Forgiveness and Accountability 

God on Monday
Read previous

‘Anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed’ (James 5.15b-16a). 

Reflection

Forgiveness is one of God’s most precious gifts. It is so powerful that it can heal us. It brings life to our bodies, and joy, freedom, and peace to our spirits. It offers a new start - like entering a workplace on the first day of our dream job.

But just as the Apostle James is clear about forgiveness’ healing power, he is also clear that this gift cannot be kept to ourselves. We are, he tells us, to ‘confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another’. This echoes his earlier teaching ‘judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy’ (James 2.13). James is working on the assumption that, when God sends forgiveness, it must be handed on for it to be effective.

The reciprocity and accountability demanded by James’ injunction resonate with Jesus’ teaching, for example in his parable of the unforgiving servant (Mt 18.21-35); in his command to ‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven…for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (Lk 6.37-38); and in his warning ‘If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Mt 6.14-15).

Nothing in this teaching suggests it is only applicable within the church. It also applies within the sphere of work. In fact, forgiveness and accountability have become major themes a wider society dominated by a culture of blame.

They surface especially in the media, politics, and business, in situations either of crime, or poor performance and unprofessional conduct. Recent examples in the UK include the Post Office, the BBC, Harrods, and companies and regulators responsible for clean blood, clean rivers, and fireproof cladding.

In our own sphere of work, as in those, the demands of justice need to be met. But James’ words suggest that, whatever the challenges, and however long it takes, all those who follow Jesus will want to find the generosity of spirit to both apologize and to forgive as part of a search for justice.

Response

When people confess their sins to each other they are holding themselves accountable to that person or organization. That can be very hard to initiate, especially when the person or organization to whom they confess their sins committed the very sin that provoked their sin in response. But we can be bold, knowing God’s forgiveness of us depends on our forgiveness of others.

Prayer

In my work, Lord, help me to be a model of accountability and a channel of forgiveness.  

This Week's Author

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the next Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

Feel free to share these reflections with your contacts via email and social media.