|
||||
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Accountability Teams
Many have asked me to explain the concept of accountability teams to hold those we elected accountable. Accountability is nothing new. There are many Biblical examples of accountability. Nathan held King David accountable for his affair with Bathsheba and ordering her husband Uriah killed in battle. Achan was held accountable for transgressing God’s covenant by hiding forbidden spoils, causing Israel’s army to be defeated. Joshua 7:25 reports, “And all Israel stoned him with stones…” Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that two are better than one, “for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” This is also true with accountability. We can transfer Biblical accountability to our socio-political environment. And we should.
I have heard Christians argue repeatedly that Matthew 18:15-17 is only for dealing with a brother who sins against you. Legalism aside, Jesus gives us the principle on how to hold people accountable: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” In these verses are the foundation for the accountability team concept.
Anyone can be part of an accountability team. You and your spouse; you and your significant other; you and your co-worker; you and your friend. Accountability teams can be large or small. Certainly, they can hold one another accountable and/or extend to others. In our case, we want to extend to those we elected and why we elected them. Now people may argue that those we elected are not disciples of Christ. So be it. But we are and we have both the Lord and our votes on our side. We have taken the great step of sending a message to these politicians that we don’t like how they are handling government. We threw a bunch of them out. Now its time to hold them accountable.
Accountability teams may work in many different ways. My suggestion is to determine as a team the four or five issues on which you want to hold accountability (ie., socialist healthcare, amnesty/border security, ISIS, marriage, spending, or others). Every time there is a possible action on those issues, team members should each write the senator or representative a brief email–something that can be read in less than 15 seconds–something like “We elected you to oppose socialist healthcare. Do the right thing.” Also call the office with the same message. If they don’t vote correctly, write a brief press announcement and have each member of the accountability team call the local paper, radio station, and TV station to complain. Tell them citizens are angry because the politician isn’t doing what we elected him/her to do.
See how this follow’s Jesus’ guidelines?–go to the person first; If he doesn’t listen, go to the news media. I know that much of this will be frustrating because neither the media nor the elected official may respond very favorably. But with the power of the Lord with you, great things can happen. And if we get enough people doing this, both the politicians and the media will have to take notice that we mean business. Be polite, but firm. Don’t be all religious and self righteous. Straight to the point–let your yes be yes and your no be no. Build relationships if you can, but take the upper hand. Let’s see if we can back up our votes and start turning this sinking ship back to safe harbor.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Wilson and www.dailyjot.com
