thanks to brian heasley. 
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Where is the like button?
can you send this one to my stalker too? or Jon how are you getting so accurate from the other side of the planet? You’d think there was some all-seeing creator actually involved in lives of individual people???
nah… that’s just crazy talk.
Accountability can be used as a weapon of control….sad really because it can also be helpfully challenging and liberating when used properly between those who love, trust and support each other.
And it comes in many guises…I think we have an evolving species of ‘Asbo Accountability’ going on here
Haha, this is great. The way I often respond to this is : “I am accountable to plenty of people, just not to you!”
It’s essential for Christians to have other Christians we are accountable to. Some people don’t seem to understand that it only needs to be a few, close friends rather than half your church hearing all your problems.
I still think accountability is important but I do agree it is open to some horrendous abuses. I think building relationships needs to come first so that friendship and trust is built before such conversations are entered into. So listening and understanding must precede any attempt at correction or disagreement. And perhaps another way to prevent accountability being abused could be to emphasise that it is also mutual so that there is a free flow of wisdom in both direction? What do you think?
I’m happy with accountability, but want the space to do the things others don’t understand…
but that does mean that I have to think, pray and listen to others so that I can navigate the boundary between difficult-to-understand and unhelpful
(genuine question) is being accountable in a specific circumstance different to needing to ask permission before doing something? Does it depend on what you’re planning on doing? Are there some things where, actually, you don’t need to be accountable to anyone? or where it would actually be unhelpful (even if there was no abuse of the accountability relationship)?
linus… often in the past i’ve seen ‘accountability’ used as a permission mechanism, another way of controlling. but i don’t think that is what accountability is. i think it is putting yourself in a place where you allow others to know how you operate and think… and running choices, decisions, ideas, behaviours by them and getting another view, or an agreement, or advice, or anything really. i think it happens best in relationship (i always say that kind of thing, but i think it’s true). it doesn’t have to be a best friends relationship… eg. you could easily say to the person your with ‘stop me if i’m talking too much,’ and in a small way that is making yourself accountable i think.
i think enforced accountability is bad… however, organised accountability may not necessarily be… i know of a few people who find the confessional to be a profoundly helpful place.
btw… when did ‘accountability’ as a word, start getting used in the church? all sounds suspiciously patriarchal to me.
I think sometimes when we talk about ‘accountability’ we justify it by thinking about ‘good stewardship’, and we confuse that with ‘control’. God seems to take a lot of big risks with us – like entrusting the spread of the gospel to a bunch of doubting, struggling, stumbling forgiven sinners – and in the parable of the talents, He didn’t seem overly pleased with the one that took no risks. We’re all liable to make stupid mistakes and it’s great to watch each other’s backs and have someone point out when we’re being an idiot, but I reckon being accountable has to come from a seriously trusting relationship both ways. If someone I respect tells me I’m being an idiot, I’ll probably agree.