Friday, January 15, 2010

How to be a Fruit Inspector at Church


I think it is ironic to see so many men's groups focus on "Accountability". Have you noticed that there are no women's groups that talk about ACCOUNTABILITY? Why?

There is something in the male DNA that longs to come across as macho. "I don't need your stinking kindness, kick me and knock me down a few times and I will get better." The joke in Singapore was, "The caning will continue until morale increases."
The Bible tells us to "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so you will be healed" James 5: 16. So, we need "Confession Groups" and "Prayer Groups" and "Healing Groups" but do we need "Accountability Groups"? That smacks of criticism and parenting rather than receiving a confession and praying for God's forgiveness and healing.

I have been working with Clergy for many years. I have often asked them about confession to a wife, colleague or friend and I hear the same thing. "Confession? How do you do that? I confess to God but not to men. That is not necessary."

Then why did the Holy Spirit place that statement in the Bible?

The Holy Spirit inspects our fruit to see what needs to be changed. I am not the one who convicts others of sin and guilt. I am not the Holy Spirit. Just as a doctor does not "deliver a baby" but simply "catches her" as she is thrust from the womb, we can receive the confession and take the guilt to God for cleansing.

I don't believe that the term Accountability" is a great word to describe what God has in mind.

2 comments:

Vicar of Vincennes said...

Good point, another weapon to use in my fight against religion. Just kidding, I no longer fight against it but do store little tidbits like this article away just for talk when among religious brethren. Can that be? religious and brethren, sounds a little like an oxymoron

Gary Sweeten said...

Have you seen Steve Sjogren's book "Servant Warfare"? It is a great attempt to cover the best ways to deal with human troubles. I also need to offer my book, "Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty".