Accountability
Post 1377
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“We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the law-breaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”
Ronald Reagan
http://www.wow4u.com/accountable-quotes/index.html
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How many of us know the definition of the word accountability? I know we all have heard the word and we may have used it in our dealings with another whose shortcomings are being scrutinized! But how many of us think about being accountable for our own actions as we live our lives?
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My need to ask this question was prompted by the decision made a couple of years ago by a professional sports team to allow a team member to be on the sidelines just a week after a purposeful decision he made to drive drunk resulted in a fiery crash that claimed the life of a fellow teammate. Now I realize that this action was taken, in part, due to words the mother of the victim has offered in support of this young man who was her son’s best friend, and who will need to forever live with the memory of the consequences of the action he took. However, I must wonder if the message this action, on the part of this football team franchise, sends to the world, is really the message we want both the world, and our youngsters who look to these athletes as role models, to see!
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Accountability is a checks and balances system that is put in place to protect us from harming both other people as well as ourselves! And being accountable, while allowing us to be supportive of the positive actions we, or another, accomplish in life, also provides for censure as well as consequences when the things we do break the laws of either man or God! The problem is that when we allow someone to “skate” in terms of the consequences we choose to impose for a wrongdoing, especially when the unthinkable occurs, we are enabling them to miss out on the part that says we must truly atone for the harm we have caused another. And while it may be a bit easier to reconcile this type of response to an act of malfeasance in the secular world, it is not quite as easy when it comes to matters of faith!
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We all must understand that every action we make and take as we live our lives, causes us to be responsible and answerable to God. We are told as much over and over in God’s little handbook of life….the Bible! Galatians 6: 1-2 NIV, says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” And James 15:16 NIV adds, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
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It is easy to stand erect when those who should be outraged by the sin we have committed stand by and support us. It is much a more difficult task to accomplish when we do not have another to lean upon. But to stand and admit our culpability for the things we have done is a must if we are ever to go on and seek true forgiveness….a forgiveness which we need if we are going to continue to look ourselves in the mirror every day. Now I am not seeking to judge with these words I write today. Only one is given that absolute power, and it is not any who dwells in human form. In fact, we are all forgiven already for our sins if we accept that Christ lived and died to give us that gift! But knowing we are forgiven by God, and to be able to forgive and live with ourselves, are two entirely different things. And unless and until we elect to hold ourselves accountable for the actions we take, will we ever, really, be able to forgive ourselves?
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By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames..”
1 Corinthians 3: 10-15 NIV
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“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10