Accountability Firewall

By Richard Wines 

Accountability is a firewall for the Christian man. Just as one shouldn’t be connected to the Internet without a firewall, so today’s Christian man shouldn’t walk through life without accountability.

Accountability is one of those “Christian” words, like “propitiation,” that confuses many. The thought of it may seem intimidating, or it may conjure images of a “secret” ritual. But accountability is neither complicated nor mysterious. When done right, it is an effective tool for spiritual growth and purity. So how does accountability work?

The first step is finding an accountability partner. Search for another believer in the same stage of life and similar place in their spiritual walk. The match doesn’t have to be perfect, but the more you have in common, the better the fit. The stage in life is more important than personality match. In some circumstances, groups of three or four can work, but the bigger the group, the harder to hold together. An accountability partner is a gift from God. Pray earnestly for this.

Agree with your accountability partner on a meeting schedule and location. Ideally meet once a week and no less than once every two weeks. Thirty minutes is good, but an hour or an hour and a half works better. Make the time and place convenient, often a weekday lunch or early morning breakfast works best. Another good time is after a regular event such as a Wednesday church service.

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17 NAS). Accountability is one man sharpening another. This is done through confession, a challenge for higher growth, and encouragement. Good accountability incorporates all three. To sharpen a blade, one must clean it (confession), grind it on a harder surface (challenge to growth), and oil it for protection from corrosion (encouragement).

Confession – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) While we are ultimately accountable to God and should confess sin to Him immediately, there is an extra barrier to sin in knowing that we will be required to give an account to another believer. Spend a few minutes each accountability session confessing sins and discussing ways to combat those sins.

Accountability partners should ask the hard questions. “What have your eyes looked at,” “how have you dealt with anger,” and “how has your tongue behaved,” are good starters. Honesty is crucial, regardless of the offence. Confession to one another ensures that our sin is brought to the surface before it can fester and grow into something worse. The knowledge that your behavior will be discussed does wonders to keep it pure, especially in matters of sexual sin.

Challenge to Growth – The tendency of most Christians is to become complacent over time. This is shows up in the spiritual disciplines such as daily devotionals, prayer, scripture memory, and service. Accountability partners should encourage one another to grow in the Lord. Take a few minutes each session to discuss spiritual growth. “How many quiet times have you had the last week,” “How much time have you spent in prayer,” and “Quote me the verses you memorized,” are good questions.

The purpose is not to beat each other up, but to develop practical goals for growth and stick to them. Common goals and joint challenges are doubly effective. Share methods that work for you and be open to suggestions for change. God often speaks through an accountability partner.  

Encouragement – We are not always going to succeed. On his own, a Christian man is more prone to feelings of despair and inadequacy. God has commanded that we encourage. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NAS). Praise good behavior, acknowledge victories, and discuss techniques that work. Spend a portion of your time on encouragement each week, even when nothing seems to be going right. Take prayer requests and pray for your accountability partner daily. “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16 NAS).

Accountability need not be difficult or time consuming. It is not for those who are “more spiritual.” Every man can use accountability regardless of his level of spiritual maturity or schedule. Don’t put off protecting yourself any longer. Use the Accountability firewall.