Terrible News and the Importance of Accountability

revrandy · #1 01-31-2008, 07:15 AM

Who do you confess your faults to besides the Lord?

I received some terrible news yesterday that no doubt will soon ripple throughout....Concerning the Ministry and Accountability...

I need to be accountable to someone...and am accountable to someone....

We all need to be accountable especially for the Ministry concerning Pastors and Leaders....

Our actions when bad have farther reaching effects and do much more damage than just our locale....

I think that temptation is something we all face and deal with daily as Christians We fight the good fight and battle...

But when you hear of those well respected, well known, and seeming to be strong have fallen to depths that even go beyond the veil of normalcy it is heart breaking to be sure. When you know that friends are facing one of the worst trials in their life because of the sinfulness of one man it is heart breaking for sure.

Ministry....Pastor....We all need to be accountable to someone...even when we feel that we are strong...take heed lest we fall....

I will post some more...but these are my thoughts for now....

MissBrattified · #2 01-31-2008, 07:26 AM

Accountability is difficult these days because most people don't know how to keep things confidential, and as a result, there is a lack of trust overall. It's a nice idea, but usually falls short in practical application.

revrandy · #3 01-31-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Accountability is difficult these days because most people don't know how to keep things confidential, and as a result, there is a lack of trust overall. It's a nice idea, but usually falls short in practical application.

It is difficult....I can't help but think that if this man had someone he could trust it might have thwarted what happened....but we'll never know...

MissBrattified · #4 01-31-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revrandy

It is difficult....I can't help but think that if this man had someone he could trust it might have thwarted what happened....but we'll never know...

I know of a small effort being made on the part of a few pastors and counselors to make private counseling available for ministers (this was a couple of years ago)--the problem is, not many people can be trusted to actually keep things private. In fact, even Christian counselors have been know to "spill the beans."

Smart people don't tell anyone but God about their struggles. It should NOT be that way, but that's the way it IS. Case in point: A man confides in a friend. The friend tells his wife. The wife is friends with the pastor's wife. The pastor's wife tells her husband. The pastor goes to the man, and the accountability has gone out the window, because the man has learned he cannot trust his friend.

Obviously some things cannot be held in secret, especially criminal matters. But in general, this is a very real problem, because we have a church full of gossips and people who share things so others can "pray about it." It should break our hearts. (I am not talking about our church specifically--I'm talking about the church in general.)

Add in a culture that believes one failure disqualifies a man from ministry forever, and then he is faced with the idea that he will lose his family, his friends, the church, his children will be hurt, etc., if he tells anyone anything, and the decision is easier still.

I am all for ministry abiding by a stricter mode of conduct, but at the same time, it is a faulty system where a minister feels he has no one to turn to when he is faced with a struggle. Certainly not fellow saints. Probably not his wife. Certainly not fellow ministers, who will likely "turn him in" to the district or tell other ministers.

freeatlast · #5 01-31-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Accountability is difficult these days because most people don't know how to keep things confidential, and as a result, there is a lack of trust overall. It's a nice idea, but usually falls short in practical application.

I have heard of some accountability nightmares. Where the trust was not kept and things shared that should have been kept in prayferfull trust.

We all have heard of great people of Gosd who have fallen into grievious error and sins.

Would it have been different if fthey could have shared/cofessed their faults one to another.

At a Baptist mens retreat a brother spoke up and asked , "why don't address our problem with lust, pornagraphy, adultery etc.
It's something that all men struggle with or know someone who has and we act like it never happens to us??

Until we can TRULY forgive the offending brother and TRULY accept back into fellowship, things will continue to kept in the closet or swept under the rug.

For instance; I've heard it stated on this forum that if a person male or female comes to faith and is set free from homosexuality.

If that person ever again even thinks about or is tempted by those feelings again that they are not redeemed, probably never were redeemed. Lost as two boys kissing.

With mentality like that, how is the person that struggles with an occasional thought or temptation ever going to be able to share his struggles with out fear of being ousted from fellowship.

MissBrattified · #6 01-31-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeatlast

With mentality like that, how is the person that struggles with an occasional thought or temptation ever going to be able to share his struggles with out fear of being ousted from fellowship.

I don't know. It makes me sad to think about it. I wonder how many people could have been salvaged if they had felt they could talk to another saint of God about their struggles without fear of reprisal?

Esther · #7 01-31-2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Accountability is difficult these days because most people don't know how to keep things confidential, and as a result, there is a lack of trust overall. It's a nice idea, but usually falls short in practical application.

Unfortunately, what you said here is too true.

Has INTERGRITY left the ministry?

I pray it has not.

Esther · #8 01-31-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revrandy

It is difficult....I can't help but think that if this man had someone he could trust it might have thwarted what happened....but we'll never know...

I have seen the effects of this lack of trust for many years, and have preached it will come back to bite us.

It is symthons of a dysfunctional family.

JMO

revrandy · #9 01-31-2008, 07:53 AM

I hate to say it but the sinfulness of men and depth of sin will always gauge forgiveness and acceptance back when it comes to us....

Certainly God forgives....but depravity of sin will always stain the Man or woman....especially in the Ministry....the amount of Trust placed than replaced by distrust and disgust will always have the tentacles of not forgiving for years to come...

freeatlast · #10 01-31-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

Unfortunately, what you said here is too true.

Has INTERGRITY left the ministry?

I pray it has not.

It's not ministry (clergy) There is teaching among us that we all should seek out accountablity partners.

Just two brothers that weekly meet for a cup of coffeee or prayer and quiz each other on how they are doing this week.

They encouraged to ask hard questions. Have you liusted this week? Have you viewed porn?

Have you lied to me in your answers?

This lends itself to hugh problems, in my opinion, that if things shared are not kept in confidence there could be hugh problems arise.

As christians we all should be able to answer questions like these in the positve, but in a real world we all know that we all can't.