When I bring up the idea of accountability software, occasionally (although not mostly) Christians express a distaste for the whole idea. For some the very idea of putting Covenant Eyes on your computer compromises the gospel. The thought goes, “If we really believed Jesus knows our every step and empowers us to overcome sin, we wouldn’t need the watchful eye of others. If we really trust that Jesus has given us new hearts and minds, we wouldn’t need a software crutch against Internet temptations.”
I posed the question, “Is accountability in the church an unnecessary crutch?” to Pastor John Piper to get some of his thoughts.
I appreciate and wholeheartedly love his answer to the question. I believe accountability in the church is a means of grace. That is, when we are living out a biblical vision of community (accountability included) it is a tool God is using to nourish our souls and point us to the gospel which saves us and makes us holy. For many Christians, having accountability software is but one facet of those church relationships. Covenant Eyes helps to bridge the gap between technology and relationships.
With that said, please don’t make Covenant Eyes or any program a band-aid over the deeper issues. God wants to use the church to sanctify us, make us more like the image of His Son. If we use CE as a means to avoid redemptive relationships, we miss the point of the software altogether.