what is accountability?
In modern Christianity, the word 'accountability' has become so broadly used that it is commonly watered down to nearly just water. an accountability group might just be a group. accountability for actions might just be a look of disapproval. when we elevate the word to its highest form within the confines of healthy relationship, we return to the root word 'account'. a correct and trustworthy measured amount. accountability is about naming something as it is, calling it out and sizing it up.
accountability includes several other key relational components like integrity, justice, honor and honesty. However, we cannot hold anyone accountable to something that hasn't first been measured. if you Read that carefully, you saw that it has "First been measured". accountability cannot happen unless we come to a measured agreement beforehand. to be accountable means that we have established a principle or characteristic to which we aim. once that principle is agreed upon, we can then account for it. without a preset agreement, we lack the ability to account.
in our faith, we might think that the bible is our measured agreement. maybe we have cultural norms or traditional behavior that we hold as a measured agreement. If so, we probably hold others accountable to those perceived agreements. healthy relationships communicate clearly the expectations prior to accountability. disappointment is built on expectation. if we don't clearly state our desire, we cannot understand success or failure and we can't hold accountability.
healthy relationships involve statements of confession, intention and hope. When these statements are shared in the relationship, the listening party is given the responsibility of accountability. bob tells dave that he wants to start jogging. in the days that follow, if dave never asks about bob's jogging then dave isn't being a good friend. Dave doesn't care. when dave holds bob accountable to the expressed desire to job, dave is showing bob love. accountability occurs in healthy relationships when we are held to account for our values.
accountability includes several other key relational components like integrity, justice, honor and honesty. However, we cannot hold anyone accountable to something that hasn't first been measured. if you Read that carefully, you saw that it has "First been measured". accountability cannot happen unless we come to a measured agreement beforehand. to be accountable means that we have established a principle or characteristic to which we aim. once that principle is agreed upon, we can then account for it. without a preset agreement, we lack the ability to account.
in our faith, we might think that the bible is our measured agreement. maybe we have cultural norms or traditional behavior that we hold as a measured agreement. If so, we probably hold others accountable to those perceived agreements. healthy relationships communicate clearly the expectations prior to accountability. disappointment is built on expectation. if we don't clearly state our desire, we cannot understand success or failure and we can't hold accountability.
healthy relationships involve statements of confession, intention and hope. When these statements are shared in the relationship, the listening party is given the responsibility of accountability. bob tells dave that he wants to start jogging. in the days that follow, if dave never asks about bob's jogging then dave isn't being a good friend. Dave doesn't care. when dave holds bob accountable to the expressed desire to job, dave is showing bob love. accountability occurs in healthy relationships when we are held to account for our values.
