TwoElevenTwelve

I had originally posted this article, I wrote, in the Creative Section of this Forum, and felt I should post it in my blog, as the subject has come up again in my life by way of a daily e-mail course on purity from Be Broken Ministries. I am also providing a link to the Blazing Grace Radio show from 2005 about what accountability should look like. If you want to hear this program, go here. You will have to download the program as it is not available to listen online as some of the other shows are. Enjoy.

Sinners Anonymous: The Accountability Factor
Written By: Varlyn McIlvanie

“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 10:24-25

Worst Of Sinner’s
“Hi. My name is (insert name here) , and I am a sinner. Most all of my life, (Insert worst sin here) has invaded and literally, destroyed my life. And it continues to do so, even after I had supposedly, accepted Christ into my life. I find myself falling to temptation time and time again, and my efforts to turn away from the temptation, thwarted by my weak mind.”

Does anybody else feel as I do when it comes to battling temptation on a daily basis? When temptation comes, do you ever find yourself, NOT praying out of it, or not, conscientiously, “running” away from it? I do. Instead of church services, I think we need “Sinner’s Anonymous” support group meetings. A place to go to be around people who can help each other with their particular problems.
The goal of the 12 step program, is to help a person with a dangerous addiction, to overcome that addiction with the help of a greater power (God) and the accountability of one who had overcome similar situations. The process involves the individual, evaluating his morals and turning the problem over to God, and taking actions to make amends to others.

Race On Toward The Goal
Some time ago, I had injured my knee and had to attend Physical Therapy. Toward the end of my grueling, sessions, I was asked by my therapist to write down two goals I wanted to reach in my therapy, and the percentage of how close I was in reaching these goals. This was to determine how the therapy was benefitting me. I was honest in saying that I was 75-80% closer to my goal. My knee was getting better, but was still hurting. But I still wanted to reach my goal of 100% recovery, to be able to “comfortably, kneel on my right knee.”
I think that we, who are struggling, should make similar goals in our own lives, evaluate where we are in achieving those goals, and seek help from fellow believers to reach those goals. Personally, my two most important goals in my life are 1) To learn from the grace of God to “Say ‘NO’ to ungodliness and worldly passions” and to live a “self-controlled, upright, and godly life in this present age.” and, 2) To get a thorough evaluation of all my talents and use them to advance the Kingdom of God. I have many other goals I want to achieve in my life, but these are the two most important.

Restoring Mind, Body, & Soul
In a past article in New Man Magazine, the writer asks of Christians, “Why do we make these (fallen Christian) men into examples for the rest of the Body, rather than restore them as the Bible commands?” The writer, then points out, “There’s something freeing about telling the truth, about telling a fellow brother in Christ your struggles, your deepest fears.”
The initial thought about accountability is that someone else is burdened with another’s problems, but this is far from true. Chapter 23 of Patrick Morely’s book, “The Man In The Mirror”, reflects what I have been trying to get across to others about what I believe about accountability, quoting that, “Living the Christian life is not difficult, it’s impossible.” And saying that we need “To be regularly answerable for each of the key areas in our lives, to qualified people.” and, “The ultimate reason we should be interested in our accountability here, is our accountability there (in Heaven).

Purpose-Filled Church
I am not suggesting that we actually, throw out the traditional church services, but I have observed that you don’t really, have to go to church to hear a sermon. You also don’t have to go to church to sing praises to God. So why go? “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing....” What is involved in meeting together? I’m sure the early Christian churches met together, sang praises, heard the Word spoken, had been preached to (especially by Paul), they gave their money to help the needy in their part of the country, they prayed, prayed for healing for others, prayed for the Missionaries. I would also like to think they helped each other bear one another’s burdens, and helped to bring that one lost sheep back to where he belongs.
I have also observed that there are, at least, three kinds of people who go to church. Those non-believers, who are seeking answers to problems in their lives, those new believers, who need to be equipped to serve (discipleship) (that’s me), and those committed Christians, who live and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Accountability is a necessity in the church, but most churches are not sure how to provide it. If the church can find ways to cater to all these kinds of people, then I think the Body of Christ will thrive even more. “ Hi. My name is Varlyn, and I am a sinner,” VEM