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Today’s reading was Leviticus 5–7. The very first verse stood out to me, reminding me of my seminary days when I was required to hold fellow classmates accountable. Leviticus 5:1 says,

“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.” 

At my seminary, there was a structured approach to personal holiness—one that was managed. I submitted to it, but I never fully understood or personally agreed with it. I viewed it as a reality of being under someone’s authority: sometimes, you have to submit to things you don't agree with. One particular rule required us to sign a statement each semester affirming we had attended all the required chapel services. The catch? We also had to confirm we had not witnessed anyone else skipping chapel. In other words, we were obligated to turn in anyone we knew was violating the rule.

After reading these first chapters of Leviticus, I could see why a community might have such a rule. Ideally, we want people to be personally motivated to live holy lives. However, over the years, I’ve also learned that my sanctification—my growth in holiness—is a process that is helped when others hold me accountable. If my spiritual immaturity has the potential to negatively impact the larger community, it is ideal if I’m held in check by managed accountability.

Chapters 6 and 7 were a summary of the offerings mentioned in chapters 1 through 5 (Burnt, Grain, Peace, Sin, and Guilt). Within the summary God outlines how the priests were allowed to have a portion of the offerings as their provision. This highlights an important principle: when the community was fully dependent on God—walking in obedience to His will—there would be plenty of provisions for the priests. However, if the community strayed from God’s ways, the priests would either come up lacking or be tempted to compromise their message and ministry to make a living.

In other words, it was the responsibility of the entire community to ensure that everyone was faithfully following the Lord, because the congregation’s obedience would ensure both the provision for the priests and the overall blessing of the community. While personal devotion is ideal, there is a communal aspect to faithfulness that cannot be ignored.

Takeaway: Holiness is not just a personal pursuit—it is shaped by the accountability and obedience of a faithful community.