WHAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY?

"Face to face, brother to brother. . .Face to face, one friend to another. . ." Does that sound familiar? "Man to man, shoulder to shoulder. . .Man to man, serving each other. . ." If you went to Promise Keepers in '93 or '94, you may recognize this tune. "Brother to Brother we'll strengthen each other. . .Working together, we're building the Kingdom of God." This could easily be called "The Accountability Song," because it really hits on some key points of accountability:

• "Face to face. . ." Being accountable to someone means you sit face to face, look that person in the eye and honestly, openly discuss what is going on in your lives.
  
  
• "Shoulder to Shoulder. . ." Accountability means standing by your brother's side through thick and thin. One is not above the other; both are equal.
  
  
• "We'll Strengthen each other. . ." Through vital relationships, we become stronger, as we help each other through struggles, temptations and shortfalls, and as we encourage one another towards spiritual growth. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17). Did you know that swords can actually get sharper during a sword fight? How? Because, as they come into contact, they knock off the small rough spots on the blades, and serve to smooth each other; thus producing an even more finely honed cutting edge. In the same way, men sharpen one another by coming into contact and "smoothing out the rough edges."
  
  Let me talk about what accountability is not: It is not guys getting together and talking about how often they have sex with their wives. It is not guys sitting around naked beating drums. It is not guys getting in touch with their "inner child." It is not simply another support group or Bible Study. It is not wimps getting together and whining about how unfair life is. It is not men sitting around bashing women.
  
  Accountability is. . .
  
  A few men getting together to share their lives. (I think two to four is an ideal number.) Guys getting to know each other beyond the casual and superficial; beyond "sports and the weather." Brothers allowing themselves to be challenged, and held to a higher standard than the world would dictate. Men being honest with each other about their struggles and shortfalls. Guys praying together, and for each other. Brothers growing together toward Christlikeness, reaching their full potential as men of God. And all of this takes place in an atmosphere of love and acceptance, without judgment. "How good and pleasant it is, when brothers live together in unity!" (Psalms 133:1)
  
  The Bible tells us to:
  
  Love each other. (John 15:17)
  Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)
  Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Ephesians 4:32)
  Carry each other's burdens. (Galations 6:2)
  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (James 5:16)
  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
  Accept one another. (Romans 15:7)
  Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
  Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)
  
  I could go on, but I think you get the idea. You are, in fact already accountable to many people: Your family, your employer, your friends and so on. But those relationships differ from the "vital relationships" we are talking about here. Typically, accountability is automatic, or "part of the job." The difference with "vital relationship" accountability is that it would not normally occur, or even be expected to occur. It is voluntary and intentional; not because I have to, but because I want to. It is specifically for the purpose of growing as a Christian, and dealing with the struggles and shortfalls in our lives. "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" (Amos 3:3)