How often does the church seek out extremely inactive members, get the scoop on what sins they're committing and then excommunicate them? In my experience, essentially never.
I see the purpose of excommunication as primarily two-fold:
1. To prevent those from participating in the church that are actively trying to participate.
2. To provide a path whereby they can return into the good graces of the church and once again participate in the church.
Is that motivated by "love"? I think it often is ONE of the motivations.
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