Stop the word games!

I’ve been around the church, ministry and Christians long enough to see a very disturbing pattern that some people have. It’s word games. And its used to deflect accountability.

One of the toughest parts of our life is holding others accountable when we see something that concerns us. More than once I have gone to someone with a loving concern and been confronted with, “Your judging me! That’s not Biblical! You can’t judge me! Who do you think you are?”

Woooo! Right in my face and down my throat! I can handle that but what threw me for a loop was this, “was I wrong”? Was I “judging” them? That question put a real road block up for me in holding guys accountable. I was, as I have seen many other brothers and sisters, “scared” into inaction rather than taking the chance that I had crossed some line and was sinning myself.

I am going to be judgmental. Jesus told us to know them by their fruit, There are two types of judging–judging to identify the nature and identity of someone or something (which Jesus told us to do). And judging to punish or condemn to hell (which we are to leave to God).

Enter Webster’s!

1. noun: discernment: the ability to judge well.
2. verb: judge:form an opinion or conclusion about.

1. accountable: (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.

1. justify: show or prove to be right or reasonable.

Let’s cut to the chase.

In order to hold people accountable they need to be willing to justify themselves biblically based on my concern & love through my discernment/judging of their actions.

Let’s keep this real—the people that will argue this the most are most likely the ones with something to hide so don’t feel bad when you hit up against a wall. Pray that God would do the real work of conviction and not let a brother rest in his sin.

Last point—if you’re going to hold others accountable, you better be open to it as well.

Father give us wisdom and courage when it comes to holding each other accountable. Let us do so with grace and peace and love.  In Jesus name.

Steve Schmidt is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 25-27

Think About This: Imagine thyself always to be the servant of all, and look upon all as if they were Christ our Lord in person; and so shalt thou do Him honour and reverence.Teresa of Avila

Verses to Memorize: Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11