The remedy for pain inflicted in churches

Pain between church members is inevitable, but orderly means of containment are set forth in Scripture.

Matthew 18:15-18 is the Scriptural source of the remedy for dealing with harm done by one church member to another.  Presumed here is the importance of church membership, inhering in which is submission to church discipline. 

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The sequence does not vary with the severity of the offense.  A harmed party is charged with righting the wrong privately first.  If that does not resolve the matter with repentance and understanding, he is charged to return with one or more witnesses.  If the matter remains unresolved, the matter is taken before the church.  Excommunication from the fellowship of the church reflects separation from the actual church of God.  This is the worst penalty imaginable, and any sincere Christian would want to bring about true resolution from faith as early in the process as possible.