The moral failures of Jim Bakker and Gary Hart have splashed across the front page and the evening news. But Bakker and Hart are not the only ones with clay feet. Here's a look at the role small groups can play to help us grow strong in the midst of our personal temptations.

Q: Over the past few months the media have covered numerous moral failures: Jim Bakker and PTL, Gary Hart, The Wall Street Insider Trading Scandal, and the Iran-Contra Affair. What message should we as Christians be hearing?

A: As I've covered these news items, I've been reminded of Billy Graham's integrity. One key to his ministry has been to position key men around him who held him accountable, who refused to be "yes men." None of this would have been possible if he had not acknowledged and accepted his need for it.

The same is true for us. Regardless of our role or status, we need to be accountable to others who lovingly ask us hard questions about our goals and motivations and hold us true to our faith in Jesus Christ.

You don't have to be a political leader or TV evangelist to be defeated by sins of lust, power, and wealth.

Q: How can we develop healthy accountability relationships?

A: One of the best ways I know is through small groups. To be truly accountable requires honesty and vulnerability. This usually happens most effectively within a small group where people have made commitments to one another and established trust. In this setting we are best able to give someone permission to ask us the hard questions and challenge us on our inconsistencies. All of us struggle with the pull of power, lust, money, and fame. We don't have to be famous. Each of us needs that small group of Christians who love us, pray for us, know us, encourage us, correct us … who help us remain true in our pursuit of the godly life.

Q: Why is it hard for many of us to commit to a small group?

A: First, we are afraid to be honest and vulnerable about our weaknesses and failures. We never want to appear weak. But our honesty helps us grow stronger in our faith.

Second, our society views smallness as inferior. It is both a cultural and biblical heresy to think that bigness is better. Rarely do we hear of any scandal coming out of smallness. It's not the small things that corrupt, but the big things: power, money, position, strength, arrogance, and pride.

We have forgotten that the humble are exalted, the weak are made strong, the imperfect are perfected. God most wants to use those without influence and power. The real work of the Church and the power of God has always been most apparent in and through "small people" and small groups of believers. It's the pattern which Jesus Himself set. Christ the leader poured Himself—His words, example, and life—into the Twelve. They then went out and poured themselves into others. His pattern has always worked and always will.

© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center. Used by permission.

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