Your mercy is forever

So recently on Instagram, there's some sorta hoo-ha over excommunication. People were flaming the church for practising that and some others even suggested the 'victim' to change to other churches that are 'less judgmental'.

Yes, as much as I (much) prefer the idea of the church being an army of God, it is indeed a hospital too; for those who are sick, imperfect, rejected, and many more. 

But you see, the hospital is for people, who want to be treated. It's uncommon to see patients going into the hospital, telling the doctors, 'Nope I'm perfectly healthy, you're not, and now I shall tell you what to do.'

As competent doctors who are concerned about the welfare of everyone in the hospital, I reckon they'd give this particular type of patients special attention. Perhaps they'd spend more time talking to the patient to understand his flow of thoughts, increase dosage of the medicine when needed.. 

But all these won't work, if the patient refuses to take the medication. Irregular consumption doesn't help too. You might see temporal improvements, but you're still suffering from the same illness. 

And now, this patient decides to tell everybody else in the same ward what to do. 'Guys, this place is not the right place to be in. We are always told what to do, what to avoid eating, and what to drink all the time - this bitter medicine. And you know what? I've seen others having so much fun at the places we should not go, doing things we're told not to. Do you wanna join me, there?' The patient probably smirked as he saw the darting eyes, scratching of heads. 

While on their rounds, the doctors overhear this. 

What should the doctors do? Ignore, and continue with their duties? Would that be right? I doubt so. 

And now my question is, why do the visitors expect them to do that? 

Are you sure you wanna see your loved ones seeking treatment in a hospital with oblivious doctors? 

'Excommunication is also for the long-term welfare of the one being disciplined by the church. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5:5, states that excommunication is a way of delivering the unrepentant sinner “over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” This means that excommunication can somehow involve God’s using Satan (or one of his demons) as a disciplinary tool to work in the sinner's life physically to bring about true repentance in his/her heart.'

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/church-discipline.html#ixzz30tdyIfst

At the end of the day, true repentance is what matters. It is for his good.