|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
From Saint to Super-Hero: How
Accountability Is Transforming My Life The last time I checked there weren’t any spiritual super heroes. Yes, there are people who have learned to walk with God and serve as excellent Christian examples. However, I have yet to meet, read about, or hear of any person who, due to his/her powerful spiritual discipline or Christ-like spirit, ascended to an existential realm free from the pull of carnality. And so, realizing I was closer to being Jimmy Olsen than Superman I started contemplating becoming spiritually accountable to someone. I guess my journey into the world of accountability began in college when I read about John Wesley. The man from whom Methodism sprang had some distinctive ideas about how to live a consecrated Christian life. What began as Wesley’s college study group evolved into what cynics later called the “Holy Club”—quite simply a small group of like-minded individuals who, through regular discussion, reading, the practice of spiritual disciplines, and a purposeful method to each day, sought to become more like the One to whom they had pledged their life. As I read about Wesley’s actions, I was smitten. My melancholy brain feasted on the idea that becoming spiritually consistent could be systematic. I suppose my early rumination about Wesley’s small group of fellow believers was actually the Holy Spirit’s reminder that each of us is admonished, and in fact expected, to “confess our trespasses to one another, and pray for one another…” (James 5:16 NKJV). It’s intriguing that the responsibility for confession seems to rest squarely on the confessor rather than being a directive for some spiritual private investigator to proactively pry into the sacred affairs of another. As I began to realize the importance of inviting another Christian to help me spiritually navigate a Christ-centered course, I was a bit intimidated. After all, it’s human nature to put my best foot forward. I’m like everybody else—when asked how things are going, I rarely give any impression other than that my life is perfect. Realistically, however, I know life isn’t always ideal, and, while sometimes an imperfect life is due to external issues beyond my control, still other times my imperfect life is due to the battles and struggles of living as a born-again believer in a flesh-tempted body and sin-saturated environment. The bottom line seemed simple to me—I needed help to live an overcoming life. I needed to find an accountability partner. I approached the decision in prayer and by observation. Some questions I asked myself: ● Who challenges my thinking? After all, I wanted someone who was going to lovingly confront me with my progress or lack thereof, not coddle me or insist that my struggle(s) was universal (even though it/they might be), thereby downplaying its significance. ● Who is tight-lipped? Remember, I said accountability can be intimidating. Exposing the dark corners of my life isn’t done with enthusiasm to everybody. Yet, the light of God must be allowed through the accountability structure into every area of my life. Because this partner would know more about me than nearly anyone else, it was essential the person I selected made my life issues known only vertically to God, rather than horizontally to others. ● Who will follow-through with regularity? Christian circles are fairly predictable. Most any saved man I would potentially approach would, without hesitation, agree to partner with me. Quick consent, however, was not what I sought. Long-term regularity was my desire. I wanted someone who, quite honestly, had a good work ethic, and was, as far as I could tell, a good project manager. If he could consistently stick to a task in his own life, I figured he could regularly assist me in becoming more like Christ. The Lord made someone obvious to me. After approaching my selected individual and presenting my written plan on how I wanted to be held accountable, I asked the individual to pray about my request for a few days before agreeing or not. Thankfully, my potential partner consented and my personal “Holy Club” was underway. Here’s how it works: ● My accountability partner contacts me once a month (we talk/email informally much more often than that), and we sit down together for a short period of time. It’s important to me that my partner does the contacting about the meeting, since I know myself best—if I knew we were going to meet on the fifth of every month, I’d no doubt be getting real spiritual near the end of the previous month. When he contacts me on his timetable, however, my defense mechanisms are rendered ineffective. ● During this meeting, my partner asks me specific questions (below), as well as initiates discussion about any other issues that have arisen. I voluntarily answer and, if need be, explain my answers to him It’s important to note that I don’t dump every detail of any shortcomings onto my partner, since I myself don’t want to spiritually hinder him. However, I’ve obligated myself to be as up-front and transparent to him as necessary, so that he’s given an honest assessment of my current spiritual state. Through a variety of readings and a self-evaluation, I created the following checklist. My Accountability Checklist Please contact me sometime each month and ask me the following seven questions. If I respond “no” to Question 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, or “yes” to question 6 or 7, I voluntarily require myself to explain the reason for my answer(s). Also, I ask you to personally pray for me everyday. Thank you for holding me accountable. Signed: __________________________________ 1) Have you spent time every day praying and listening to God in a time of personal devotion? 2) Have you spent time every day reading the Bible and meditating on the Word of God? 3) Have you remained morally pure and clean in your thoughts and actions? 4) Have you actively sought to share your faith with someone who doesn’t have a relationship with God? 5) Has your time on the Internet displeased Christ in any way (amount of time or content)? 6) Have you taken advantage of your ministry and/or position? 7) Have you lied about any of the answers you’ve given to questions 1 - 6? The questions seem simple enough, but have proven to be an excellent deterrent for any temptation I might come upon. The Results Since I initiated my personal accountability structure, I’ve noticed some significant inner changes. For example: ● There’s nothing quite like teaching a group of people and mentioning the importance of consistent spiritual disciplines, knowing that you yourself are consistently progressing in practicing consistent spiritual disciplines. Knowing what we should be doing (and telling others what they should be doing) is one thing. Yet, knowledge and action aren’t synonyms. When what I’m teaching is what I, as the teacher, am living, spiritual credibility, an improved God-centered self-concept, and enhanced spiritual authority are the thrilling by-products. ● The audience size of my life is bigger. Before it was me and Jesus. Now it’s me and Jesus and my partner. The bigger audience means that now another human is “with me” when I’m confronted with day-to-day decisions that have an impact on my spiritual life. If I blow it, he’s going to know about it. And perhaps even more significant, if I react righteously to life, he can help me celebrate. ● I’m extremely comforted to know that another man is regularly praying for me. I consistently give him my itinerary. He knows where I’m going to be, what lodging arrangements I’m going to have, if I’ll be alone, and often, if I’m speaking to a group, what my topic is going to be. When I know that he knows that much about me, I know he can pray specifically. That’s not only comforting, that’s cool. I know we preachers can easily make grandiose statements. However, this big statement is 100 percent true - purposeful accountability is changing my life. It’ll change your life, too, and it’ll make you more like Christ. That’s as close to becoming a spiritual super hero as I’ll ever be. While my plan isn’t the only way to do it, I hope it will at least get you thinking, then acting, to become more accountable. Settle the issue within yourself. Everybody needs to be accountable to someone. Don’t let personal pride interfere. Enough said - let’s do it.
ninetyandnine.com © 2003, Todd Gaddy --------- Todd Gaddy is originally from Chicago, but presently living and working in St. Louis. Among other things, he enjoys playing “Barnyard Bingo” with his 2-year old daughter, and trying to figure out why there’s no good pizza in a city so close to his hometown. |
|
|
