Treat Them Like Pagans
Huh?

Yep, that's what Jesus said. When you discipline someone in the church, as Matthew recounts it, the church must then treat them like pagans. Outsiders. Those not yet in the Body.

Which means what? Exclude them? Push them away? Ignore them? Send them a letter telling them to mend their ways before they set foot back in church?

No, I don't think so. How did Jesus treat the pagans?

You mean.....

Yep, with love and compassion, just as ready to die for all of them as He did for the non-pagans.

Oh.

Sarah at Dylan's Lectionary Blog put it this way:

So when you meet someone who's really difficult, someone who pushes your ability to stay present with them, stay in touch, and stay focused on God's love, rejoice and be glad in that day: you get to love them, in the process you get a sense of how God loves you, and folks looking on get to see how much you mean what you say about the church being entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.