Accountability, ‘the fact or condition of being accountable/ responsible’ is a word we hear a lot these days, whether in the public sphere when things have gone wrong, or something being encouraged between friends or prayer partners.
So it is worth taking the time to think about accountability from a human and heavenly perspective to make the most of its blessings without expecting too much.
Human accountability is good. This may seem obvious, but it is worth starting here. The human sense of accountability, and its relation to a strong sense of justice and responsibility, are a good thing. It is intrinsic to being human, and rightly so, as it reflects the character of our Heavenly Father in whose image we are made. More than that, it reminds us that we are totally dependent on one another, even if we struggle to admit it. We want to encourage people to be accountable to one another; it helps us grow in Christlikeness. We want to encourage churches to have good governance arrangements that are ordered so as to provide checks and balances. We want those in public office to recognise the responsibility bestowed upon them in their leadership roles so nurturing workers to serve with diligence, integrity and honesty.
Human accountability is limited
And yet the more we call for accountability, when things go wrong or when people fail, the less we seem to achieve true and real accountability. Society’s sense of justice seems, rightly, to be growing stronger, yet at the same time to be less satisfied. And almost ironically, in my own sphere of work, I have seen those who cry for people to be held to account, but do not appreciate it at all when they are the ones to whom the questions are asked. So, it is perhaps obvious to say, human accountability is limited, but we so often forget it. I can give my prayer partner permission to ask me about any aspect of my life or doctrine, but they will need to take me at my word for what I say; the ultimate truth is only known to me. My lifestyle may appear to match, but equally I may be good at creating the image of myself I want you to see – and hasn’t social media just made that a whole lot easier? Integrity is a godly attribute that we rightly should encourage one another to live out day by day, as the Bible does. Yet the flaws in human accountability and the loss of community life perhaps make it more challenging than we think to encourage each other to it as effectively as we would hope. So perhaps there is a third dimension to our Christian accountability that would be good for us and our wider society to remember.
God’s accountability is better
When was the last time you thought: ‘God my maker, will hold me accountable for how I have lived my life?’ When was the last time you encouraged your accountability partner not to fear your opinion, but to look up to God’s view on things? What difference would it make to those who lead our public structures if they were reminded that all power they have is given by God alone. The Bible is clear: man is destined to die once and after that face judgment (Heb. 9:27) by a Heavenly Father who searches our hearts and therefore also knows the real truth that is in them. What if in our prayer triplets, accountability groups and churches we reminded each other of this? How would the thought of God’s better accountability shape and change us?
Now, before you stop reading, I know we cannot stop here. As I look at myself in the light of God’s judgment on me, I realise more and more my need for Jesus to take the punishment I deserve for my sin. As David rightly acknowledges in Psalm 51:4, our sin is always primarily against God, not man, and it would be a terrible thing to be held accountable by the living God. How much I need Jesus! It is His grace alone, over any human accountability, that changes me and enables me to live with integrity.
So, next time we hear people clamour for accountability, perhaps we can remind them of how limited it is and point them (and ourselves) firstly, to God’s better accountability at the end of time and, secondly, to the Lord Jesus, my only Saviour.
