Monday, January 27, 2014

Having an Accountability Partner: Smart? Or, Not So Smart?

I think, if you are a single guy, to have a Christian brother that you can hang out with and spend some structured time with, as well, in prayer and in the Word, is a good idea.  Ask each other tough questions.  How's your thought life?  How are you in your relationship with God this past week?  What's He teaching you?  How are you doing in regard to being pure in your relationships with the opposite sex?

If you can do this without digressing into a gossip fest about others, or into ugly details about thoughts you've had, then this is a smart thing.  I've been a part of a couple of accountability groups that dwelled too much on the nitty-gritty details of the past week's sins.  That's not necessary, nor is it productive.  Or, guys would just complain and make excuses for their failures.  That's not exactly discipleship, either.

But part of being a disciple, and building more disciples around you, is checking up on each other, encouraging each other in the faith and in the battle.  We need that.  That's a good thing.

If you are a married man, I think that having an accountability partner, or small group, can be a good thing, UNLESS you are talking to those guys about issues that you are not willing to talk about with your wife. There is no other relationship whereby you are becoming "one" with that other person.  I talk to my wife about everything under the sun.  I would consider her to be my number one accountability partner.

Maybe that's weird, or rare.  I just would not want to be talking about issues with a guy, when I don't feel comfortable with talking about that issue with my wife.  That would seem strange to me.

Part of becoming one flesh with your wife, I believe, is being able to grow together in communication with each other.  In terms of human relationships, the husband/wife relationship should be the most intimate.

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