Accountability

I just wanted to share something from my heart about an area in Christianity that needs some fine tuning. I wanted to discuss the importance of accountability. Accountability is crucial to the Christian's spiritual health; it is a nicely designed system based on two factors that encourages God's children. Those two factors are communication and honesty. Without these two factors, accountability fades away. Communicating is necessary for a Christian to overcome roadblocks in this life, but we must communicate honestly. Without real honesty, there's almost no point in communicating. Accountability is a way for Christians to relieve stress from whatever issues they are having as well as come clean about their sin. With that being said, let's shift gears to why this product needs some repairs.

Accountability is hard because of the very people it was designed to help; that's right, Christians. Sit tight while I explain. Let's use a fictional name, Zeek. If Zeek is going through some issues (we all do), he will need a way to vent/seek help. If Zeek doesn't know how to cope with stress, he will find an outlet to rid himself of that weight. Some people choose good outlets, and others, not so much. For example, if Zeek's stress reliever is sex and his spouse isn't with him or had a heated discussion, that could lead to devastating results. If Zeek turns to medicine to cope with stress, that could lead to substance abuse. Revealing his struggles could (unfortunately) have some serious and painful reactions.

Suppose Zeek does the right thing and seeks someone to vent or seek help for his stress. This could go completely wrong, due to some Christians frontin'. The bible barricade that's raised will throw Zeek into isolation. The brother that's always blessed, but secretly cheating on his wife because of drama won't help Zeek. Neither will the sister quoting bible scriptures, but secretly dealing with being raped by a relative. These are examples, but the examples are real.

As stated earlier, Zeek will be thrown in isolation. Why? Simple. To some extent, the Church in today's culture seems to emphasize perfection. The only problem with that is the Church seems to forget that people are human. As long as we're on this earth, we will have to deal with this flesh. Sadly, those who choose to express their humanity openly and honestly get labeled with negative stigmas. Being that no one, including Pastors, is without sin most Christians will play the image game; pretend everything in your world is good while the real you, consumed with struggles, is tucked away for the sake of image. The Church and every saint in the world needs to understand that "real" life doesn't stop when you get saved. Your spouse will irritate you, there will be disputes over finances. It happens, it's called life. So what is Zeek left to do? He resorts to Satan's playground. Satan loves it when believers become isolated because sin goes uncontested and more importantly, unrevealed until it's exposed at a pivotal point in his relationship with Christ.

The morale of the story is that help/advice for the Christian has become limited. Those earnestly seeking help by being open with their flaws get stamped with negative stigmas, while others in the same boat play the image game. This doesn't happen all the time, but it does occur frequently. Accountability is a relationship where two people can trust each other to reveal strongholds and sruggles in order to get counseling, or to vent. If some saints are hiding behind image, then who's helping the many Christians dealing with "real" life?

Intro/Everything is Futile

Before we dive into Chapter 1, let me give you the back drop. Some scholars still debate over whether on Solomon was, in fact, the writer of Ecclesiastes. Historical evidence has thought to prove that Solomon was the author, so for all intents and purposes, he is. Solomon was, still is, and will be the richest individual in the history books. Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey combined still doesn't come close to the vast wealth that Solomon had (God given of course). Unfortunately for him, he squandered kingdom resources in pursuit of pleasure, wisdom, and happiness. Solomon had to learn the hard way that all these things are mist, vapors, futile. This is exactly how he starts the book.

Everything is Futile

Solomon, after realizing that everything is futile in verses 1 and 2, begins pondering life by asking "what does a man gain for all his efforts he labors at under the sun?" I'm quite sure if you're thoroughly nourished on bible nutrition, that you already know the answer to this question, in terms of spiritual matters. In verse 9, Solomon states that there is nothing new under the sun, but in verses 4-6, we see why he came to that conclusion. He states that every comes in cycles. 4"A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5The sun rises and the sun sets; it returns to its place where it rises. 6Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles." Everything occurs in this world in cycles; generations, nature, life, and death. Solomon solidifies his statement in verse 9 with the statement in verse 10. "Can one say about anything, Look this is new? It has already existed in the ages before us."

Limitations of Wisdom

Solomon switches gears in verse 12 by talking about the limitations associated with wisdom. Solomon states he has applied his mind to seek and explore through all things done under heaven through wisdom (v12-13). In the end, however, he states that it all is futile, vapors. He used all of his physical resources to grasp and understand pleasure, folly, wisdom and knowledge and these all have led to nothing. He gained wisdom far beyond everyone who ruled Jerusalem before him, yet it meant nothing in the end (v16-17). Solomon shares more results from his personal quest for knowledge and folly in the next chapter. Stay tuned....