Freedom and accountability

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Labberton's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

Every pastor needs to address the issue of freedom and accountability. It's part of the pastor's role in nurturing a church community: neither a laissez-faire atmosphere nor a judicial one helps people grow as disciples.

So much of our cultural angst and chaos has to do with how we view this subject.  In our culture, people advocate extremes of both freedom and accountability.  Unfortunately, the church's position often isn't much better considered than the broader culture's. If you haven't preached or taught on these themes before, be cautious about trying to load all you want to say onto this parable of the ten maidens.  Raise the questions, and develop them with the congregation over time.