ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF AUTHORITY
I. INTRODUCTION: As a teacher, I must enforce the rules of the school. Not always do I enjoy this portion of my job. In fact, this responsibility is often a dreaded one. We are teachers who often must perform in the role of a patrol officer. Ex: Boys smoking in the restroom, which we must monitor, are suspended when caught in the act.
Many decisions that we must make in our lives are based on our accountability to someone. No matter how much we like to think we are own our own, the fact remains, we must give account to someone.
II. ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE NORM IN THE SECULAR WORLD
A. Government accountability--- Our government is based on accountability.
1. Elected Officials --- These are representatives chosen to support the ideas
of the majority of people that put them in office.
We govern on the idea that the government is by the people and
for the people.
Elected officials who lose contact with the voters, often lose their position.
2. Check and Balance --- this system was developed by the founding fathers
of the nation to prevent a monarchy from ever occurring in the U.S.
a. Executive Branch --- Headed by the elected President
b. Legislative Branch --- Controlled by elected senators and representatives
c. Judicial Branch --- Composed of nine appointed judges on the
Supreme Court. Majority vote rules.
3. Without a solid government, there is anarchy.
B. Workforce accountability
1. Every business operating does so by implementing levels of accountability.
Laborer --- Section Foreman (Manager) --- Shift Manager --- Plant Manager
---Vice-President --- President (CEO) --- Board of Directors ---
Share Holders
2. The entire company is accountable for producing some commodity or service that
the consumer finds acceptable enough to purchase.
3. Without accountability, etc., economic depression can result.
C. Societal Accountability --- Laws are constructed with approval from the majority
(or sometimes the more powerful) of the people. By the agreement of the people,
these laws are given authority by which enforcement is executed for the better of
the society.
1. Police Officers on various levels --- Ultimately accountable to the people.
2. Armies --- Ultimately accountable to the protection of the people.
3. Without police there would be madness; without military there is captivity.
III. FAMILY ACCOUNTABILITY I Cor 11:1-3
(v. 1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
(v. 2) Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
(v. 3) But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
This is God’s order. Without order, there is chaos.
A. Children --- Are accountable to obey your parents.
Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Eph 6:1-3 (v. 1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
(v. 2) Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
(v. 3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto
the Lord.
To disobey is to dishonor.
I Tim 5:4 --- to care for elder parents
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
B. Wives --- Care for the children and spouse in submission to the husband.
1. Accountable to children.
2. Accountable to husbands.
Col. 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Eph. 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
5293 hupotasso {hoop-ot-as'-so} from 5259 and 5021; TDNT - 8:39,1156; v
AV - put under 6, be subject unto 6, be subject to 5, submit (one's) self unto 5,
submit (one's) self to 3, be in subjection unto 2, put in subjection under 1, misc 12; 40
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one's self, obey
4) to submit to one's control
5) to yield to one's admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
++++
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming
responsibility, and carrying a burden".
Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their
husbands, to love their children,
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
I Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if
any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
C. Husbands
1. Accountable to children.
2. Accountable to wives.
Prov 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.
Prov 19:14
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Col. 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Gen 2:23-24
(v. 23) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
(v. 24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Mark 10:7
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Problems:
--- Some never leave (mentally, emotionally, financially) their parents and
therefore never cleave to their spouse.
--- Mom/Dad send your son/daughter away with the blessing that you will
support their marriage, but not interfere.
--- Dad says, “Honey, if he don’t treat you right, you call your Daddy and I will take care of him.” *Lays a foundation for separation.
--- Mom says, “You know where your bed is if things don’t work out.”
*Opens the door to divorce.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
25 agapao {ag-ap-ah'-o} perhaps from agan (much) [or cf 5368]; TDNT - 1:21,5; v
AV - love 135, beloved 7; 142
1) of persons
1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things
2a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge,
giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
D. Parents --- accountable
1. Discipline of children.
Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 19:18
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of
correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him
with the rod, he shall not die.
Proverbs 23:14
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
(by teaching respect and self-control)
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself
bringeth his mother to shame.
To make an outlaw, never say no.
To make one dependent for life, pay and take care of everything.
2. Teach the children. Deut. 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Prov. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old [hair on chin, he will not depart from it.
3. Care/love of children. II Cor. 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your’s but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
4. Problems
a. Divisions among parents concerning discipline.
b. Grandparent.
---Have no authority to discipline their grandchildren unless delegated by the parents.
--- Should support the discipline of the parents when in their presence.
--- Should continue standards of discipline set by parents.
---If they undermine the authority of their grandchildren’s parents,
they open the door to rebellion and division in the lives
of their grandchildren.
IV. SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
A. The laymen
I Thes. 5:12-13
(v.12) And we beseech you, brethren, to know (esteem, regard) them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
(v. 13) And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And
be at peace among yourselves.
I Cor. 16:15-16
(v. 15) I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
(v.16) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth
with us, and laboreth.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
I Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Support the Church
I Cor 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel
should live of the gospel.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that
teacheth in all good things.
Communicate ---to come into or fellowship with, to become a sharer, to be
made a partaker
Phil 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with
my affliction.
I Tim 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth
out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.
Deut. 25:4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out [the corn].
I Cor. 9:9-10
(v. 9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care of oxen?
(v. 10) Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and the he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
B. The Minister/Pastor
Ezek 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for
they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive
the greater condemnation.
Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
1985 episkopos {ep-is'-kop-os} from 1909 and 4649 (in the sense of 1983); TDNT - 2:608,244; n m
AV - bishop 6, overseer 1; 7
1) an overseer
1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church
Self-willed = A self-willed pastor is arrogant, will not take his people’s suggestions and criticisms, and makes sure he gets his own way. Warren Wiersbe
I Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
II Cor 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
II Cor 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
I Thes 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
C. The Board/Elder/Deacon
Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
I Timothy 3: 8---13 Read
1249 diakonos {dee-ak'-on-os} probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf 1377); TDNT - 2:88,152; n m/f
AV - minister 20, servant 8, deacon 3; 31
1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister
1a) the servant of a king
1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink
For Synonyms see entry 5834
898 bathmos {bath-mos'} from the same as 899;; n m
AV - degree 1; 1
1) threshold, step
1a) of a grade of dignity and wholesome influence in the church
For Synonyms see entry 5818
V. ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD
Mt. 18:23-24
(v. 23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
(v. 24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
II Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
II Cor. 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
VI. WHEN THERE IS A BREACH IN ACCOUNTABILITY
When accountability breaks down, the quality of the product suffers. This then jeopardizes
the institution and those who are involved. Consequence ensues.
A. Elected/Appointed Officials lose their office.
B. Workers lose their position.
C. Individuals lose their freedom to prison terms.
D. Countries lose their dominion to the enemy.
E. Children lose their lives.
F. Wives lose their husbands.
G. Husbands lose their families.
H. Laypersons lose their pastors.
I. Pastors lose their churches.
J. Men lose their souls.
