The word covering does not appear in Scripture in connection with accountability. However, it generally describes a position of being under spiritual authority and accountable to that higher authority.
Many have had bad experiences with covering or oversight in the church.
Many insecure pastors use the doctrine of covering as an excuse to try to keep their congregation in subjection to them.
What we need to do is build a Kingdom Structure
As the church begins to make the shift to building the Kingdom of God, we need to understand that kingdoms have structure.
The whole of heaven is governed by various levels of spiritual oversight. The angelic world is ruled by structure and accountability; there are generals and captains, as well as privates.
The Scriptures are clear about our responsibilities towards those who oversee us.
HEBREWS 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their manner of life.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
God hates lawlessness. Lawlessness is a mark of the spirit of Antichrist, and has caused much grief, heartache, and destruction in the history of the church.
Those who have moved into kingdom living and believe that they don’t need to be accountable to anyone other than to God, are greatly mistaken and are open to terrifying deception.
The Scriptures declare that if there is no shepherd the sheep will be scattered:
ZECHARIAH 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my associate, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
The church is a picture of the Kingdom of God and has structure with accountability.
The five-fold ministries along with elders, are part of the overseeing structure of the church.
If you belong to a church, you need to be submitted to those in authority in that church. This is usually the pastor, and the pastor needs to be accountable, by relationship, to one of the five ministry gifts.
Isolation is very dangerous and leads to deception.
Our allegiance is to God and to His Word.
However, that does not mean that we should not be accountable to others who have oversight over us.
Where there is an issue between a pastor or a leader and one of his flock, the person should seek guidance and counsel from a mature leader who has a proven track record in ministry and integrity.
I realize that for various reasons that some may not be able to be part of a local church and therefore unable to meet together with God’s people.
However, these are the exceptions to the norm. Learning to be submitted to earthly authority is part of our kingdom training.
Furthermore, learning to work under that authority is vital for the maturing process which God puts us all through.
Finally, when a person reaches a place where they are no longer teachable, pride will overpower them, leading to their destruction.
Both Moses and King David were great leaders, but their lives displayed great meekness.
David said: PSALMS 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Of Moses it is said: NUMBERS 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.
Jesus said: MATTHEW 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. We are in training to rule in the coming thousand-year reign of Jesus on this earth.
As it is written: MATTHEW 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.