A Barna Group telephone survey of Christians across the United States reveals some interesting facts about the state of accountability in the church: Only 5% of people say their church does anything to hold them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their lives.¹
For those who are held accountable by their church community in some way, the most common approach to accountability is through a small group. But even so, among those who attend a small group, only 7% say accountability is one of the functions of their group.
Is accountability in the church really that important?
If you do not see the importance of accountability in the church, you are among the majority of Christians in the United States. But I want to convince you that accountability is important for the church, and even necessary for us to carry out our God-given mission.
Accountability, correctly understand, connects directly to Jesus’s command to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). This is not some optional program or methodology for some believers. Properly understood, accountability is part of the blueprint of the church. The lack of accountability in the church signifies a problem that church leaders must address.
Why the distaste for accountability in the church?
There could be, of course, many reasons why formal accountability is lacking in today’s churches. But as I survey the landscape, these are the reasons I see.
1. People hate conflict.
The Barna Group states church leaders don’t often engage in accountability (either through following up on members’ tasks, home visits, or church discipline) because they don’t want to be confrontational. The same is true among church members. Few people want to call out others on their sin.
2. Christians do not understand that sanctification is a community project.
Many texts in the Bible assume or state outright that one of the ways we grow as Christians is through gospel-centered conversation with one another. The New Testament places great importance on motivating one another to love and do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25), bearing each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-2), and instructing one another (Romans 15:14). Many Christians are never taught that sanctification is a community project.
3. People like their privacy.
Accountability is about confessing sin to one another, but few today like the idea of divulging their temptations, sins, and the state of their heart. This is far too personal for some.
4. Christians are not taught (seriously) about biblical accountability.
We need a proper understanding of what biblical accountability really is. James 5:16 is not a suggestion but a command. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Moreover, this is a command tied to our health as Christians. In this text James mentions cases where personal sin leads to a serious physical or emotional illness, calling for the elders of the church to administer healing. Before we get to that point, however, we should be in the practice of the regular “preventative medicine” of confessing our sins to each other and praying for each other.
5. Christians falsely believe accountability is only for behavior modification.
Some reject the idea of accountability because they believe it is all about fear or shame-based change. Accountability for them is about staying away from certain taboo sins so they can avoid an awkward conversation in the future. But the Bible says there’s a kind of conversation we can have that actually addresses the heart—not just outward behavior (Hebrews 3:13).
6. Some Christians have experienced unhelpful (or hurtful) accountability.
For some Christians, their accountability partners and groups simply did not “work” for them. They experienced no change. In some cases, overbearing leadership or spiritual abuse was disguised as “accountability.”
But what if we used this excuse for anything in which we engage: listening to sermons, praying together, taking communion, engaging in service projects? We don’t give up on any of these things because at times they don’t seem to “work,” or are done badly. Rather, each time we strive to do them better, with a true heart, and with careful thought.
7. Christians falsely believe accountability in the church is only a crutch for when things get really bad.
Often we seek out accountability when things have come to a head in our lives when we are facing a grave consequence. But the various “one anothers” of the New Testament are not just for those facing specific consequences for their sin, but for all Christians.
8. Christians are not discipled.
Accountability makes the most sense in the context of discipleship: being personally mentored, guided, and directed by spiritually mature individuals, and in the context of a community of disciples. In a church culture that makes true disciples, accountability is the most natural thing in the world.
9. Christians lack quality friendships.
Accountability is also most natural in a gospel-centered friendship. We need the kind of friends mentioned in the proverbs: men and women who stick with us through thick and thin, who aren’t afraid to confront us, and who compel us to do what is right. Accountability is not only giving an account of my sin to another but receiving an account of God’s grace in return from a Christian friend.
10. Christians have not tasted gospel-centered accountability in the church.
The gospel of Christ is what guides and protects good accountability. Informed by the gospel, a good accountability partner will not be condemning, but gracious. Informed by the gospel, a good accountability partner will treat sin seriously because Christ took sin seriously. A good accountability partner will use the eternal promises of the gospel to motivate us to a higher standard. As Christians, we need to be taught how to do accountability partnerships well.
¹ https://www.barna.org/congregations-articles/454-study-describes-christian-accountability-provided-by-churches
Too many times accountability is used as a means of control and manipulation of others. I am not a greater or a lesser to any human on the planet, yet if I am accountable to someone that puts me in the lesser position. I think the better word is Loyalty. No matter what is done or not done I will be loyal to my friend/fellow christian. This not mean I agree with his/her decisions or rescue them from consequences. But I choose to stand by him/her no matter what, and they also have the option to do the same for me.
Little story; Three young men, all twenty range , all have been raised to know the Lord, oldest one gets the others into drinking and drugs as they grow up. One godly mother finally gets mad at this whole mess, tells them in no certain terms that they are all walking hand in hand on their way to hell with out a care for the other one. The response was, I am not accountable for what they do. From what I see here is selfishness, no one wants to be accountable for any or all actions that they do in this day and age. Many times it starts right in the church not teaching the word of God, to scared to step on some toes, might lose their pension. Thank you for all the scripture thru your message. Keep teaching accountability, the young people need to hear it.
These are great & all but for me the reason I dont tell others my personal struggles is because the last time I shared, not everything, but just a few things with someone I thought I could trust they went & told other people. So at the time some of my secrets were just out being passed around people most of which I didnt even know. & of course as we all know when information is passed from person to person the true story is completely lost in the sea of confusion & rumors. So needless to say I have a hard time trusting anybody with everything, Ive shared alittle here & there but I still dont feel like there is anybody other then God I can share everything with.
So sad to hear what happened to you. This is one of the risks of any confession—gossip, slander, and rumors. Knowing what you know now, what are some signs this person wasn’t trustworthy?
Good question Luke. Now that I think about it. The person in question while claiming to be a christian & or spiritual, it never reflected in the way they lived their life. Honestly just by observing you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference between that person & someone else who just wants to walk their own path.
Don’t let this bad experience deter you from getting honest with others. There’s risk with any kind of transparency with other flawed human beings, but as Christians we are called to enter into that risk. The risk is far smaller with people who’s lives reflect the fruit of Christian character.
Covenant Eyes 40 day challenge is the best support I’ve ever gotten! Thankyou.
So good to hear this!
Just read your article and your right on!! We just did a podcast on how to be accountable with another brother in Christ. I think you have covered to reasons why guys don’t like to very well. The benefits of having a friend to answer to is much needed!
Thanks for making the world aware of the need.
Thanks Mark and Mike!
Well I thank you all for your advice. I admit I am not overly worried about polygamy or Old testament rituals- although I find it interesting how there are parallels between Jesus and the old testament. I’m not sure yet, and I ask these questions because I want to see if there are rational explanations for apparent contradictions or errors in the Bible- it looks like you’ve given me a few.
I guess I’m still seeking God, whatever He, She, or it may be. Its just that there’s so many different ideas out there with no full explanation or evidence. Lately Ive been reading some of the books by Rene Descartes, who seemed to be in the same boat as me. One thing I will say is many people I know make fun of the Bible and reject it without even taking the time to study it. I don’t want to do that. I think I’ll cgeck out that Biblical counselling link on the last comment, because I am finding increasing evidence that Jesus really was God in the flesh.
Thanks again for your time.
I remember when I was in college I went through about two years of serious doubt about Christianity, despite growing up around church. There were times I felt I could no longer call myself a Christian because of my doubts. It was a very soul-searching two years.
For me, what really helped me was to see the power and changed lives of those who followed Christ. I thought of the very flawed by willing men who followed Christ and how years later, they were performing miracles and touching other people’s lives with Jesus’ message. Yes, I knew Jesus has been raised from the dead, and yes, I studied all the prophecies he fulfilled, but what really helped me to see his divinity was how his power lived on after he left (and still lives on today). The more I ran into evidence of this power, the more my faith was strengthened.
God be with you in your journey of discovery.
Too many Christians rely on the concept that only faith in Jesus is required for salvation when the Bible teaches that faith without works is dead, that one expresses faith and love of God by keeping His commandments and that repentance is not merely confessing one’s sins but forsaking them. If your pastor condemns sects that preach such Biblical truths, look elsewhere for guidance.