by Pastor Patrick Cho
People by nature are blame shifters. When Adam and Eve were first confronted about their sin in the Garden, they did not immediately own up to their sin. Adam was quick to blame his wife (and even God) for causing him to disobey the Lord’s command, Eve passed the blame onto the serpent, and people have since tended to follow in their footsteps. Our proclivity to minimize our guilt and excuse our sin is inherent, inherited from our original parents.
No one likes the feeling that comes with being held accountable for their wrongdoing. It isn’t pleasant to be called out for your sin. But as pride-swallowing as it is, this is a ministry of love that we desperately need. When you take time to consider the importance of accountability, you also start to understand how much it is a ministry of grace. Let us walk through at least three reasons:
- It is loving for brothers and sisters in Christ to point out sin in your life. The Bible warns against surrounding yourself with people who are only going to coddle you and tell you what you want to hear. Consider Proverbs 27:6, which states, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful [lit. profuse or abundant] are the kisses of an enemy.” If I did not love you, I would allow you to continue living in a manner that is displeasing to God. But because I love you, I should call out your sinful decisions. This should be done in love (1 Cor. 13:1) and with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1).
- When someone confronts you because of your sin, they are potentially saving your life from destruction. James 5:19-20 talks about restoring a sinning brother who has strayed from the truth. V. 20 states that in doing so, you “save his soul from death.” If I did not love you, I would let you develop habits and indulge in sin that would eventually lead to your destruction. But because I love you, I am called to point out destructive behavior in your life especially if I sense that you are blind to it or calloused and hardened.
- This needs to be a regular part of life because sin is a regular part of your life. It is not that we are keeping a close eye on one another in order to catch those moments that we sin. The church is so much more than a sort of spiritual police force looking to catch perpetrators. In fact, we should be known more for the ways that we build up, encourage, and bless (Prov. 16:24; Eph. 4:29; Rom. 12:14). But the fact remains that we sin, often repeatedly and in visible ways. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the sin “which so easily entangles us.” Because sin is easy, friends serve as an invaluable ministry as a second set of eyes to keep watch over our lives. When we are tempted to stray, they can lead us back to what is right. When we fall, they can help pick us up. Read Hebrews 3:12-13. The verbs and pronouns in that verse are all plural. It is the church’s responsibility, when a person falls into sin, to call that person to repentance and encourage them to do what is right.
The church needs a constant reminder of the offensiveness of sin. God loves righteousness, but He hates sin. By the grace of salvation through faith, He has removed the penalty of sin from the believer. Those who are in Christ no longer need to fear any condemnation because this salvation is secure (Rom. 8:1). But sometimes there is a tendency with those who enthusiastically affirm and embrace sola gratia (the doctrine of salvation by grace alone!) to diminish the ongoing work of God in the believer to crucify the flesh (Gal. 5:24) and promote righteous living in sanctification. One helpful and needed defense that God has provided against personal sin is the grace of Christian accountability.