2009 has been a “shocking” year for Christian hip-hop.  The genre has seen two of it’s very prominent artists- who are more like urban missionaries with leading roles in their local assembly- fall victim to moral indiscretions in their marriages and publicly brought to public discipline.  My blog is not to focus on them exclusively, neither is it to debate whether there should or shouldn’t have been a public display regarding their indiscretions, however, the reality of it brings to light some very good discussion.  How can Christian men (especially traveling artists and frequently business/military traveling people) lead their families without becoming victims to moral indiscretions?

Complacency and pride

Our walk with Christ is not something that is on auto pilot.  It’s not something stays the same without any maintenance.  No, but God designs it such that each believer must continually give diligence to their walk.  Our biggest mistake is when we rely on past spiritual accomplishments (which are really not our own accomplishments) and build a sense of self sufficiency and high opinions about our spiritual health.

When we find ourselves content with the fact that we have studied a book of the Bible…once.  When we are satisfied in the fact that we had a great day of prayer…last week.  When we are fine with the fact that we resisted temptation…at one time in our life- then we are setting ourselves up to see no need to further delight in the Lord in these areas.  We are putting blinders on our eyes and setting ourselves up to fail.

No accountability

When the word “accountability” goes out, there’s a wide range of thoughts: people getting into your business, slavery, and control.  Certainly, many of us have faced oppressive forms of “accountability” which was no more than some type of legalism, but accountability done right is nourishing to the soul!  Regular, meaningful fellowship where our theology and life are hashed out in the context of fellow believers is what God wants.  My greatest spiritual growth has happened as my theological positions and my life practices have been challenged by other Christians, or as I have challenged others on their theology and life.

Accountability forces us to acknowledge that we as individuals cannot possibly accomplish what God wants for us to by ourselves.  The very nature of accountability is that I am submitting to authority and being challenged by a community.  God has designed for our sanctification to happen in community.  Seeking accountability is essentially saying, “I cannot walk as I ought unless I submit to God’s plan for my sanctification”.  If we develop an attitude of disdain towards accountability, or live without it, we can find ourselves reaping the fruit of our resent- sinful compromise.

Satisfied in Christ

Being satisfied in Christ is essentially what keeps us from situations where sinful habits take hold of us.  The more that we delight in the Lord and His ways, the more we become hostile towards sin in our lives.  The more that I delight in the Lord, the more that I delight in my wife.  The more that I delight in the Lord, the more that I am hostile towards thoughts of another woman.  If Christ grows as our greatest delight, in Him we will find the strength, and the pleasure of obedience and a loving relationship with Him.  Our families will be strong as a result, and the ultimate purpose of God concerning our sanctification and His glory is accomplished!