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Two Ways Christian Accountability Goes Bad

Last Updated: November 3, 2020

Luke Gilkerson
Luke Gilkerson

Luke Gilkerson has a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies and an MA in Religion. He is the author of Your Brain on Porn and The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality. Luke and his wife Trisha blog at IntoxicatedOnLife.com

Many accountability groups and partnerships gravitate toward one of two extremes. We can either become legalistic or loose.

Legalistic Drift – Some accountability relationships are centered entirely around certain aspects of Christian performance. We judge the accountability relationship a success when we have completed our checklist of specific character-questions, but there is no discussion of our hearts or our delight in God.

Looseness Drift – Some accountability relationships are centered merely on confession. We sooth our guilty consciences in the sharing of our struggles, but there is little to no expectation of change.

In order to counter these drifts, we need to have accountability relationships informed and motivated by the gospel of Christ. I know of no better book about this than Fight Clubs: Gospel-Centered Discipleship.

What is a Fight Club? Fight Clubs are small, simple groups of 2-3 men or women who meet regularly to help one another to believe in the promises of God that displace the false promises of sin.

Learn more about Fight Clubs:

  • Comments on: Two Ways Christian Accountability Goes Bad
    1. Luke, that’s such a keen inside. We need grace AND truth in accountability.

      There was a group that used to meet in my town that put $2 in a jar for every time they masturbated that week, and at the end of the year they had a pizza party.

      I LOVE the idea of a Fight Club!

      Jay

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