pagan and tax collector

Friday September 9th, Matthew 18: 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Sometimes people and communities and movements get their undies in a bunch and no attempt of reconciliation seems to work. People become entrenched in their ways and no matter what is said or done, the other is made out to be the villain. Fox news and right wing AM radio is a prime example of stoking the fire that will build until all get burnt. When you run into a situation like this Matthew simply says to treat them like a pagan or tax collector. To Matthews audience, pagans and tax collectors had a special meaning. Matthew was a tax collector called by Jesus. The Pagans were the ones Jesus ate with, forgave, restored and went to the cross for. Pagans would be you and I. So to treat them like a pagan and tax collector is to continue to treat them as a brother or sister in Christ.