What do you all think about "accountability partners?"

Yes, I agree with you, a forced arrangement would never work. There needs to be some mutual respect and shared experience. Beyond just showing up at the same meeting. You may actually have more success with an online friend and the anonimity of the internet than someone you see every day but don't trust.

Absolutely. God does judge our sin. Your partner is not your judge, God has already judged you. We are not talking about someone pointing out the sin in your life. God has hopefuly already done that through the Holy Spirit. What we are talking about is after repentance getting encouragement and strength not to backslide again.

There is of course always a chance of that, but what you need is another brother who is also dedicated from fleeing temptation and staying away from that ditch. Hopefully you stay away from the sin, but you need someone you can talk to openly and honestly about the temtation and desire of the flesh. And if you do fall, having confessed and received forgiveness from God, your partner encourages you not to fall again. The conviction /judgement /forgiveness /confession is all between you and God, your partner is just a fellow believer there for support and help. What I have seen and is really cool here is that your times of weakness will be your partners times of strength and vice verca. Not unlike a marriage relationship you can make up for each other's weaknesses and be stronger together then you ever could be alone.

You are right on here too. Temptations are not sins, and hopefully you overcome the temptation and never fall into the sin, but in our judgmental society today some believers will condemn you for even admitting the temptation. I am at times be guilty myself. Some temptations I just cannot understand and some sins I could never forgive. But you don't need my forgiveness.

I don't think we are that far apart here skypair, just with a different perspective and experience. Had I seen this done as you described I would have had problems with it also.

 

I appreciate this posting...

 

Quote:
Always kind of wondered if the Holy Spirit can't keep you accountable how could a man. Silly me, what do I know
"Well, since you used the word "silly," I have to agree. "

Oh thank you so much, I really needed that encouragement from a "brother" :tonofbricks:

"It is a great misunderstanding of the Bible to reject the idea of accountability partners."

You might point out where I said that in my two sentance statement.

"The Bible is replete with instruction about mutual encouragement and accountability."

Enlighten away and list what you would call "repleat."

"To set the work of the Holy Spirit in accountability against the work of other believers"

You can't even read between the lines of my comment and find all that.

"would be like saying "I don't need a preacher; the Holy Spirit will teach me." "

Humm thought He did. Again, silly me. Sure preachers have their place, but since we are believer priests, indwelled by the Spirit same as the preacher - seems we might do without him if the need arose.

"That's biblically naive."

Just silly me again I spose.

"The HOly Spirit uses the work of other people in our lives to accomplish his work."

He also works in lives all by His little lonesome without people at times as well.

 

I don't think Jesus said that. Neither did he say that marriage was about accountability or asking each other embarrassing questions. For my part, I don't find the questions embarrassing. I suppose if you are failing they can be embarrassing. I think discipleship and holiness is not embarrassing at all.

Yes, I think they make mistakes, but those who speak "for the Spirit" are known by how they conform to the Bible. Accountability si not about more revelation. It is about obeying what we already know.

I wouldn't limit it to one person.

Yes, I can. God is the one who is the moral arbiter of our actions. And he has instructed us as believers to encourage one another to measure up to that standard.

 

You are the one who used the word to begin with.

Why? I don't think I said that you said it.

The word is "replete" and I gave a number of references already.

I know. I wasn't responding to you. I was responding to the thread in genearl.

Not if you are going to be biblical.

Yes he does, but the pattern of the NT is that the Christian life is lived in community, not alone.