A Brief Description of
Christianity
and Lutheranism
What is the Church?
The Christian church is made up of those who have been baptized and thus
have received Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Lutherans
believe that they are a part of a community of faith that began with the
gift of the Holy Spirit, God's presence with his people, on the day of
Pentecost. The church, regardless of the external form it takes, is the
fellowship of those who have been restored to God by Christ. Indeed, to
be called into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community
with other believers.
The church is essential to Christian life and growth. Its members are
all sinners in need of God's grace. It has no claim on human perfection.
The church exists solely for the hearing and doing of God's Word. It can
justify its existence only when it proclaims the living Word of Christ,
administers the Sacraments and gives itself to the world in deeds of service
and love. Most Lutherans recognize a wider fellowship of churches and are
eager to work alongside them in ecumenical ministries and projects.
back to top of this page
Why a Lutheran church?
 Martin Luther (b. November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, d. February
18, 1546 in Eisleben) is known as the Father of Protestantism. He had studied
to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was
ordained a priest in 1507. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a
Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between
what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the church.
On October 31, 1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg
University to debate 95 theological issues. Luther's hope was that the
church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with
the Word of God as contained in the Bible.
What started as an academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled
by fiery temperaments and violent language on both sides. As a result,
there was not a reformation of the church but a separation. "Lutheran"
was a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted
as a badge of honor by them instead.
Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold
to the basic principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther, such
as Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura:
-
We are saved by the grace of God alone -- not by anything we do;
-
Our salvation is through faith alone -- we only need to believe that our
sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who died to redeem us;
-
The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life -- the only true standard
by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.
-
Scriptures and worship need to be done in the language of the people.
Many Lutherans still consider themselves as a reforming movement within
the Church catholic, rather than a separatist movement, and Lutherans have
engaged in ecumenical dialogue with other church bodies for decades. In
fact, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has entered into
cooperative "full communion" agreements with several other Protestant
denominations.
Luther's Small Catechism, which
contains teachings on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's
Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, Holy Communion and Morning and
Evening Prayers, is still used to introduce people to the Lutheran faith, as is
the Augsburg Confession. These and other Lutheran confessional documents
included in the Book of Concord may be ordered from the ELCA Publishing House at
800/328-4648 or
www.augsburgfortress.org.
back to top of this page
The Only True Religion?
"Do Lutherans believe theirs is the only true religion?" This question
was once put to the late Dr. Elson Ruff, editor of
The
Lutheran. His answer was, "Yes, but Lutherans don't believe they
are the only ones who have it. There are true Christian believers in a
vast majority of the churches, perhaps in all."
The
ELCA Confession of Faith says "This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who
believe ..." back to top of this page
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus is God's son, sent 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. Though he is eternal, with God at the beginning of time,
he was born on earth of a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus
was at once truly God and truly human.
The man, Jesus of Nazareth, lived and died in Palestine during the
governorship of the Roman administrator Pontius Pilate; 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. His relationship to God,
however, was not one of sin but rather of perfect obedience to the
Father's will. For the sake of a sinful world, Jesus was condemned to
death on the cross.
But death could not contain him. On the third day after his execution, the
day Christians observe as Easter, Jesus appeared among his followers as
the risen, living Lord. By this great victory God has declared the Good
News of reconciliation. The gap between all that separates us from our
Creator has been bridged. Thus, Christ lives today wherever there are
people who faithfully believe in him and wherever the Good News of
reconciliation is preached and the Sacraments administered.
back to top of this page
How Do Lutherans Look upon
the Bible?
To borrow a phrase from Luther, the Bible is "the manger in which the
Word of God is laid." While Lutherans recognize differences in the way
the Bible should be studied and interpreted, it is accepted as the primary
and authoritative witness to the church's faith. 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. In the New Testament is founding the story of God's new covenant
with all of creation in Jesus.
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.
back to top of this page
What Do Lutherans Believe
About 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.
Human beings have a unique position in the order of creation. As males
and females created in God's image, we are given the capacity and freedom
to know and respond to our creator. Freedom implies that we can choose
either positively or negatively to respond to God. Doubtlessly, this is
God's most generous gift to humankind.
"Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and
Justice," an ELCA Statement on caring for God's creation, is available
from the ELCA Distribution Service (800/328-4648) free (+ postage and handling).
Order Code: 67-1185.
back to top of this page
Where Do Lutherans Stand
on the Question of Sin?
Lutherans believe that all people live in a condition which is the result
of misused freedom. "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. By the standard of
the Law, of which the Ten Commandments are a classic summary, God expresses
his just and loving expectations for creation, and our failure to live
up to those expectations reveals only our need for God's mercy and forgiveness.
back to top of this page
What Sacraments Do Lutherans
Accept?
Lutherans accept two Sacraments as God-given means for penetrating the
lives of people with his grace. Although they are not the only means of
God's self-revelation, Baptism and Holy Communions are visible acts of
God's love.
In Baptism, and it can be seen more clearly in infant Baptism, God freely
offers his grace and lovingly establishes a new community. It is in Baptism that
people become members of Christ's Body on earth, the Church. In Holy Communion
-- often called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist -- those who come to the
table receive in bread and wine the body and blood of their Lord. This gift is
itself the real presence of God's forgiveness and mercy, nourishing believers in
union with their Lord and with each other.
back to top of this page
Do Lutherans Believe in Life
After Death?
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, and history moves steadily
towards God's ultimate fulfillment.
This of course is a great mystery, and no description of what life may
be like in any dimension beyond history is possible. Anxiety for the future
is not a mark of faith. Christians should go about their daily tasks, trusting
in God's grace and living a life of service in his name.
back to top of this page
What Must a Person Do to
Become a Christian?
Jesus said, " Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)
back to top of this page
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
or use CLOSE, the Congregation Lookup System.
Adapted from "What Lutherans Believe," published by Evangelical
Outreach, Division for Parish Services of the former Lutheran Church in
America, now out of print.
Developed by the Department for Communication,
ELCA (4/98)
|
rinityLutheran
Church
