We have this perception about men and women of God: that they see everything we do in their absence. While that may be true, it is not always the case. I can guarantee that they are dealing with many other things probably bigger than what we are doing with our time. For fear that God might reveal things to these ‘superior beings’ – as a newborn Christian might perceive them – the newborn Christian may be careful about their actions: God would catch them and reveal it to His chosen ones who will in turn tell everybody to the embarrassment of the newborn.
So, when they backslide the first time, they expect a sharp rebuke from their mentors or pastors. They feel terrible about it at first; but if their pastor or prophet doesn’t tell them anything, they begin to feel more comfortable backsliding. After all, it’s between God and them, and they think they are accountable to God only. They even begin to question whether God called their pastor or prophet, or if God sees them at all.
Eventually, as the newborn Christian grows in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and continues to be transformed into oneness with Christ, they realize four things: that God will not reveal things to anyone unless it is absolutely necessary; that what they do is between them and God; that change happens only when they are convicted by the Holy Spirit and yield to the corrections of the Spirit, not only when their spiritual friend sees them in the spirit; and that it is better to stay on the right path with God than to deceive people with lip-service.
In the end, there is power in God and those He enables. But the power of transformation lies in a man’s will to do what is right and just in the eyes of God. The Christian is also accountable to his fellow Christians; let it not be said of a Christian that he is irresponsible and doesn’t account to anyone. After all, it is a matter of conscience.
