Rev. Felipe Gomez S.J.

JESUS and COMMUNITY,
The social Dimension of Christian Faith

by Gerhard Lohfink
New York, Paulist Press 1984,185pp $9.95

The author, G. Lohfink, is a famous German theologian and biblical scholar. In this book, he asks the fundamental question: Did Jesus really founded the Church? Should the Church of today go back to the "primordial model" and live as the first Christian lived? The book is a collection of lectures, by theologian to theologians, and so not easy to understand by "outsiders". But most of modern Catholics are not ignorant anymore of theological matters; it is good to read something "solid" from time to time, even if it demands a supplementary effort.

The lectures treat about "Jesus and Israel". "Jesus and his disciples", "The New Testament Communities in the discipleship of Jesus" and "The ancient Church in the discipleship of Jesus". The book ends with a postscript on "The heritage of Augustine". The themes are theological, but of basic interest for those who want to be informed about Christianity seriously and deeply.

Lohfink thinks that Jesus could not have founded the Church, since the "Church" existed already: Israel, the People of God.  Jesus tried to gather Israel for the Kingdom of God, not excluding the gentiles. So when he called the Twelve Apostles he gathered a symbolic number, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Those who believed in Jesus were of two kinds: the "believers" who remained in their homes waiting for the Kingdom to come, and the "disciples" who followed Jesus and represented ‑ symbolically what Israel was to become. The Sermon on the Mountain was addressed to all. Jesus ends the old "patriarchal" regime and inaugurates a society where motherliness, fraternity and child-likeness must reign. Jesus and the early Church renounced to violence. He also admitted women as disciples. What does it mean this for us now in the Church?

In Jesus' mind the Church is a "contrast‑society", an alternative way of life, not as a State or a nation, but as a community where people are treated like brothers and sisters, not like in the world. Competitiveness and violence, discrimination or quest for power have no place in Jesus' Church.

Lohfink criticizes the Church of today where togetherness seems to have no place. Even our liturgies bring people side‑by‑side, but do not create brotherhood. Fraternal correction, for example, as Jesus proposed it, is nowhere to be seen in our parishes. Why? Perhaps because do not care for one another's salvation, we do not feel solidarity with our neighbors in spiritual matters. 

For many people the Gospel is a "burden", because we do not experience the fascination of God's love and the joy of living in His Home, as the first Christians did. But there are now communities where this "youthful enthusiasm" for Christ produces joy, fraternity, mutual help in faith.

In ancient times the Church expanded so much because of the loving example and enthusiasm of the Christians, not because of missionary organization. This can happen today also. If we really are Christians, we shall attract new disciples to Christ.

The book can be read, of course, but better it ought to be studied and discussed in groups. The author answers many "curious" questions; but more important is the description of the primitive Church, which he offers as an example to imitate. Are we ready to follow that example today?