The Church's Credit Cards Had Been Maxed Out, but They'd Managed to Make Up a Little of the Difference

What was the early Church of Light like?

It mainly consisted of three elements.

First, religion and spirituality.

Second, its role as a social community.

Third, its practical and service functions.

The first element had basically never been lost. The weekly day of prayer was still observed, and miracles—the church's sacred arts—were still demonstrated each week. They had simply become various Holy Light Techniques used only when someone was sick, or exorcism spells.

But the other two elements had basically lost their original functions.

First, this was something very important, though it had been abolished for a thousand years.

In the past, believers called one another "brothers and sisters" and regularly shared breakfast on the weekly day of prayer.

Since they were brothers and sisters, how could slavery exist?

But the current church was notorious for its rigid hierarchy.

The activities once known as "family gatherings" had long since been abandoned.

Slavery had been back for over a thousand years.

They could try restoring it now.

Second, mutual economic aid.

This mainly meant collecting taxes and then distributing resources according to need, to provide for poor believers.

In other words, everyone would sell off their possessions and hand the proceeds over to the church, which would then distribute them according to need. This helped poor believers make ends meet and allowed them to support one another.

Third, practical service.

The church of the past provided charitable services.

It appointed deacons specifically to manage meals and care for widows and orphans.

They visited the sick, welcomed travelers, and practiced "loving others as oneself"—the idea that everyone was one family.

The church still had this function, but it had become somewhat distorted.

It no longer welcomed travelers, and medical treatment cost money.

In the past, it seemed that only herbal remedies cost