The Motive Must Be Love
February 19, 2026 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Part of the fifth vow that PCA members affirm is to promise to study the purity and peace of the church. A lot is packed into that short phrase, like confronting sin, seeking reconciliation, yielding one’s personal preferences, holding one another accountable, and more. If we ask ourselves why this is required of church members, we can start by affirming the glory of Christ demands the purity and peace of his church. Christ laid down his life to purify the church and present her without blame (Eph. 5:25-27). Christ prayed for the unity and peace of the church (Jn. 17:11). We are commanded to be holy as God and Christ are holy (1 Pet. 1:16). We are commanded to live at peace with others (Rom. 12:18). Christ is glorified when we walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
Without taking anything away from the high calling of the glory of Christ, love for the other must be a driving motivation behind our efforts to study the purity and peace of the church. Pursuing the purity of the church without love is very dangerous and harmful and contrary to God’s intentions. Some might say we live at time when people can be easily offended. And in response to offense some believe they need to mete out justice on the offender. Some might even interpret Micah 6:8, where God makes known his will that we “do justice,” as stating we should administer justice on evil and evildoers. But that is not our calling or responsibility, and this attitude of revenge ignores the command of love.
Let’s consider Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:15, a passage that addresses the purity of the church. Jesus says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” If we focus merely on the commands, “Go and tell him his fault,” this might be interpreted as seeking revenge, as if Jesus is telling us to make him feel ashamed for his fault. But we need to hear the command with the end goal that Jesus commends. He says, “If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” That picture of “gained” is a picture of reconciliation. The relationship is once again restored to a loving, caring, Christ-honoring relationship. Jesus wants us to go and tell our brother his fault out of love, because Jesus wants the relationship restored. Revenge, or seeking to administer justice in our own eyes, will never restore a relationship. Therefore, when confronting the sins of others, it is imperative that love for the other is one of our primary motives (the glory of Christ being the other). Love changes the dynamics of that whole conversation.
Let’s also take into consideration Proverbs 10:12, which states, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” The words “strife” and “offense” are synonyms in this verse. The verse embraces the reality that strife happens, offenses happen. How they impact us and how we respond depends not on the nature of the offense, but on our heart attitude toward the offender. If we respond out of hatred, we will only stir up more strife and burn the relationship. If we respond out of love, the relationship can be healed and restored.
Daniel P. Miller has written a helpful little booklet for 9Marks titled, What If I’ve Been Hurt by My Church? Church hurt is real and can be deeply wounding. If we accept the biblical call to study the purity and peace of the church out of a motive of love, we will not allow church hurt to end relationships in the church. We would pursue reconciliation and forgiveness. Miller states, “Striving for reconciliation with others demands that I love Jesus and his church more than I love nursing my sense of offense. Such love for Jesus flows from a Spirit-supplied appreciation that the Lord chose to pursue me, not withdraw; to engage me, not pout; to redeem me, not reject me. Zeal for Christ inspires us to follow in his steps, not hone the craft of erecting relational barriers.”
I freely acknowledge that the fifth membership vow might cause hesitation for some people. But it embraces the biblical call to be in relationship with others in the church, while lovingly maintaining those relationships. It is not easy, but the grace of Christ will sustain us, and even bless us, as we seek to love his church.
