Thursday, December 27, 2012

Accountability Among Preachers


Acts 11:2 KJV
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Commentaries point out this passage as demonstrating that the apostles and early church did not view Peter as the chief apostle or Vicar of Christ. However great the ministry of Peter, when his ministry crossed the line, he was called into question to give an account of himself. Later even Paul, the apostle born out of due season, would rebuke him.

Independent Baptists have erred today in that we have no mechanism whereby pastors may be reproved and held accountable when their actions are in error of what they have been taught. Churches all across the country, and around the world through missionaries who have not been held properly accountable, have been led away from Baptist convictions simply because there is no way to prevent their pastors from leading them away. I am not advocating for convention mentality because we have seen that the very same thing happens in the conventions when men are elevated to high rank and then are not held accountable. My point is that too many preachers, who should be the ones to call them into question, are either too timid to speak out, or the ones who will speak out are unbalanced in other areas so as to make their voice less effective.

We need to humble ourselves and see the value of accountability. We need to cultivate a climate within the ranks of Independent Baptist pastors where it is acceptable and even commendable to speak up and hold one another accountable. When we are called on the carpet for either doctrines or practices that are over the line we should humbly give an account. If indeed our position is biblical we should be able to demonstrate it.


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