Fear of Accountability

Fear of Accountability

Did you ever know someone who just couldn’t make a decision. No matter how hard you pressed they would never say yes or no. Never acknowledge their role in church or anything else.

The fear of making decisions, and acknowledging your purpose is generally tied to the fear of accountability.

I am no therapist. The conclusions I speak of are drawn from life experiences.

Early on in my Christian life I feared taking a position in church. Could I handle it? Was it God’s will? These questions and more arose because I was not yet sure of my role in the Kingdom of God.

I felt His call upon my life, but what did He really want.

With a lot of prayer and support from people who knew more than I did. I began to accept the responsibility of ministry and even the titles that go along with it.

Then that dreaded consequence came. Accountability.

Making mistakes is a given as we walk through life. Decisions made hastily, without prayer and consultation.

Whatever role you have in church, business, and life, there are consequences for the decisions you make. You will likely be held accountable for them.

Pastors and other ministries deal with this everyday. At least those who have accepted their role, and believe that they have a responsibility to their people, along with accountability to them and God as well.

Back to decisions. I want to share a couple of points from the book, “Futuring by Dr. Sam Chand.”

I highly recommend his books. Read everyone you can get your hands on. They are filled with relevant and important information on leadership and the church.

{1^st-There are no future decisions. Only present decisions with future consequences.

This helps us connect today with tomorrow.

2^nd-Most of today’s problems were yesterday’s decisions.

This helps us slow down in the decision making process.

Finally, Action takes place in the present, but it points towards the future.}

Awesome words from Dr. Sam Chand.

When we take the time to pray, seek counsel. Decisions become far less fearful to make. The fear of accountability will lose its hold on you.

Still there are those who will never acknowledge the role they are in. I will never really understand why.

When God called me to Pastor I have to be honest and admit I was afraid.

After so many years of being a youth leader, associate Pastor, teacher. After helping plant 3 churches in another area, 2 of which still exist. One for more than 30 years. The responsibility for this one was all on me, and my wonderful wife Betty.

What was my fear? It was accountability. Would it work, because I am not from this area? Would people come. Would we be relevant and useful to the community.

I want to be clear on something. Betty and I started Amazing Life Church from scratch. Our first service we had around 13 people. Only one was from another church, and He just came that one time for support.

We did not befriend people all over the county that went to other churches, only to get them to come to ours when we opened.

It was an act of faith. Propped up with courage, and a calling to fulfill God’s purpose for Betty and I, and our community.

God has blessed us with great people over the years. We are in our 14^th year. This July will be the 10^th year of our back to school bash. To this point we have put 3,800 backpacks in the hands of needy children. Along with school supplies and other items we could obtain.

So the question I asked myself when we felt the call, would we be relevant, was answered. Giving God the glory always.

My final thought is this. With God’s help and grace, Betty and I are accountable to God, ALC, and our community. It is a joy to listen to the voice of God as He directs, and fulfills.

Just so you know what this amazing lady looks like. I have included a picture in this post.

Have a great day. Be blessed as you follow Christ.

#lovewins #hopelives