Ministry News

'Accountability' Not So Hot With Churches

Details: Monday, 29 November 2010 18:24

Many of the Bible's exhortations aren't very popular in today's world. But a new study by the Barna Group indicates that one of the least favorite biblical principles among Christians might be: "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. " (Heb. 13:17).

There is very little accountability among Christians in the U.S., a new survey found.

Only 5 percent of Christian adults indicated that their church does anything to hold them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their life, according to the Barna Group.

Evangelicals were most likely to have some form of church-centered accountability.

George Barna, director of the survey, stressed that mutual accountability is one of the cornerstones of the biblical concept of community.

"But Americans these days cherish privacy and freedom to the extent that the very idea of being held accountable by others—even those with their best interests in mind, or who have a legal or spiritual authority to do so—is considered inappropriate, antiquated and rigid," he said.

"With a large majority of Christian churches proclaiming that people should know, trust and obey all of the behavioral principles taught in the Bible, overlooking a principle as foundational as accountability breeds even more public confusion about scriptural authority and faith-based community, as well as personal behavioral responsibility."

The Barna Group, a research firm based in Ventura, Calif., surveyed 1,000 adults from across the country in August. The latest report is based on data from the 889 adults who identified as Christians and who reported attending a Christian church.

The most common form of accountability cited by the 5 percent who said their church holds them accountable was small groups. Around one-third said they are kept accountable through small groups.

Twenty-one percent said their churches limit or revoke membership for those who do not meet specific standards. Nineteen percent said they are being held accountable to individuals they're acquainted with in their congregation, and 16 percent said leaders follow up with them on activities assigned to them.

Additionally, 10 percent said they have personal accountability to the pastor or someone else on the pastoral staff; 8 percent said they answer directly to the congregation for questionable activities that are identified; and 6 percent said they have regularly scheduled reviews with church leaders. –source: The Christian Post

Subscribe to Ministry Today magazine

Comments

0 #11 Arising Glory 2011-02-23 02:57

People who want to CONTROL other people for their own ego MAJOR on this verse: "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. " (Heb. 13:17).
Too many times we find out they DON'T really care for our soul and the real idea is to do it because they are right and it will prove out, not because we HAVE TO. There are too many spiritual wars over the wrong interpretation of this verse. :cry:

Where the SPIRIT of the LORD IS, there is LIBERTY. Believe it.

Quote

0 #10 Melodie Noble 2010-11-30 09:40

Thank you Pastor for posting this article! It certainly circulates thought provoking questions for the whole body of Christ - every part involved (leaders and followers)! One thing I have observed and learned is that when we allow ourselves to be instructed and guided by the wisdom of godly leadership (as they do the same) we all grow into His likeness and reach more people as a result.
When there is abuse of spiritual authority or followers wanting to separate from all authority, the answer is repentance, restoration and healing - all including the factor of relationships. BUILDING GODLY RELATIONSHIPS WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE ACCOUNTABILITY.
Another thing we have too much of in the church is easy Christianity - no sacrifice involved - Thank you Pastor for being deep in the things of God - we need more spiritual leaders now days that don't just entertain, but take interest in the souls and destiny of the sheep.

Quote

+4 #9 Derrick Simpson 2010-11-30 07:58

I appreciate your article, but perhaps the best place for you to start with accountability would be to write an article on the lack of accountability among church leaderships. Spiritual abuse is rampant in parts of today's Church, and who is holding these wolves in sheep clothing to account? The abuse in some cases is so life impacting, that if it were in a court of law, these leaders would be found guilty and incarcerated. Who is speaking out for the Sheep? Who is calling our leaders to account? Some church leaders will applaud you for this article...provides them with ammunition to further seek control of people's lives and inflict their cruel manipulative strokes of the leaders crook. I as a leader, ask you again, who speaks out for the sheep? Talk to the Great Shepherd and I believe he would maybe be more concerned about the lack of accountability among the under-shepherds than the sheep.

Quote

0 #8 Michelle A 2010-11-30 03:17

Very disheartening to see yet I am not surprised by these findings. This is because pride is such an issue today. Pride was the downfall of lucifer. And pride is what keeps us from being held accountable by those in Spiritual Authority over us. Sadly, if those in leadership do not enforce it, they run the risk of jezabel and other strongholds running rampant in the church, which of course allows much chaos through their doors. The church in its vast majority today is not the church that God speaks of in His Word. It is merely a social club that meets a couple of times a week full of people who talk about being good while leading compromising lifestyles outside of the four walls.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny him with their life style. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. " Brennan Manning

Quote

+4 #7 Jessie 2010-11-30 02:51

While I agree that Christians should respect the biblical counsel and instructions of their godly leaders, there is a part of me that agrees with DavidK. Just as there has been a sharp drop in congregation's willingness to follow their leaders instructions, that same decline can be seen in many leaders' unwillingness to follow God's instructions to them. There seems to be some rebellion on both parts. I suggest that we all (pastors and sheep) recommit ourselves to following God whole-heartedly.

Quote

0 #6 John Allen 2010-11-30 02:31

While it is good to maintain some kind of accountability factor with leaders & peers in the church, the real issue of accountibility is first a personal issue.
It is easy to put forth a godly & spiritual front for those around us, however we can't put anything over on the "Man in the Mirror".
By all means we should maintain a transparency with our leaders & peers, but it will only be a true transparency if we are honest and straightforward with ourselves.

Quote

0 #5 DJ Parsons 2010-11-30 01:55

The Protestant Reformation reassured us we alone are accountable for ourselves before God without the Catholic Priest. There are Scriptures regarding Authority, even the Authority of the Family… however, does the World look like our earthly Authority have guided us correctly to you? I just wonder how many of today’s Ministers would actually walk to the gallows as Dietrich Boenhoffer did in Germany when he was one of the “few” ministers who did not throw in with Hitler. A much better questions would be…would they even walk away from their money? If there is to be Revival in our Land it must start with our Ministers…but as in articles like this one…the fault always lies in the Sheep. Yes, indeed Ministers will be held accountable as in Hebrews 13:7 . :zzz

Quote

0 #4 Tim Thompson 2010-11-30 01:33

am really greatful you did this story because I am an author and the 2 books I wrote I put in both of my books,F.A.T.I believe every one in the church not just leadership should be Faithful,Accountable and Teachable.I personalley have 7 people that I am accountable to which means these 7 people can ask me any time what I look at on the net or what movies I am watching or what have I have done in my spare time.I have been told by other christians this is a form of control but I believe this is not at all control but to help me become a stronger man of God.I believe every one should be accountable at this level because so many christians are falling away or fleaving their spouces.I have submitted under people that fell and it hurts allot and it does major damage.One thing I find so amazing is the people who havent fell are the onesthat have got a strong accountability.

Quote

+6 #3 DavidK 2010-11-30 00:42

Maybe folks in the church are not as accountable to spiritual leadership as they were in the past because spiritual leaders have become less trustworthy and less accountable to the congregations they represent... Just a thought!

Quote

0 #2 darryll 2010-11-30 00:29

the article was interesting,i wish it was more detailed about when the church changed how it felt about authority and why christians do not want to "obey" ;-)