Last time we started this look at living life unfiltered and briefly mentioned how it has an aspect of accountability. This time we will look more closely at accountability in regards to the concept of correcting or reproving false teachings. You see Paul addresses this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” These two verses point out the need for accountability in the life of a Christian.
Sound Teaching
The first thing Paul warns about is that a “time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching.” You only have to look around and see how true that is. We can find teaching that will appeal to just about any taste. You don’t want to believe Jesus is th only way to heaven, there is a teaching that states all religions lead to heaven despite Jesus claiming to be the only way. Then there is the teaching that if we have enough faith we will always be rich, happy, and nothing bad will ever happen to us; yet Jesus told us to expect persecution. You see we need to be vigilant to remain faithful to sound doctrine, to keep our beliefs Biblically sound, this is because the false teachings will speak to our human desires rather than promote the truth of God.
Convictions
When looking at this verse the thought of accountability comes in when looking at how Paul presents his warning. The word Paul used for endure brings a concept of patiently suffering, this is because the truth always convicts. It does not matter who we are there will always be something in our lives that when exposed to the truth we will be convicted. It could be something as simple as claiming all your meals eaten out as business expenses or as big as cheating on a final exam. It could be forgetting to leave a tip at the restaurant for your waitress or lying to your wife. No matter what it is the truth and sound teaching will always carry along with it a level of conviction. The thing is as Christians and the spiritual leaders in our homes we need to be willing to both endure sound teaching, endure the conviction that listening to the truth brings into our lives, and to present sound teaching to around us that are turning away “from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” This is the basic concept behind accountability, we need to be willing to have others that will ask the tough questions and expose us to the truth to keep us from straying; while we need to be willing to do the same for them.
