Accountability

We hear the term, accountable or accountability a lot it seems, but what does it really mean? What does true biblical accountability look like?

Matthew 18:15-17 says:

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

So, how does this really look in our day to day life? First, let’s define what accountability IS NOT…

1) Accountability is not pronouncing judgment – Holding someone accountable is all about calling out a sin or behavior in another believer. It is not about judging someone’s relationship with God or salvation.

2) Accountability is not about being right or wrong – Accountability is all about enforcing a standard of living that God has laid out in scripture, not about someone being right or wrong.

So, what is accountability then and how do we do it?

1) Accountability is about relationships – Everyone responds to being held accountable based on the level of relationship with the person who is holding us accountable. This does not mean you cannot call out sin or behavior of a believer if you do not know them, just know that the less they know you the less likely they are to respond the way you intend…why Matthew 18:16 is important. If you do not know the person well, get to know them and find out who does know them well and have them go with you.

1) Accountability must be done in love – If you care about someone enough you will eventually need to confront and hold them accountable. When you do this it must be done in love. Saying things like “I care about you and am concerned about _____” is better than condemning or being derogatory towards them…and it will go farther to doing the next item on accountability.

2) Accountability must be about restoration – If your intentions to holding someone accountable are not about restoring a relationship or keeping a relationship, your intentions need to be checked before you confront. Caring enough to confront or hold someone accountable means you care enough to keep the relationship.

3) Accountability must have follow through – You are not done once the confronting is over! Check back on the individual and see how they are doing and pray for them. If you are not willing to follow through, find someone who can or the accountability will be done in vain.

I hope this helps as you go through your life as a Christian. This is something that Christians don’t do real well, mostly because we don’t totally understand how to do it well. I have had people hold me accountable and it was more like a verbal firing squad, but I have also had people hold me accountable who were very much into the Matthew 18 model and sought to have our relationship restored or continued.

Thanks for reading!

Worship: Part 2

Worship: Part 2

In my last blog I wrote about the meaning and definition of worship. I want to write about how I began thinking about this topic.

I was listening to some praise songs while writing my sermon last week when I found myself singing along with one of the songs (which is not unusual, and no one was around to hear me! J), when I realized something…these words are really shallow!

I began looking at some of our other more popular “worship” songs and found that, for the most part, this is true across the board. Our songs have become more of a recognition for words to a warm and fuzzy Jesus instead of a direct adoration of reverence and fear for the ONE who created us. This is not totally true across the board, per se, but more of a trend that I think we need to be very careful about.

When we offer up songs of praise to our Heavenly Father, our words should be a reverent respect of a God that is Omniscient, Omnipresent, Sustainer, and Creator…not our best buddy. Don’t get me wrong, God desires to be our friend…but He also desires to be our Father, which includes discipline and correction when necessary.

As we sing our songs of praise let us make sure we totally understand what we are singing, and make sure those words are being spoken to the God of the Bible…and nothing else.

Thanks for reading!

Worship: Part 1

Worship: Part 1

One of the most controversial topics in any church is worship. One group says we only sing songs with no music whatsoever, another group says piano and organ only, another group says only old hymns, another says mix it up, yet another says out with the old and in with the new.

So what is real worship anyway? I cannot find in any definition of the word worship anything about a song service. Worship is a lifestyle devoted to something. Worship is more about who you are than what you do. Think about it…when you say that was a good or bad worship service, what are you really saying? You are saying that you did or did not like that songs that particular Sunday. Have you noticed that some people are obsessed with different things…work, gambling, addictions, hobbies, etc…? That is what they worship. We have allowed satan an open door as the church to divide Christians based simply on preference.

We sometimes call the person on stage on Sunday morning the worship leader. Interesting, if worship is a lifestyle devoted to something, then how are they leading me in worship while in the church building? Worship is done outside the walls of the church. Just a thought.

Here are some observations about our church Sunday song service (if you really want to insert worship service, I guess I will let ya this once J):

1. The song service should reflect the diverse audience in the congregation – All hymns will alienate some, all contemporary will do the same. The church leaders should spend a great deal of time praying and communicating to establish a sense of trust in the congregation that all is done to make sure everyone’s spiritual (not emotional or felt needs) needs are met. This is where I have noticed some churches fail. Church leaders decide what is going to happen (with good intentions and in good faith, and even through lots of prayer), but fail to keep the congregation informed if the changes are a great shift in what they are used to.

2. The song or songs that meant a great deal to you may or may not do the same for everyone – The songs my parents grew up with are not the same ones that mean something to me today, and the songs that mean the most to me will not mean as much to my kids or grandkids. We must be ok with this.

3. Worship is a discipline of spiritual maturity – You are devoted to something…it’s guaranteed. Is it God? Does your relationship with God affect everything you do…at work, school, at home, raising your kids, dealing with others? Worship is a lifestyle devoted to something. Worship happens outside the church walls.

So, what is the point of this blog? The point is that one of the number one reasons a person leaves a church is the Sunday morning song service. This should not be. If the message of the songs we sing on Sunday morning are directing the individual to the throne of God, then the style or how it is sung is of secondary importance.

Thanks for reading, and as always I would love to hear your thoughts!

Living in your sweet spot

Serving in your “Sweet Spot”

Earlier this month my wife, Darla, was ordained as a deaconess at Mt. Gilead. I am so proud of her and her willingness to be used by God in this way. This level of commitment is only going to strengthen our family and our marriage, and I can’t wait!

January 12, 1997 is when I was ordained into Christian Ministry at Little Prairie Christian Church. I remember my friend, Danny Wolford, preached the ordination sermon and there were so many people there to celebrate this occasion in my life.

I remember when I was in Bible college and preparing to be in full-time youth ministry (I had done part time ministry from 1993-1997) having a set of goals and dreams that I wanted to accomplish in ministry. 1) I wanted to write a book, and 2) I wanted to be in a “mega church” youth ministry.

I sort of came to the realization a few years back that I was going to “settle” for being a youth minister in a small town in southern Illinois. This realization convicted me to the core. YOU NEVER “SETTLE” FOR WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO!

Southern Illinois and small town youth ministry is a different calling. The mindset and culture is different than big cities, metro areas, or inner-city…but people are the same wherever you go. I love where God has placed me and would not change it for anything. Here are some realizations I have come to over the years:

1) God calls you. God has a call on the lives of everyone and His call is on your life. God is depending on you to do something for Him, but it is up to you to answer that call.

2) Gods call is specific. If you look throughout scripture you will find that everyone that God called (Abraham, Moses, Samuel, etc…) had a call that was specific, whether it was to a specific place or people, God was clear in his vision for their lives. God is clear on what he wants to do in your life, too. I think sometimes we don’t hear or see Gods specific call on our life because we have something different in mind and we see what we want clearer than what God wants.

3) Gods call is life-changing. When you answer the call of God on your life to serve and minister where he wants you to be, and to the people he wants you to be with…then you are living in your sweet spot! There is nothing like a basketball hitting nothing but net, there is nothing like the sound of a baseball hitting just the right spot on the bat, and there is nothing like being exactly where God wants you to be doing just the thing God wants you to do!

Thanks for reading!

Me First No Longer

Me First No Longer

Lately (the last month to 6 weeks) I have been totally unfocused and really unmotivated…from everything, home and church and all life in general. This is not like me to go this long of a stretch in this mindset and it almost scared me. I actually thought I was depressed, I blamed the devil for tempting me, then I blamed the fact the holidays cost so much money we don’t really have, then I blamed the weather…I even blamed God.

I started reading through Joshua and discovered 2 big verses (they were always there, but just really stood out to me this time)…Joshua 1:6-7 and 3:5 (I will let you look them up and read them for yourself!). The first one is God speaking to Joshua encouraging him that he was capable of leading the Israelites after Moses died and the second was Joshua encouraging the Israelites as they were about to cross the Jordan and enter the promise land.

At the same time I was reading this I have really been challenged with something in my life that God is really making clear to me. I am pretty selfish. It’s true. I am a pretty independent person…always have been for some reason. That is a good quality most of the time, but it also can be a hindrance as well. Because of this I have decided to put me first no longer in the following areas…

1) My marriage – Maybe if I put it in writing I will follow through with totally treating my wife like a queen and be the supportive and leading husband I need to be.

2) My kids – I need to play with them more, pray with them on a deeper level, and enjoy them more…because they are only home for a little while.

3) My ministry – I need to share more of the load with this amazing youth & children’s team and not have to be “up front” every time doing it all. I must become less.

I’m reading over this and it kind of sounds depressing. I’m not intending it to sound that way, I’m intending it to be a challenge for me to become less so Christ can become more in my life. I really believe that God is trying to raise the bar in my life and I am still standing on the ground and staring at the bar instead of going for the goal HE has set for me in my life.

So many amazing things are going to happen in my life in 2011. My oldest graduates 8^th grade and I am so proud of Hannah and the woman of God she is and continues to be. I also get to welcome child #3 into the Johnson family in June and I am so excited about what amazing blessing God has in store for our family of 5!

I hope this helps someone as they are on their spiritual journey. It sure has helped me as I write this. I love my family and I am committed to leading them as I allow Christ to lead me. I also deeply love Mt. Gilead Church and am committed to being a faithful leader to the church and the youth & children’s ministry.

Thanks for reading!

Judge or Accountability?

Nowhere in the Bible does it talk about believers not holding other believers accountable for their actions. The important part of accountability is remembering some key points.

1) Accountability must be relational – It is much easier to hold someone accountable for an issue if you have a relationship with them. Relationships imply a “love factor” that realizes the accountability is to help your relationship grow stronger. If you are willing to hold someone accountable, you are also willing to, in the best of your ability, invest in the relationship for the long haul to help restore that person to a better way of living.

2) Accountability must be Biblical – Sometimes our culture confuses mere conveniences or personal preferences for Biblical truth. When we point out a failure or hold someone accountable for an action we must make sure we are coming from a godly point of view. Our accountability to others and towards others must begin with our accountability to God’s word.

3) Accountability must be forward-moving – Accountability is not a case of calling someone out and then ignoring the relationship (see point #1), instead accountability is for the purpose of positive steps to helping someone become emotionally or spiritually healthy. Accountability must always cause someone to make positive changes, not have negative emotions (although at the time there could be negative emotions such as denial, anger, etc…) in the long term.

I hope this helps the next time someone accuses you of judging them when in reality you are just trying to hold them accountable. I also hope this helps in making sure that our accountability is not passing a judgment on a person. As always, thanks for reading and I appreciate any feedback!

Say what??

Well…it was not the news I was expecting in my wildest dreams. Darla and I laying down talking on a Wednesday night when she says the words few husbands want to hear…”I have something to tell you”. She didn't say it in a I’m-ticked-off tone and I had run through my mind the events of the last week or so and I thought I was pretty safe so I jokingly said “we are having a baby?” I laughed. She said yes then I really started laughing. I looked at her face and realized she was serious and I stopped laughing. Then we both started laughing.

Being a dad is my favorite role to play in this life. I love being a minister to students and I love being a husband and I even love being a son and brother and uncle…but being dad is where I love to be. My girls mean everything to me and life without them is just not something I can ever fathom.

Hannah was a surprise. We had gone off birth control and it was supposed to take 3 months to even think about being pregnant…nope, about a month or less! Brianna was a little more scheduled and planned. This one isn't a shock…it’s stunning! ha ha

I have wanted a third for a long time and really had conceded that it just wasn't going to happen several years ago, so this news is shocking but yet exhilarating at the same time!

June 18, 2011 is the due date and I look forward to how God is going to bless our lives with this baby. I thank God that He trusts us with this life and I pray that we honor Him in our parenting and leading him or her (BTW, I'm not hoping for a boy...I am happy and overjoyed with a boy or girl...really doesn't matter to me) in the way of the Lord.

Matt