Office of Church Relations

From Community of fear to Community of Faith 

The disciples were gathered behind a locked door. They were afraid of what might happen to them if they ventured out. They might even have been afraid that someone would invade their space, breaking into their comfort zone, intent on doing them harm. Certainly, their fears were understandable, given their experience of seeing Jesus crucified and hearing the rumors of resurrection. So they gathered together, in fear. Were they seeking safety in numbers? Or the comfort of being hidden away in familiar surroundings?  Together behind locked doors, they were a fledgling little community, bound together by their common fears.  

What do you fear? For some, fear is a paralyzing force. It can prevent us from venturing beyond the safety of the familiar and can keep us barricaded behind locked doors. Others may know fear as an undercurrent of apprehension or worry that lurks behind every decision. We may live in fear of death, fear of ridicule, or fear of losing control. We may fear failure, rejection or exposure. Our fears may remain just beneath the surface of our lives....hidden, but silently present to tug at us in ways we may not always wish to admit.  Common fears may draw members of a community together, but a community formed in fear becomes bound by fear.  

Jesus came to his fearful disciples. The locked door didn’t keep him out.  Jesus entered their community of fear and breathed the Holy Spirit into them. The peace of God melts the power of human fear. Their fear gives way and they are sent out into the world with mission and purpose. Their community of fear is transformed into a community of faith.  

Link to the First Reading

This passage from Acts summarizes the ideals of the early Christian community. Their faith is expressed in their pattern of daily life. They were of “one heart and one soul” (verse 32)...and one pocketbook. Members shared their lives and their possessions, selling their property to provide for those in need, taking care of each other and living harmoniously.  In doing so, the Christian community embodies God’s intentions for Israel (see, for example, Leviticus 25:35 where the Israelites are instructed to provide for needy family members).  The generous spirit expressed in this text stands in stark contrast with the selfishness of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10.   

Link to the Second Reading

This first chapter of 1 John seeks to establish and strengthen a sense of community between the author and the audience. The writer seeks to draw the audience into fellowship (verse 3). Genuine community is rooted in a common relationship with Christ. Those who are in fellowship with God are also in fellowship with one another. In being reconciled with God, we are freed to be reconciled with one another.  

This text serves as an extended meditation on being in community with God and one another. Confession and forgiveness is part of the fabric of genuine Christian community. The heart of this text is part of the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness that prefaces the liturgy for Holy Communion. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (verse 8, see Lutheran Book of Worship, page 56, et al). Humility and honesty are essential factors in forming a genuine community. Community is built on truth, not deception; light, not darkness.  

Link to the Gospel Reading

The action in this text occurs in two scenes, spaced one week apart. On Easter evening, the disciples are gathered behind locked doors when Jesus comes to stand in their midst. He shares the peace with them. He shows them his wounds, the signs of crucifixion, and then they “rejoice when they see the Lord” (verse 20). They recognize him when they see him as the crucified one.   He breathes the Spirit into them, and empowers them to forgive sins. Commissioned for ministry, the disciples are sent out into the world.  They share the good news with Thomas, who had been absent. Thomas (whom the text calls “The Twin,” not “Doubting Thomas”) proclaims that he needs to see and touch before he can believe. 
 

The second scene follows the pattern of the first; only this time, Thomas is part of the gathering. Again, Jesus comes and greets the disciples with a word of peace. Jesus invites Thomas to see and touch his wounds. Thomas sees, believes, and confesses his faith. Thomas the doubter doubles as Thomas the confessor.  Thomas’ confession “My Lord and my God!” verse 28) is the strongest confession of faith in John’s gospel.  Although some might hear Jesus’ response “Have you believed because you have seen me” (verse 29) as a as a backhanded compliment that praises future believers while rebuking Thomas, one can also read this passage as an acknowledgment of the difficulty (and blessing) associated with believing, not just for those who have seen, but even more so for those who have not. Finally, the text concludes with a mission statement for the gospel book. The gospel’s purpose is to draw people into life-giving faith in the risen Christ.  

One might note that the pattern of being gathered as a community of believers,  having an encounter with the living Christ, sharing the peace, confessing faith, being forgiven, and being sent back out into the world (and returning the following week and doing it again!), bears similarity to the church’s rhythm of weekly worship. We gather as a community of faith on the first day of the week, the day of resurrection.  We encounter the living Christ in word and sacrament.  We share the peace.  We hear words of forgiveness. We confess our faith, and we are sent out with words like “go in peace, serve the Lord.”   

Questions for Discussion

1. What role does fear play in your life and/or in the life of your congregation? What are you afraid of and why do you fear it? What tools do you use to discern the difference between fears that protect you from being harmed and fears that prevent you from becoming what God seeks in you?

2.What are the “locked doors” that you (and/or your congregation) hide behind? Who is locked in? Who is locked out? Imagine that Jesus is standing with you behind those locked doors. What might he say to you? What word do you need to hear?

3. What are the essential qualities of a community of faith? What factors contribute to the health and well-being of a faith community? As you consider these texts, what is necessary for a faith community to thrive? What things are destructive to a community of faith?

4. What does it mean for you to be part of a community of faith? In what ways do you find it challenging? In what ways do you find it to be a blessing? What might it mean for your community of faith to be of “one heart and one mind”? As you reflect on these texts, what word does your community need to hear? Where do you need encouragement? Repentance? Forgiveness? Transformation?