Hillsong’s Carl Lentz joins a long list of well-known Christian leaders who have been asked to step down after moral failure.In fact, that list is beginning to read like a Who’s Who of 21st-century pastors. Given the seductive nature of power and the many pressures of ministerial work, perhaps this should surprise no one. However, moral failure is not inevitable—particularly if multiple practices and safeguards are in place. Perhaps the most significant deterrent is personal and corporate accountability.
According to Bay Area pastor Brad Wong, “Within Christian settings, accountability is an overused word and an underutilized concept.” Wong refers to accountability as “proactive honesty.” Where confession is an after-the-fact admission of wrongdoing (Jas 5:16), accountability aims to prevent us from failing in the first place.
Being proactively honest means that whenever we are tempted to sin or wherever we are currently sinning (including the easy-to-hide sins of the heart such as greed, jealousy, or harshness), we initiate conversations with trusted friends or co-workers. This should include a detailed confession of past failures. Such proactive honesty deals a death blow to our pride which, according to Proverbs, is often a formidable impediment to health and holiness (Prov 11:2, 16:18).
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