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Copyright 1993 by the Christian Research Institute.
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If you desire to reproduce less than 500 words of this data file
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please give the following source credit: Copyright 1993 by the
Christian Research Institute, P.O. Box 500-TC, San Juan Capistrano,
CA 92693.
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"Who Sharpens Them? The Need For Accountability Relationships Among
Leaders" (an article from the Viewpoint column of the Christian
Research Journal, Winter/Spring 1988, page 31) by Brian Onken.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is
Elliot Miller.
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Who "sharpens" them? Who helps the leaders of the body of
Christ keep their "keen edge" -- both their doctrinal and ethical
purity? Is it possible that, in many cases, there is no one?
Over the recent past, the body of Christ has encountered many
difficulties and scandals. Sexual immorality, questionable
practices, problematic pronouncements, and doctrinal deviations
have all hurt the cause of Christ, giving "occasion to the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14). Such highly visible
deviations have called into question the capability of our leaders
to carry out their task in a manner consistent with biblical
teaching and their own profession. Why is this? Can anything be
done about it?
Certainly the efforts being made by such organizations as the
National Religious Broadcasters help. Calls for financial
disclosure from ministries may be of value. Closer scrutiny of the
lives and teachings of leaders may curb some problems. However, all
these measures may be overlooking a very basic issue which could
have just the kind of impact that is needed.
Proverbs 27:17 provides a clue. We find that as "iron sharpens
iron, so one man sharpens another."
What any man needs to remain sharp -- including leaders -- is
another to whom he can be accountable. Perhaps we need not only
better accountability _structures_ but also more accountability
_relationships_ to keep that keen edge.
Gordon MacDonald recently offered some very candid thoughts
about the events that led up to his resignation from the presidency
of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He admitted to permitting a
"friendship to become immoral" but "didn't feel the liberty to talk
to anybody about it."
In discussing what contributed to his sin, MacDonald concluded:
I now realize I was lacking in mutual accountability
through personal relationships. We need friendships
where one man regularly looks another man in the eye and
asks hard questions about our moral life, our lust, our
ambitions, our ego. (_Christianity Today,_ July 10, 1987,
p.38)
He needed someone to keep him sharp; just as Proverbs 27:17
indicates. Such biblical interaction between two people would have
operated "in the way of sharpening the manner and forming the
habits and character" (Keil and Delitzsch, _Proverbs,_ p.213). He
needed a friend to offer counsel (Prov. 27:9) and, when necessary,
words of correction: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but
deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27:6).
Unfortunately, in many Christian circles the leaders are set up
on an unrealistic pedestal. This is not to deny that the Scriptures
call for high standards -- morally and doctrinally -- for those in
leadership. However, such standards don't imply that our leaders
are other than human, without the weaknesses and foibles all of us
share.
When this pedestal is coupled with an all-too-common
"lone-ranger" mentality -- either self-imposed or forced on leaders
by their congregations -- our elders are being set up for a fall.
Isolated and unconnected, these leaders may not have the
opportunity for this much needed personal sharpening process.
Jerram Barrs, in his excellent book on leadership, notes:
We may be given different positions of responsibility and
authority in...the body of Christ, but never does our
position set up apart from our fellow human beings. We
must always therefore be ready for our behavior and
decisions to be questioned, discussed and criticized. We
must be open to correction and rebuke. (_Shepherds and
Sheep,_ pp. 47-48.)
And, this would seem to happen best in a growing one-on-one
relationship.
It would seem wise, then, for those in leadership to evaluate
whether they indeed have some honest, open relationship where
someone else can look them in the eye and, as MacDonald put it, ask
the hard questions. It will hardly be easy to develop such a
relationship, but the effort would be well worthwhile.
For the rest of the members of Christ's body, whose leaders
lack such relationships, perhaps we could 1) pray for our leaders
to develop the kind of needed accountability that will help
preserve their "sharpness"; 2) find ways to encourage them to
develop a relationship or two where they can get the kind of
interaction discussed here; and 3) make ourselves available to be
that "iron" our leaders need if the opportunity arises.
Clearly there isn't a simple answer to the struggles the church
has faced recently. The thoughts shared here are far from a quick
and complete solution. But, these ideas may just lead to the
long-term personalized accountability that will help ensure the
spiritual health of our leaders and, ultimately, the health of the
body of Christ.
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End of document, CRJ0016A.TXT (original CRI file name),
"Who Sharpens Them? The Need for Accountability Relationships Among
Leaders"
release A, February 7, 1994
R. Poll, CRI
(A special note of thanks to Bob and Pat Hunter for their help
in the preparation of this ASCII file for BBS circulation.)
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