Change: It's not just for Obama

Accountability.
It’s a popular word these days in spiritual discussion. Indeed, it is a Biblical concept (holding one responsible for her sin & calling her to change) that one sees illustrated in the account of Nathan the prophet with David after his sin with Bathsheba (‘You are the man’, 2 Samuel 12:7).
Pointing out another’s sin isn’t easily done nor usually on a person’s top ten enjoyable-things-to-do list (unless you are the parent of a teenager, then it comes very naturally). But this unsolicited warning could well ‘save a soul from hell (James 5:18-19)’ and ought to be much more common than it is.
Another face of accountability is the idea of asking someone to help you in your battle against your sin, to specifically identify an area you’ve been struggling in and then seek to be held responsible for obedience in it.
We talk about accountability; we nod in affirmation, but do we do it?
I’d propose this is where much of the talk of accountability grows quiet.
Moving past the intention to the follow-through….that takes guts. Not to mention humility and a real denial of self.
I find that my areas of sin struggle and weakness are familiar, comfortable, and long-standing –and when it gets right down to it. I desire to change, but many, many times I don’t desire to change --enough to change.
One of my kids had a task to complete. After a brief time working on it the child came to me & sat down with troubled eyes. “Did you finish already?” I asked. The child replied, “This is stressing me out; it’s so hard…” and I’m just not sure it’s worth it…were the words left unsaid. A big sigh told me it was a ‘red alert’ as concession and surrender were imminent. I rally the encouragement, challenge & threats to boost up the ‘troops’, and away to battle this child returns….
If he/she weren’t accountable to me though, what might have been chosen?
How this mirrors so often our own battles with sin.
Sure, I’d like to change, to forsake my sin, but “….it causes so much stress”
And maybe, just maybe, I don’t want to change quite that badly.
If I hold myself accountable to someone else, that’d mean…

• I’d have to admit my sin. (It is not a weakness, not just ‘how I am’, not a struggle, but a sin that God holds me accountable for each & every time I choose it.) This sounds like humility to me. Costly.
• I’ll have to hold the line. No excuses, no rationalizing, no comparing to others and determining “I’m okay”. No times I can allow myself ‘slack’ in my weakened state (the long day, the cranky kids, the intense craving, the unmet need, the time of the month, etc.)
• I can’t “change my mind” & fall back on God’s forgiveness so I don’t have to put forth the effort to resist the temptation and figure I’ll just try again tomorrow.

Accountability, true accountability takes courage, resolve and perseverance.
This can result in the kind of change not even Obama can promise.
It’s available only from the Holy Spirit as we work with Him as He changes us.
But there is help along the way if we dare solicit it.
Do you, do I, really want to change?