The Medieval Church

Nobody sells forgiveness by that name anymore. But the idea behind it is still around: God's mercy has a price, and the church stands at the gate collecting it. Pay, give, perform or wait long enough, and you will be let through. For centuries in Europe that price was paid in coins.

Ask yourself whether you have ever felt you had to earn your way back to God after you failed, by giving more, serving more or feeling bad long enough. Look at how Jesus forgave. You don't need anyone's permission to follow him, inside a church or outside one, and his forgiveness never came with a bill.

Measured against the center