10 Things Christians Should Know About Lutherans
Lutherans are Christians. They embrace the standard affirmations of classic Protestantism, including repudiation of papal and ecclesiastical authority and the insistence that human reconciliation with God is affected by divine grace alone through faith. The Bible is the source and standard for all Lutheran teaching. Its message is proclaimed in its entirety and clearly without error. Two Sacraments — Baptism and Holy Communion — are God’s means of penetrating this gospel into human lives.
1. The Bible is the Word of God
Lutherans believe that God speaks his word in the Bible. The Holy Spirit superintended the human authors of canonical Scripture so that their unique personalities were composed and recorded without error God’s revelation to humanity.
This includes the clear teaching that people, no matter how hard they try, cannot earn their own forgiveness or a place in heaven. It is a gift of grace given through Jesus Christ.
2. The Church is the Body of Christ
Lutherans define the Church as the local congregation that worships Christ through his Word and Sacraments. Pastors, Christ’s under-shepherds, lead these local communities of faith.
These churches are ecumenical and seek to unite with other Christians around the world in works of mercy and healing. They also participate in worldwide relief programs. They are open to baptism of believers from other Christian traditions and practice infant and adult baptism.
3. The Sacraments are the Means of Grace
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are sacraments that mark people as belonging to God’s covenant of grace. Lutherans also consider Absolution and Confession to be sacraments.
When a person receives the sacraments, he or she trusts in Christ and His promises of benefit to sinners. This faith, in turn, comforts and strengthens believers. They are able to persevere in spite of their weaknesses and mixed-up priorities.
4. The Church is a Community of Faith
Lutherans believe that God’s grace saves people from sin. But they also know that they cannot earn forgiveness or a place in heaven by their own efforts.
They accept two sacraments as means of grace: Baptism and Holy Communion.
Local Lutheran congregations are governed by their pastors and are part of a regional or national organization called a synod. These organizations provide support, guidance and training for their members.
5. The Church is a Place of Worship
Lutherans worship together in local congregations, called “congregations.” These churches elect a pastor to serve them. They also join with other congregations to support each other, reach out in service to the community, and help people in need.
They believe that God works grace in the Church through the sacraments of Baptism and Communion. They practice infant baptism and celebrate the Lord’s Supper weekly, often with long-established rituals.
6. The Church is a Community of Faith
Lutherans believe that they are a community of believers whose sins are forgiven by a God who loves them. They want to share this good news with people everywhere, regardless of racial or economic status, political ideology, nationality or gender.
Lutherans also are ecumenical, wanting the Church to be as united as Christ prayed it would be. Yet they use creeds to set forth their distinctive understanding of a gracious God.
7. The Church is a Community of Faith in Learning
There are many Lutheran denominations around the world, but each one teaches and practices in a different way. Nevertheless, all of them to some degree base their teachings on the work of 16th-century German friar and church reformer Martin Luther.
For example, they believe that people can be saved from sin only by God’s grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). They also accept two Sacraments — Baptism and Holy Communion.
8. The Church is a Community of Faith in Action
Lutherans believe that God loves everyone equally. That’s why they strive to be a community of faith that knows no racial, economic, or national boundaries.
The difference between lutheran and evangelical is that lutherans accept the standard affirmations of classic Protestantism: rejection of papal and ecclesiastical authority (sola scriptura), the insistence that salvation comes solely by divine grace (sola fide), and the belief that Christ is physically present in the Lord’s Supper (eucharist). Lutheran congregations are organized into regional groups called synods.
9. The Church is a Community of Faith in Prayer
Lutherans believe that God’s gift of forgiveness and life is received through the sacraments, especially in baptism. They also believe that the Church is a community of faith in prayer.
Today, Lutherans maintain that churches should be self-governing and are free to hold a wide range of beliefs about the Bible, faith, Christ’s return and salvation. They also support the three Christian creeds as statements of faith.
10. The Church is a Community of Faith in Worship
Lutherans value the Christian faith community at the local congregational level. They support Sunday schools, Bible classes, home-study groups, and youth programs.
Lutherans accept two Sacraments as God-given means to penetrate believers’ lives with grace: Baptism and Holy Communion. However, they reject the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation and the concept of purgatory. They believe that people are saved by God’s grace through faith alone.