What does the bible say about holding someone accountable

Q: Where in the Bible does it say to hold your brother accountable?

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Q: What is the difference between judging and holding someone accountable?

Accountability empowers where judgment disempowers. Theres always someone offering to pass judgment on how people do this, that, or the other thing, choices made or not made, and everything else under the sun.

Throughout the New Testament we see the early church meeting together regularly, living their lives in faith in their communities. And unlike today’s culture, the First Century believers were in a highly religious environment. Faith was not something that lived just in the temple or synagogue. The educational system, the laws in practice, the pattern of daily living was saturated in Jewish beliefs. It is a fallacy to assume that early Christians were uneducated in the faith or lacked understanding of New Testament concepts that are spelled out for us today. They were well versed in faith. And the accountability to which we so often have difficulty submitting was a part of daily living among brothers and sisters in Christ.

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How do you hold someone accountable biblically?
What does the Bible say about accountability?
Where in the Bible does it say to hold your brother accountable?
What is the difference between judging and holding someone accountable?

In the New Testament we see the relationships between believers were, first and foremost, to be based on love (John 15:17, Romans 12:10). Also, Christians are to treat one another and speak to one another with honesty (Ephesians 4:25). This is not a “blunt” honesty, but rather one that honors a brother or sister in Christ and is designed to help rather than hinder (Romans 14:13).

At the heart, accountability is one Christian submitting to the Christ-centered admonition of another Christian in one or more areas of life. Hand in hand with accountability is an attitude of grace and forgiveness, and the taking on of one another’s burdens (Romans 12:16, Colossians 3:13, Galatians 6:2). Many men’s groups are built around the idea of accountability, but this does not come easily or naturally. True accountability is an element of a mature, long-standing and growing relationship with both God and fellow Christ-followers.

An accountability partner is different than a Christian friendship. Not all Christian relationships are accountability relationships. In fact, rarely should they be. When choosing someone to open up to and ask to hold you accountable, it should be someone you trust and respect, with a track record of action and speech reflecting spiritual maturity. Further it should be someone of discretion, who desires to see you grow in your faith, and does not dole out gossip.

Accountability to Jesus is humbling. Real accountability carries a sense of personal humility toward Christ, who we are growing toward, but can never fully reach in terms of character. True accountability leads to wise living, which is a combination of knowledge of God through His Word, and the experience of living that out, to the best of one’s ability. The temptation in knowing more about God is to become prideful (1 Corinthians 8:1). Accountability is a constant reminder that we need God’s grace daily to live for Him in our time and culture.

Accountability is not about what you don’t do. Accountability is not a “confessional” of sorts where we admit things we shouldn’t be doing. When we make life about a list of don’ts in order to appear more Christ-like, we not only miss the point, we slide into legalism. Rather, spiritual growth is first a desire to be more like Jesus, to live the life of Jesus, to open our eyes and hearts to the things of God. Cutting out negative behaviors, then, is a byproduct of a vital relationship with Christ, rather than the central goal. The parables of Jesus often focused not on the bad that we do, but the good that we left undone. Did you stop for the traveler in need on the side of the road? Did you visit the person you know in prison? Did you clothe someone who needed a coat? Life transformation occurs most by when we start serving rather than our attempts to stop sinning.

True Christian love is not shown through people monitoring one another. Christians know that they are more effective together than separate. Further, as all Christ-followers are under constant spiritual assault, they need the protection of brothers and sisters who have their best interest at heart because they have a heart for the cause of Christ. Seek godly accountability, from a very few, trusted Christian brothers. Begin with Christian friendships, and over time as trust is built, seek out those who don’t reinforce failure, but genuinely long to see your success in Christ. This is the point at which true Christian accountability can begin.

Bible verses related to Holding Each Other Accountable from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance

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Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.Galatians 6:1-2 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Read More...)Matthew 18:15-17 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (Read More...)James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (Read More...)James 5:19-20 - Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (Read More...)Ephesians 4:25 - Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.Hebrews 3:12-13 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Read More...)Ephesians 4:1-32 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Read More...)1 Corinthians 6:1-8 - Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (Read More...)

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How do you hold someone accountable biblically?

What does the Bible say about accountability?

Biblical accountability begins with taking responsibility for one's own actions and making a conscious choice of allowing God and others to help in accomplishing what is right. Accountable to God Asking God for protection was a sign of dependence on God and accountability to him. See also Romans 14:12 and Hebrews 4:13.

Where in the Bible does it say to hold your brother accountable?

Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

What is the difference between judging and holding someone accountable?

Accountability empowers where judgment disempowers. There's always someone offering to pass judgment on how people do this, that, or the other thing, choices made or not made, and everything else under the sun.