselves being apathetic and
detached from our families, we have a problem. We have to be on guard against
the most destructive force, pride! Pride and arrogance will produce a superiority
complex. Then, we become careless towards others and lose our perspective of
what God has called us to do. We can hurt our family, our friends, and if we are
married, cause intense harm to our spouse. Either the pride, the refusal to set
boundaries, the refusal to be accountable, or a combination of the three will
cause us to fall into burnout and lead us into sin. We have to be willing to
determine if we need an overhaul or just a good night’s sleep. A mentor or
accountability partner will help us see the warning signs.

Accountability Can Help Prevent Stress

You can expect that people at home, church, and work, in addition to your
loved ones, friends, pets, and acquaintances will ask you for favors as in your
time, resources, talents, or attention. This is good and you should do what you
can, but there will be times when they will deplete you, causing you stress. You
cannot be everywhere nor do everything! So, you have to learn how to build a
fence that says I love you, but can you leave me alone for now! The most
important aspect in preventing stress is saying NO in a firm yet kind way with an
explanation of why. That way, you can be better prepared. People deserve a
reason; don’t just say no! Be honest, even if you just need time alone. Do not feel
guilty; you have to take care of yourself first before you can care for others!

Be aware of stress with family outings and projects, especially during

holidays. They are stressful for many people, so take a look at why it is that way
with you. Why does something cause you stress? Is it your time? Is it fear?
Remember, you are not indispensable; if you were, you would need help from a
good counselor or pastor! To help prevent many of the stresses of life, learn to
plan ahead! For big events, make sure you plan them out ahead of time and
delegate! Do not try to do too many things or take on too many projects,
especially if they are new to you. If you are a procrastinator (like I am), then force
yourself to do it early. Once you figure out that life is easier and less stressful
when you do things early, you will make it a habit of it. Do not allow people to
force things on you just because you have done them before. They need to
respect you and your time. Assertiveness is biblical when it is operated within the
parameters of biblical character and the fruit of the Spirit!

Accountability helps make us aware of intrusions and stress, but it may

take others to see and to tell us to take breaks away from people so we can have
more time with family and God. Accountably will help refocus our spiritual
awareness and even help our physical energy. Prayer is our big ally to help set
boundaries and prevent stress amongst the spiritual and maturity implications!
Do not feel guilty! Also, accountability helps us be aware of anxiety, phobias, and
mental disorders that contribute to stress; those can keep us from our
relationships and functions with family and church. If accountability is not
enough, that is OK. Just make sure you seek help from a good counselor or
trained pastor!
Becoming Accountable

Accountability is often associated with a place to be helped with some kind

of problem or addiction such as drinking, drugs, smoking, pornography, or some
other recovery issue. Yes, this is can be a principle venue; however, the
emphasis should be our spiritual growth which infuses our thinking and behaviors
and helps in overcoming addictions. It is not about just overcoming addictions; it
is being overcome with Christ as Lord of our lives. We can always wrestle with
our temptations through our own efforts, but we might as well be Jacob wrestling
with God (Gen. 32). We will succeed as long as God allows and as long as Satan
allows. Thus, we must flee from him to be in Him (James 4:7-10)!

Effective accountability has the emphasis on building quality and deep

relationships that will help us with the following (1 Thess. 5:14 Col. 3:16 Heb.
3:13 Prov. 25:12; 27:17):

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

• Adhering ourselves to God’s Word and call!

• Learning to commune with God more deeply so we can respond to His
precepts more rapidly and thoroughly.
• Prayer that is not just about our personal needs but also with the needs of
others!
• Reigniting our passion for Christ!
• Becoming teachable, and our thinking and behaviors examined!
• Being willing to recognize sin both in our lives and in the lives of others, too!
• Being willing to learn about ourselves!
• Being willing to have healing in our lives!
• Being willing to see the needs of others!
• Being willing to overcome, and to be on guard concerning weaknesses and
strengths.
• Being able to trust, share, and commune with another person in depth.
• Being willing to overcome issues that are bad for us.
• Knowing that we need others to keep us on track!
• A willingness to be challenged, convicted, molded, and sharpened so we can
change and grow.
• Help to develop better and deeper fellowship and unity with others!
• A platform to be transformed and renewed in Christ!
• Becoming more sensitive and discerning!
• Learning to develop the fruit of the Spirit and exercise it.
• Being willing to confess and hear others in love and confidentiality—without
judgment.
• Being encouraged and encouraging others!
• Developing godly, Christ-like character!
• Learning to take risks, be vulnerable, and overcome rejection and betrayal.
• Learning that God has called us to be involved in the lives of others and that
we are not to be lone ranger Christians!
• Learning that we are to be patient, because accountability is built over time!
• Learning that deep connections do not just happen between services of the
church; we have to work at them in community.
• Learning that we are at our best when we are being real and authentic.
• Learning about Christ’s redemption and our ability to change.
• Learning we can be used by God to be change agents in the lives of others.
• Learning that relationships require effort and commitment.
• Developing harmony with others so we can communicate, and being
transparent without being defensive.
• Developing maturity and spiritual growth!
• Leaning to be humble and wise!
• Allowing the work of the Holy Spirit within us and being used by Him in the
lives of others as well!
• The ability to bust the noise of our will and desires, as we need a godly
perspective we can hear over that noise!
• A reminder that God is in control, even in times of dire stress and confusion!
• Trusting in God and keeping His standards because they are best for us;
there is no better way than His Way!
• Understanding that accountability takes place in the crucible (a refractory
made of porcelain, used for melting and purifying materials such as gold at
high temperatures, that also refers to the confluence of powerful influences
such as intellectual, social, economic, or political) of community with other
growing Christians!
• Knowing we need accountability for our support, faith development, and
growth!
• Knowing that accountability takes our initiative, commitment, and continuance
in it!
• We have no need to hide our sins from those who are entrusted to help us
deal with them.

Leading a lawless, indifferent, irreverent life while having a faith that is just
fire insurance from Hell may save you—may; however, you will reap dire
consequences for this mindset (Deut. 18:15; Matt. 22:13-14; 23;1 Cor. 10:11-13;
2 Cor. 5:11)!

God designed the church as the body of Christ. Thus, we are called to
utility and cooperation so we can be there for one another in times of fun as well
as stress. We are called to encourage and equip as well as hold each other
responsible to the commitment we have made in Christ as Lord.
 But exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13

What to Look For In an Accountability Partner or Group

To get involved in an accountability group, first look for an existing one you
can join such as a small group through your church or a neighboring church if
your church does not have one. Make sure it is gender specific—men to men and
women to women. Most of these groups are found under men’s or women’s
ministries. If none are available or you are not led to one, hook up with another
two or three people and start your own. You can find people through a church
leader or pastor. In this process, make sure you are in prayer, asking God to lead
you in the right direction! The substance of why and what you are doing is more
important than the form of how you do it. See our small group channel for ideas,
as an accountability group is just a small group with more emphasis on
accountability (Small Groups). The key to making this work is for you and the
other participants to be open, submissive, listening, and authentic so you can
confess your sins in a safe, confidential environment.

What a Good Accountability Program/Person Will Have:

• Look for confidentiality as paramount.

• Look for people whom you already know or have a connection with such as a
common interest or season in life.
• Look for people whom you respect, trust, are mature in their faith and
character, and from whom you can learn so you can develop closeness and
share shortcomings!
• Look for people who maintain a loving and respectful attitude!
• Make sure you use God’s Word; it is your standard for faith and practice!
• Make sure no one dominates unless it is a teacher teaching. Have equal
airtime so all can be involved. Thus, the number of people to have depends
on the length of time you meet. If you meet for an hour, have no more than
four people. If you meet for two hours, have no more than seven. If you are in
a larger group, have a teaching time, then break down into sub groups for
accountability questions and prayer.
• Be willing to be flexible and surrender your time when another person needs
extra time and care.
• Participants need to respect the feelings and time of others, and to speak the
truth in love.
• Communicate ground rules or a code of conduct, clearly emphasizing
confidentiality and equal time.
• Make sure prayer is the focus!
• Seek guidance from others who can shepherd you, who have been there,
done that—who have “weathered the storms” and are able to share it. Look
for people you can shepherd and guide faithfully.
• Seek those who can help you adhere to God's standards rather than to the
world's standards.
• Seek faithfulness and constancy!
• Use humor, but not at the expense of others!
• Be committed, and encourage others to be so, too!
• Remember, the primary purpose is to get yourself aligned with God’s love,
call, and precepts over all else.
• The more mature people must disciple the immature—not the other way
around.
• Be aware of your pride, and never allow your maturity and growth to be a
source of pride or use it to put others down!
• What you do not want is people discipling you who are prideful, who only care
about themselves, or who are irritable, presumptive, "too busy," and neglectful
of others! Make sure you are not this way to others!

There is no best way or program to “do” accountability. It can be a “one-

on-one” mentorship or a large group that is subdivided into smaller ones; it can
meet for one hour or two, once a week or every other week. The important thing
is to do it, remain committed, and to follow Christ and not yourself. If you do not
“click” with the people in your group or feel you do not have a level of trust, that is
OK; this may not be the group or person for you. Look for or start another one.

How can we do this? By seeing others with the eyes of Christ—to see
love, compassion, and forgiveness. Take the one another passages to heart
(One Another Passages), and when we do instruct, warn, or even chastise, do
it in the parameters of the fruit of the Spirit, without judgment or commendation
(as there is no such thing in Christ!). Then, we can be open and honest with one
another. God gives us the faith, the strength, and the empowerment to do this,
and when we are with others, it is synergized! It is not about our weakness, it is
about His strength! When we rely on God and build one another up, we grow in
faith and maturity and become more effective to one another. This is reciprocal,
and will replicate and continue.

So, what is the final obstacle remaining? The commitment to make it

continual. Accountability is not just for a time, it is for all times, and requires our
discipline and dedication to keep at it. If we stop, we soon go back to our fears
and complacency. When this happens, sin that before was of no consequence
has now grown big and is knocking on your door. Commitment is essential to
making anything that is precious work, from a friendship to marriage to being a
member of a church. We must be committed and continual. Commitment brings
about hope and growth through sacrifice, as we pour ourselves into it while being
fueled by our Lord.
 The structure is up to you and your group. How do you lead an effective
accountability group? The same way you would a small group. Please see the
resources we have developed for you:

Accountability Questions

Doing Life Together

Take it slow and easy. Don't try, or even expect, to immediately delve into
the deepest, darkest corners of your life. Begin by having your close friends hold
you accountable for things like praying regularly and integrity issues. As you see
the results and benefits of this, you will also be building up trust, which is
necessary for accountability in more personal and private areas. If you need
further help in this area, seek a qualified and trusted pastor or Christian
counselor. Also, seek someone to whom you can be accountable. Do not just
trust yourself; have a small group or mentor ask you these questions on a regular
basis!

Remember that Christian maturity and character is “Christ-likeness,”

becoming more like our Lord by living out His precepts. This is not a destination
until we are called home to eternity; meanwhile we who are on this journey must
make the most our opportunities. We can learn and grow deeper and closer or
we can repel and become worldlier. This journey and the road you will take is
your choice and in God’s providence (James 4:13-17)! So, go and be sharpened,
and be a sharpener to others as well! In His Word and in prayer, watch your life
grow and be transformed and triumphant!

Being a disciple of Christ and making disciples requires devotion,

nurturing, commitment to the Word, and worship. Most mature Christians would
agree on these basics, but other things required include discipline, the ability to
be studious, and to be accountable. Our basis and starting point is God’s
character. Peter tells us “we are to be holy because God is holy.” (1 Peter 1:16),
and the way we can respond to this call is by being accountable in our personal
lives as believers and as a church. So, we need to realize that one of our calls is
to participate in conflict management so the wickedness of our nature does not
get out of hand and so our relationships and opportunities do not fail. God’s Word
gives us the guidelines and focus for proper confrontation and the management
of problems so we can be more effective in His service.

Do not allow accountability in your Christian life or in your church to

become a forgotten call!

Richard Joseph Krejcir is the Founder and Director of Into Thy Word Ministries, a
missions and discipling ministry. He is the author of several books including Into Thy
Word, A Field Guide to Healthy Relationships and Net-Work. He is also a pastor, teacher,
and speaker. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California
(M.Div.) and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Practical Theology from London (Ph.D).
He has garnered over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience, mostly in youth ministry,
including serving as a Church Growth Consultant.

© 1994, revised 2005 Into Thy Word ww.intothyword.org