I'm often dumbfounded when I hear Christians justify the moral failures of pastors or others in some type of ministry position. Where did accountability go? Did we lose sight of the big picture? God has a standard and we are in no position to lower that standard. The issue isn't judging but rather holding one another accountable so that God is honored in how we live our lives. Of course, when we do rebuke one another it should be done in love.
I have talked to numerous people about biblical issues only to see that their emotions and feelings have more influence over their beliefs and decisions than scripture. Our feelings and emotions should never cause us to go against what we know to be true according to God's word. All Christians should have a Christian worldview that helps them to see everything through the right lens; when we don't our vision gets blurred and when our vision is blurred we cannot discern truth from error. It is a sad day in Christianity when pastors and other leaders commit adultery, fornication, etc and they are not held accountable or when they are held accountable the "don't judge" card is thrown out. Many Christians quote the "all have fallen short" scripture to justify moral failures within the church.
Sin should never be justified but condemned. No, we are not perfect but when we fail to meet God's standards we should be held accountable. We will not live sinless but we should sin less as we grow more into the likeness of Christ. So I encourage you not to view accountability as judging but rather as a necessary obligation we have to one another. "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (3:13).
I have talked to numerous people about biblical issues only to see that their emotions and feelings have more influence over their beliefs and decisions than scripture. Our feelings and emotions should never cause us to go against what we know to be true according to God's word. All Christians should have a Christian worldview that helps them to see everything through the right lens; when we don't our vision gets blurred and when our vision is blurred we cannot discern truth from error. It is a sad day in Christianity when pastors and other leaders commit adultery, fornication, etc and they are not held accountable or when they are held accountable the "don't judge" card is thrown out. Many Christians quote the "all have fallen short" scripture to justify moral failures within the church.
Sin should never be justified but condemned. No, we are not perfect but when we fail to meet God's standards we should be held accountable. We will not live sinless but we should sin less as we grow more into the likeness of Christ. So I encourage you not to view accountability as judging but rather as a necessary obligation we have to one another. "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (3:13).
