The Call for Accountability

I am pleading with the pastors in all denominations and groups. Do not turn from the foundation of truth. We will all be held accountable, but for those who are in positions to disciple and teach God’s word, you will be held accountable for what you teach and what you don’t. You are shepherds of God’s flock. If the flock is found wanting, you will be judged for it. In Ezekiel, God said this regarding the shepherds:

Ezekiel 34:7-10

7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock” 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD! 10 Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

This warning goes out to all who preach or teach God’s word in a church or home group. Those who post on line and those who use social media to get their message out. All of us will be accountable. We also will be held accountable for how we speak and teach regarding the Holy Spirit. I have an entire chapter dedicated to the Holy Spirit in my book “Simplicity”. I encourage you to read that. I won’t belabor that topic, but going along with what we have been looking at here in this chapter, the Holy Spirit is often misrepresented, as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We treat Him like a claw machine that you put money into trying to get the claw to pick up a toy or doll and dispense it to us. We don’t care what it grabs, just as long as we get something. The Holy Spirit does have gifts to give and He also has the fruits of the Spirit that come when we are in relationship with Jesus Christ. He doesn’t however give us anything that does not bring Glory to God! He doesn’t operate a circus that is often chaotic and loud. He doesn’t interrupt Himself when the Word is being taught, and as He distributes the gifts, He is the one who manifests them in us and through us. Any pastor, shepherd, or worship leader who gets into emotional manipulation by ramping things up with the music or elevating the speech to appear more empowered, is walking in dangerous territory. God is longing to pour out His Spirit upon the church and the lost who will turn to Him, but we need to be coming to Him with a repentant heart, with prayer and fasting, asking Him to move upon us, not trying to make it happen through fleshly means. It’s time we get back to the basics of Christianity. The simple truth is for us to get away from religion and get back to relationship. I believe there is a religious spirit that keeps the church bound up in the expectation of what the worldly culture thinks the church should be. Politically correct, quiet when it comes to sin, sensitive to people’s feelings and lifestyles even if it goes against scripture. We are not to give our opinions, or even our preferences when teaching God’s word. We are to speak the truth of His word no matter what. Feelings and emotions have nothing to do with truth. Truth is truth no matter whether you agree or not. As Christians we have a standard to live by. As I said before, this standard does not change. If we don’t align ourselves with God’s word, then we are misaligned. If not God’s standard, we only have men’s. Man changes his standards according to his likes, dislikes, his understanding or misunderstanding, his comfort or discomfort. Man wants to design a god around himself, one that doesn’t have any moral or ethical boundaries, rather than submitting himself to who God actually is. In the full counsel of God’s word, we know who He is. We will be held accountable to His word, not some philosophical writing from men who claim to have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a [i]stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

I believe time is short! We, fellow pastors, and the church have to get back to God’s standard. His Holy Word. We have to move away from the cultural influences in the church. We are called out to be separate from the world. Let’s be the church that changes the world, not the church that is led by the world. Let us not be caught by surprise when the Lord comes for His church.

Revelation 2:4-5

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

The message is clear! The church has left her first love! Today the call is sent out. Turn from the emotionalized, or Americanized Christianity. The feel good, all about me church. Will you join me by getting on your knees, and cry out to God for a revival of His church? Repenting for taking our eyes off of Jesus and His word and making it all about worldly and cultural acceptance. Our heart should always be about pleasing the Lord, not men. This is a spiritual war that we are in! The end of that war is closer than we think, therefore we need to place our attentions upon Jesus Christ who called us into His army and is preparing us for battle through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:4

4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Revelation 22:20-21

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be [c]with you all. Amen.

Let me leave you with this last thought: