The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)
When serving as a pastor, there is a temptation to ignore or dismiss questions and concerns regarding biblical doctrine. How firm must a pastor, or an elder board, be in holding to biblical doctrine? Is it possible, wise, or even biblical to make exceptions for people who want to become church members but who do not completely agree with the church’s statement of faith? In other words, can a so-called asterisk be attached to an individual’s church membership application, who agree with most, but not all, of what the church states it believes? What are the consequences in such a situation?
First, a church may risk losing potential members who may chose to leave if their request is not granted. They may opt to attend another local congregation. After all, isn’t congregational fellowship and increased attendance more important than doctrine? Is not the rationale, “you are not following successful church growth strategy by not giving people what they want,” applicable in such a scenario?
Second, are not the church leaders allowing for false doctrine to be taught and embraced when allowing people to become new members who do not completely agree with the church’s statement of faith? Should this even be a concern? Again, many might conclude doctrine divides but fellowship unites. Does it really matter what you believer, as long as you are sincere?
Third, doctrine and attendance aside, it is wise fiscal policy to turn potential church members away who may financially give to the church’s ministries and the church staff salaries. Aren’t the congregation customers and are not church leaders to keep the customer satisfied?
These are not new questions or concerns for church leaders. Situations, such as the examples I have outlined, occur all the time. They occur in mega, large and even small churches. Pastors face the consequences of decreasing church membership, financial shortfalls, veiled and outright bullying and threats of termination by not only fellow leaders but also church members. It tempts a pastor to leave the ministry and begin either selling insurance or driving a truck.
The Apostle Paul was firm and forthright with Timothy, who pastored the church in Ephesus. Paul told him to remain the church’s pastor and to command certain individuals to not teach false doctrine (I Tim. 1:3-4). On the surface, this may appear to be overbearing counsel and even harsh. However, Paul understood biblical truth matters. It cannot be compromised no matter the pragmatic consequences.
Understanding Timothy and the church might perceive him as harsh and overbearing, Paul communicated his aim or goal for such a directive. It came from three sources.
First, Paul’s charge originated from a pure heart. Pure (καθαρᾶς; katharas) means to be clean: morally and spiritually. This purity is to be within one’s heart (καρδίας; kardias). This refers to the mind, emotions and will. In other words, the individual’s soul. The heart is pure when it possesses the cleansing work by the Holy Spirit (Ps. 51:10-11).
“The heart is the fulcrum of feeling and faith as well as the mainspring of words and actions (Rom. 10:10; cf. Matt. 12:34; 15:19; 22:37; and see N.T.C. on John 14:1). It is the core and center of man’s being, man’s inmost self. “Out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). “Man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7),” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
Second, Paul’s charge came from a good conscience. Good (ἀγαθῆς; agathes) refers to what is morally right in God’s perspective. Conscience (συνειδήσεως; syneideseos) means a moral sensitivity to the Lord.
Dr. Hendriksen writes, “Conscience is man’s moral intuition, his moral self in the act of passing judgment upon his own state, emotions, and thoughts, also upon his own words and actions whether these be viewed as past, present, or future. It is both positive and negative. It both approves and condemns (Rom. 2:14, 15).[2]
Third, Paul’s charge originated from a sincere faith. Sincere (ἀνυποκρίτου; anypokritou) means to be genuine and without hypocrisy. Faith (πίστεως; pisteos) refers to a trust in, a commitment to, a dependence upon and a worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wanted Timothy and the Ephesian believers to know his words originated from a genuine trust, commitment, dependence and worship of the Lord.
The overall goal for Paul’s command was love (ἀγάπη; agape). This is a self-sacrificial love of the will. Such a love’s characteristics are found in I Corinthians 13:1-8.
“Unlike such aimless speculations, the intended result of Paul’s instruction to Timothy was love, and the purest kind of love at that. It is that love which pours naturally from a cleansed heart (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22), untainted conscience, and a sincere (anypokritou, “unhypocritical”; cf. 2 Tim. 1:5) faith. Each member of this beautiful trio speaks of a purity and integrity which produces the most exquisite kind of selfless love, seen in its ultimate form in God’s love itself. Whereas the false teachers were motivated by worthless curiosity, Paul’s instruction was designed to promote the most magnificent of virtues by maintaining the purity of the church’s teaching. God’s truth always purifies the human spirit, while error putrifies it.” [3]
When church elders deny an individual’s request to become a church member, because the individual disagrees with the church’s statement of faith, it is not about these leaders being on a power trip. It is about them having a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith in the Lord and His Word. It is about having a necessary connection to biblical truth in belief and practice. It is about telling the potential church member what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. Such courage is needed in the church today.
Pray for the pastors and elders of your church. Pray they may be strong and courageous in defending the Word of God and sound doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 61–62.
[2] Ibid. 62.
[3] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 731–732.
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