What is a Lutheran?
What do Lutherans Believe?
Lutherans are Christians who accept the teachings of German theologian Martin Luther (1483 – 1546). Luther became one of the most influential figures in Christian history when he began the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. He realized that there were significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church at that time. In 1517, Pope Leo X announced a new round of “indulgences” to pay for the building of St. Peter’s Basilica. On October 31, 1517, a very angry Martin Luther posted a challenge on the door of Wittenberg University, titled “95 Theses” (to debate 95 theological issues). Aided by the recent invention of the printing press, copies of his Theses spread throughout Germany and Europe. During his very tense arguments and evental excommunication with the Catholic church, his 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 into a distinct separation between the Roman Catholic Church of the time and those who accepted Luther’s suggested reforms. “Lutheran” became the name of the group that agreed with Luther’s convictions.Today, nearly five centuries later, Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of Luther’s theological teachings, such as Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone. These comprise the very essence of Lutheranism:
- We are saved by the grace of God alone — not by anything we do;
- Our salvation is through faith alone — a confident trust in God, who in Christ promises us forgiveness, life and salvation; and
- The Scriptures from the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit. "Martin Luther referred to the Scriptures as the 'cradle of the gospel.' By that he meant the Scriptures contained the message of a loving God who in Christ becomes encarnado or embodied in human form to reveal that love in a saving work on the cross." (- Javier (Jay) Alanís) The Bible is not the only place where truth is found, but it is the lens through which we interpret the world.
Over the years, different Lutheran church bodies have been established and organized to meet the needs of Lutherans in communities and nations all over the world. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran group in North America, founded in 1988 when three North American Lutheran church bodies united: The American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America.
What is a Synod
Synods unite the work of congregations within their areas, serve as regional support, and guide pastoral and other staff candidates. In order to strengthen the relationship between synod leaders and the churchwide office, many churchwide teams relate to and support the work of the synods. Our Synod is the Southwest California Synod.
For more information about our Synod: https://www.socalsynod.org/
What is the ELCA
The ELCA confesses the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In our preaching and teaching the ELCA trusts the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
The teachings and theology of the ELCA serve the proclamation and ministry of this faith. It does not have an answer for all questions. Teaching or theology prepares members to be witnesses in speech and in action of God’s rich mercy in Jesus Christ.
Scriptures, Creeds and Confessions
The ELCA’s official Confession of Faith identifies the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called the Bible); the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds; and the Lutheran confessional writings in the Book of Concord as the basis for our teaching. ELCA congregations make the same affirmation in their governing documents, and ELCA pastors promise to preach and teach in accordance with these teaching sources. This Confession of Faith is more than just words in an official document. Every Sunday in worship ELCA congregations hear God’s word from the Scriptures, pray as Jesus taught and come to the Lord’s Table expecting to receive the mercies that the Triune God promises. Throughout the week ELCA members continue to live by faith, serving others freely and generously in all that they do because they trust God’s promise in the Gospel. In small groups and at sick beds, in private devotions and in daily work, this faith saturates all of life.
Teaching for a life of faith
This connection to all of life is the clearest demonstration of the authority that the canonical Scriptures, the ecumenical Creeds and the Lutheran Confessions have in the ELCA. The Holy Spirit uses these witnesses to create, strengthen and sustain faith in Jesus Christ and the life we have in him. That life-giving work continues every day, as Martin Luther explained in the Small Catechism: the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”
For More information visit: https://www.elca.org/Faith/ELCA-Teaching
The Luther Rose
The Luther seal or Luther rose is a widely recognized symbol for Lutheranism. It was the seal that was designed for Martin Luther at the behest of John Frederick of Saxony in 1530, while Luther was staying at the Coburg Fortress during the Diet of Augsburg.
"I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed
in God's hands, that I still possess."Martin Luther
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, CA
Used with permission
