his or her church. Where possible, the steps of church discipline outlined in Matthew 18:15–17 should be followed in an attempt to bring reconciliation to the marriage. If that process results in the final step of excommunication from the church, then it would seem appropriate to treat the deserting spouse as an unbeliever (“Let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector,” Matt. 18:17). But it must be emphasized that if reconciliation of the marriage can at all be brought about, that should always