Our second core value is Loving Accountability.
Accountability is a funny thing. On one hand, we as humans have a natural tendency to avoid being held accountable. Look at Adam and Eve. When God asks them what they had done, Adam quickly points the finger at Eve and Eve says the devil made me do it. When God approaches Cain, he asks a very thought provoking question to avoid God’s question. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Anyone who has children understands that we do not have to teach our kids this. They naturally avoid being held accountable.
On the other hand, accountability is one of the key ways we learn and grow. Let me give you an example. A mother tells her 10 year old child to clean their room. When the child does not clean the room, the mother holds the child accountable. The mother is not judging the child or trying to be hateful. She is doing that to teach the child to clean up after themselves because she loves her child and wants her to learn cleanliness.
Accountability in the right context and relationship can be a great thing. In the context of grace and mercy, accountability is transformational, builds unselfish community, and creates loving friendships. Jesus demonstrates this many times but one that stands out the most is in John 8 when he stops them from stoning the woman committing adultery. He says “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
We at the flock believe in loving accountability and believe that the following concepts are essential to transformation and community.
1. Accountability has a certain inner focus that is not judgmental – Jesus did not come to condemn but to save the world. We believe that we are not here to condemn either. We strive to create an honest and open environment where we realize we are all sinners and can boast in our weakness to glorify God. We also encourage self-reflection as one of the greatest tools for accountability.
Matthew 7:1-5
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
2. Accountability strengthens us – We believe that accountability helps us come together and build tighter bonds. When we are open and honest and know what each one is going through, we are able to better carry each other’s burdens and to help learn from each other’s mistakes.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him, a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
3. Accountability encourages us to serve – We Believe that accountability can help us to become better servants. Through accountability, we can encourage each other to serve more and to remind each other that it is not about us but Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25
“24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
4. Accountability helps us become better disciples – We believe that accountability is the foundation of becoming and making true disciples of Jesus Christ. Romans 14 tells us One day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess so then each of us will give an account to God. This implies a certain amount of submission. Just like the child mentioned earlier, the child is submissive to the parent. The parent’s job is to teach the child and grow the child into a responsible adult. We are the same way with God. By submitting ourselves to each other and to God, our perfect parent, we allow accountability to teach us the things we need to grow and learn how to be better deisciples.
Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”