Here at VOH we talk a lot about accountability. We encourage the ladies in the program to seek out accountability and to put themselves in positions in which it would be hardest for them to sin. In the coming weeks, I would like to expand on this subject and share with you some insight on some of the strategies the ladies here have discovered that place themselves in positions of accountability in the areas of eating disorders, self-harm, and drug and alcohol abuse.
Before going on to these specific areas, however, I would like to talk a little bit about what accountability actually is, and what the Bible says about it.
The Bible often speaks of bearing one another’s burdens and confronting and sharpening each other. This is how the body of Christ is meant to function. One example of this is Galatians 6:1-2: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Applied practically, this would look like surrounding yourself with people who are truly striving to honor the Lord, and who you know will be willing to gently confront you on the areas in your life in which you need to grow. This is true, Biblical friendship, and is exceedingly helpful as we all try to overcome areas of sin in our lives. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 talks about the importants of seeking accountability: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
So these are the kinds of things we try to keep in mind while thinking about ways we can keep ourselves accountable. In the coming weeks you will get the opportunity to see what Biblical accountability looks like for our ladies here, as they share their thoughts on accountability and practical ways they have discovered to keep themselves accountable.
