At the sexual wholeness seminar last weekend, we didn’t just talk about some artist’s conception of man — lovely as that art may be, as this statue shows. Nor did we talk theoretically about male sexuality. We talked openly and frankly about the real deal, including the importance of accountability.
At one point, our presenter (Dr. Doug Weiss) asked the men to get in groups of 3 or 4 and to then ask each other these two questions:
1. When was the last time you masturbated?
2. When was the last time you viewed pornography?
There was a corporate gulp in the room of about 100 men. "Don’t worry," Weiss said, "I’ve done this with Christian men all over the country. No one has died from doing this yet."
Is that being honest and frank? Yes, I think so. Weisses point was that if men are not open in this fashion there likely will be not be the kind of breakthroughs that many Christian men say they want in the arena of their sexuality.
Weiss talked about starting accountability groups among men that he calls "Freedom Groups."
These are not groups where men are crude, graphic or weird. These are not, "Puke and go" groups, as Weiss called them. Just the opposite. These are accountability groups where men are open and honest about their sexual struggles. They tell the truth about when they fail, and they learn the freedom of walking in the light and confessing openly to another brother.
The men of the Champaign-Urbana Vineyard will soon have opportunity to be part of such a group. Stay tuned…
The refreshing thing about the seminar last Saturday is that many men got a little taste of real accountability for the first time. Several guys told me later: "Now that was freeing."
It’s just as I John chapter one says: When we walk in the light of Christ, we can have true fellowship indeed.
donfollis.com 