Love changes

‎"Those forgiven much will love much(Lk 7:47) and those who love much will sin less.The secret to sinning less is receiving forgiveness more".

When I hear pastors speak of having issues with members in their congregation, I start to wonder what criteria are in operation to create this conflict?
How much of it is legitimate, Spirit-lead "conflict", and how much of it is, in fact, a controlling spirit.

The degree to which we are being renewed by how much WE are loved and forgiven, is proportional to the ease and pleasure with which we exercise love and forgiveness towards others, even if they may be in error.
And, the degree to which we FORGET how much we are loved and forgiven, yet still attempt to love and forgive others, is proportional to the level of control we exercise over wanting to ensure that others DON'T go into error.

In both cases the motives are good and pure, but one has love as its motivation and the other has control (to avoid any "issues").

Jesus's motivation was always love, that's why we don't see Him obsessed with trying to control Peter - Why didn't Jesus pull Peter aside at any time and just spell things out for Him? After all, He chose Peter, Peter didn't choose Him. Why didn't He pull Peter aside and say "pull yourself together buddy, you're embarrassing me and my ministry here!"?

Yes, there were tough moments for old Peter, but Jesus was motivated by loving Peter and edifying him to who Peter REALLY was, even though Peter couldn't see it himself yet - 'the rock upon which the church would be built'.

I know a pastor (ex pastor) who, after tangibly encountering the Glory of God at an international conference, returned to his flock and said "I owe you all an encounter with God".
Of course, he never realized how much control he would end up losing over his flock (in a good way, yet difficult considering his history).
People began receiving and growing in their OWN revelations, yet all the while still remaining in a strong togetherness. 
Some were loving the change; some were anxiously judging the change; Traditional, institutional "hand rails" were slowly removed and many felt insecure, and change and diversity was embraced and slowly understood - not easy for many though (Jesus knew that Peter's understanding of truth was tainted and blury, but He lead him and built him up into an understanding of truth - the breakthrough of which only really began after Jesus died and ascended).

The gospel of God's grace shouldn't just be seen as a set of brilliant preaches to be downloaded from the archive files.
The heartbeat and life-blood of living a life of love and forgiveness towards others, is the revelation of how much we are loved and forgiven (as individuals and the church body).

I'll always say that I desire to love as Christ loves, but when I forget how loved I am, I begin to TRY and love and forgive, and quickly become frustrated with non-conformity...until I am renewed with the fact that Christ died for me, before I even had the chance to think about conforming to HIS ways.

Much love and Grace!