Submit To One Another

Biblical accountability can be different from the kind to which we’re accustomed in the world. There is not meant to be finger-pointing and blaming. There is no place for cancel culture (though there is correction within the Body). 

Instead, we start with acceptance: “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). We recognize that not everyone has the same amount of experience or maturity (implicit with the description of ‘weak’ ‘faith’). We recognize that not everyone agrees with us on certain Christian matters, but, “Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind” (Romans 14:5). 

And the ultimate goal is for everyone stand, not to fall: “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (Romans 14:4). We are not finger-waggers, eagerly pointing out shortcomings in our friends’ lives. We’re cheerleaders, affirming little victories through the week, and celebrating evidence of increasing grace in their lives! And we go it wholeheartedly… Whatever we do, we are to do, ‘to the Lord’ (three times in verse 6 and three times in verse 8).

So, we, “stop passing judgment on one another… (we don’t) put any stumbling-block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister” (Romans 14:13). We neither ‘distress’ nor ‘destroy’ people by our laws and habits (Romans 14:16). We, “do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall” (Romans 14:21).

“We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). And, in the discipleship process, this is a wonderful way to be refined (as iron sharpened iron, in Proverbs 27:17), to scraped off the rough edges. The Pope apparently asked Michaelangelo how he carved the masterpiece statue of David. The response? “It’s simple. I just remove everything that isn’t David.” Similarly, mutual accountability can help us remove everything that isn’t Jesus! But, ultimately, “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12).