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Lutheran Beliefs

What is a Lutheran?

A Christian - first and foremost is one who trusts in Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior. Proclaims Jesus Christ as God's only Son and Savior to the World. Shares a common faith with other Christians. Works together for the common good of all mankind according to God's will given in the Bible.

Believes in the Bible, Old & New Covenant - Authority and ONLY Norm for all Christian living and activity. Absolute truth, it shows God in action in and among His creatures and creation.

Half of the world's Protestant people are Lutherans. In the U.S., there are over 9 million.

Confessional Church - Believes Jesus Christ is Lord, and the Bible reveals all of God's will.

Ecumenical Church - that works for the unity of ALL Christians.

Visible Church - where Christians gather together to hear God's Word.

Invisible Church - made up of all people the world over who are saved by faith, accepting Christ as Savior and Lord in their life and living out that faith in the world.

Founder/Leader: Dr. Martin Luther, (1483-1546) - a pastor, professor, author, composer of hymns, reformer. He posted a thesis containing 95 reforms he wanted the church to openly discuss on the door of the Wittenburg Church in 1517. This started a whole chain of events that split the Catholic Church and created the Protestant (protester) Movement of denominational congregations.

Dr. Martin Luther publicly called for correction of errors in the medieval church. His ideas still stimulate NEW thinking in the church -- he is respected but NOT worshipped.

What Lutherans Believe...

CREATION - Lutherans believe that God is Creator of the universe. Its dimensions of space and time are not something God made once and then left alone. God is, rather, continually creating, calling into being each moment of each day.

The BIBLE is the Word of God - absolute truth; it shows God in action. Written and transcribed by many authors over a period of many centuries, the Bible bears remarkable testimony to the mighty acts of God in the lives of people and nations. In the Old Testament is found the vivid account of God's covenant relationship to Israel. The New Testament is the first-hand proclamation of those who lived through the events of Jesus' life, death, and Resurrection. As such, it is the authority for Christian faith and practice. The Bible is thus not a definitive record of history or science. Rather, it is the record of the drama of God's saving care for creation throughout the course of history.

JESUS is God's son, chosen by God to become human like us. In his life and being he broke through the prison of sinfulness and thus restored the relationship of love and trust that God intended to exist between himself and his children. We believe him to be the Messiah chosen by God to show his love for the world. He is God, yet with all the limitations of being human.

Three Ecumenical CREEDS are statements of beliefs, not additions to the Bible; they support the Bible's teachings.

• Apostle's Creed - is the oldest summary of Christian beliefs; tells the basic principles of the Bible; is used for general confession and religious teachings.
• Nicene Creed - states basic beliefs about God; that He is TRIUNE -- three persons in one God; tells about His works in the world.
• Athanasian Creed - summarizes the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and emphasizes the importance of Christ, who is true God and true Man in one person.

Man is JUSTIFIED (saved) not by one's own merit, but only by God's grace.

ETERNAL LIFE - While there is much we do not and cannot know about life beyond the grave, Lutherans do believe that life with God persists even after death. Judgment is both a present and future reality.

TWO SACRAMENTS:

• BAPTISM, establishes a new life in man, remakes him in God's spirit. Each Christian is baptized, many as infants, in order to mark the death of the sinful man in us and the rebirth into holy life - Christ's life.
• LORD'S SUPPER, is the Body and Blood of Christ borne by bread and wine in Holy Communion. Christ's Body and Blood in, with, and under the Bread and Wine offers Christians a direct encounter with God -- Christ's body and blood are actually present "in, with, under" bread and wine. Christ again comes among us to forgive our sins, helps us to live truly Christian lives.

SIN describes not so much individual acts of wrongdoing as fractured relationships between the people of creation and God. Our every attempt to please God falls short of the mark.

PRAYER is an important aspect of daily living as Christians share their thoughts with God and He speaks to His people through His Word.

MARRIAGE is intended for life; divorce is recognized only in extreme cases.

CONFESSIONS - An accurate interpretation of the Word of God written to correct church errors.

1. Augsburg Confession - stresses the doctrine of SALVATION by GRACE through faith in Christ as the center of the Christian faith, and the importance of the Bible and Christian doctrines in Christian religion. It also testifies against the abuses of the medieval church which Luther sought to correct.
2. Apology of the Augsburg Confession - gives an explanation of the Augsburg Confession and a defense against enemies who would destroy the church.
3. Smalcald Articles - Martin Luther's "last will and testament" - states the doctrine of the Trinity and Deity of Christ; emphasizes the central doctrine of Christianity: "we are saved only through faith in Christ."
4. Formula of Concord - was written to unify the church, which had been disorganized for 30 years; officially approves all the earlier Lutheran confessions.
5. Luther's Small & Large Catechisms - seek to explain and teach the six chief parts of the Bible: God's Law (The Ten Commandments), the Gospel (death and resurrection of Jesus Christ), Lord's Prayer, Baptism (water), Lord's Supper (bread/body & wine/blood), and God's Forgiveness to children (small) and to adults (large).

WORSHIP is offered in reverence to Jesus Christ as God's own son, come into the world to save all mankind from sin, in His death and resurrection from the dead. We celebrate His presence among us and invite all who would believe to find strength and comfort in His Word and Sacrament on a weekly basis.

CONFIRMATION - instruction classes for children and adults that strengthen and discover the faith we have been baptized into. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we knowingly choose to be disciples of Christ and confirm our faith publicly as members of His church.

LIVING FELLOWSHIP OF PEOPLE - each person is called by faith into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and sent as a daily missionary of this faith into the world. Jesus commands us to care for one another and the world around us, to come together and worship often, and raise up children in faith. We witness best by example -living a life of love and service to others.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY - We need Christ for He offers us new life and hope in salvation from our sins and we need one another as servants of our time, talents, money and love that every person may know Christ and come to Him as their personal Savior and Lord.

DISCIPLESHIP & MISSIONS - not just a member, but a living, vital part of Christ's body, willing to forget self and work for Christ, involved in serving God and mankind in a meaningful life filled with His eternal purpose.

CHURCH GOVERNMENT - In the Lutheran form of church government, the primary unit is the local church or congregation of Christians assembled around the Word and Sacraments. Made up of men and women who by faith in Christ are priests and kings before God. The Christian congregation is self-governing and sovereign, subject only, yet always, to the authority of Jesus Christ and His Word. It chooses its own pastor. All pastors have an equal status. The local minister performs the rite of Confirmation. The specific form of church organization is a matter of Christian liberty.

What Must a Person Do to Become a Lutheran?

To become a Lutheran, only Baptism and instructions in the Christian faith is required. If you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it will be necessary only to attend a membership class in a Lutheran congregation and thus signify your desire to become a part of its community. Active members of other Lutheran congregations usually need only to transfer their membership.

For further information, call the Lutheran congregation nearest you.