Turn yourself In

1:25 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

Accountability Check
Do we immediately become defensive when criticized?
Is the criticism we give to others loving and helpful?
In what ways can we become more accountable?

True friends speak the truth in love.

Galatians 2:11-21
Paul Opposes Peter
11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

The spiritual-sounding phrase "I am answerable only to God" may be a subtle excuse for not answering to anyone, including God!

Charles Colson, one of President Nixon's closest aides during the Watergate coverup, became a Christian. In an article titled "The Problem of Power," he wrote, "Christians need to hold one another accountable. Although I know intellectually how vulnerable I am to pride and power, I am the last one to know when I succumb to their seduction. That's why spiritual lone rangers are so dangerous--and why we must depend on trusted brothers and sisters who love us enough to tell us the truth."

Paul confronted Peter face-to-face for his hypocrisy (Gal. 2:11-14). How embarrassing for Peter! But he needed the rebuke. Peter knew from his previous boasting and denial of Christ that he couldn't trust his own estimate of himself.

All of us must come to that realization sooner or later. One way to make sure you're not the last one to know when you're sinning is to "turn yourself in." Ask a Christian brother or sister to show you where you need improvement. They can help hold you accountable.

Don't be a spiritual lone ranger. Turn yourself in



Labels: , ,