Christianity is the largest religion in Germany. It was introduced to the area of modern Germany by AD, while parts of that area belonged to the Roman Empire, and later, when Franks and other Germanic tribes converted to Christianity from the 5th century onwards. Today, almost half of Lutherans are living in Europe. The fear is that people will direct their worship to the image and not to God.
Protestant churches came through a period when the fear of images, relics and idols was so severe that some denominations would not allow decoration of any sort in the church building or the homes of the faithful. Our teachings and practices are governed by the Holy Scriptures as the guiding rule and norm.
We confess the faith according to the Scriptures as rightly taught and confessed in the three ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran confessions. We worship according to a historic and doctrinally sound liturgy that is harmonious with the Scriptures and our confessions. Imagine a church that is both evangelical—proclaiming the free forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ—and sacramental, centering its spiritual life in the regenerating waters of baptism and the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion.
Imagine further a church that is strongly grounded on Scripture, but yet avoids the solipsism of individual interpretation in favor of a comprehensive, intellectually rigorous and imminently orthodox theological system. Imagine a worship service that features both strong preaching and the historic liturgy.
Imagine that this is a historical church with a rich spiritual tradition, but without legalism. Imagine, in short, a church that has some of the best parts of Protestantism and the best parts of Catholicism. Finally, imagine that this church body is not some little made-up sect, but one of the largest bodies of Christians in the world. Such a church might seem like what many Christians, disaffected by both the vacuity of liberal theology and the shallowness of American evangelicalism, are dreaming of.
Such a church exists. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, , This congregation accepts and acknowledges all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and all the Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord as a true and sound exposition of Christian doctrine taken from and in full agreement with the Holy Scriptures:.
To learn further what we believe, teach, and confess, we encourage you to take an adult instruction class with our pastor. Doing so does not obligate you to join our church. We believe Jesus is God. He died on the cross for us on a Friday Good Friday in or about the year AD 33 in order to make peace between God and the entire world. Jesus also physically rose from the dead for us Easter Sunday to show His victory over death and to give us assurance and hope for eternal life with Him.
We believe, according to the Scriptures, that Jesus is the only way of salvation, that He will come again to judge the living and the dead, and that of His Kingdom there will be no end. First, it should be noted that Lutherans do not worship Luther. We worship none other than the Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have access to the Father by the Spirit. Christ alone saves us and is worthy of our adoration and praise.
Luther lived from AD to He was a pastor and professor in Wittenberg, Germany, a former monk of the Augustinian order, a hero in the eyes of many German people of his day because of his teachings and convictions, and an enemy and heretic to those who took offense at the things Luther said and did. His work and influence also appear in the documents written to defend the faith Lutherans boldly believe, teach, and confess. These writings are contained in The Book of Concord of He also wrote some things that he regretted, as do we.
Luther was but a man—a man who readily admitted fallibility and was sure of his great need of Christ Jesus and the forgiveness He brings. Praise God for raising up men like Luther to declare boldly and give out the mysteries of God according to His Word.
We continue to love the best from Luther, to promote His Christ-centered and cross-focused teachings, and to reject the things he and the reformers rejected for the sake of the one Christian faith. Although many Lutheran branches still have bishops, they do not exercise the same type of control over congregations.
These ancient professions of faith summarize basic Lutheran beliefs. Eschatology: Lutherans do not interpret the Rapture as most other Protestant denominations do. Instead, Lutherans believe Christ will return only once, visibly, and will catch up all Christians together with the dead in Christ. The tribulation is the normal suffering all Christians endure until that last day. Heaven and Hell: Lutherans see heaven and hell as literal places.
Heaven is a realm where believers enjoy God forever, free from sin, death, and evil. Hell is a place of punishment where the soul is eternally separated from God.
Individual Access to God: Luther believed each individual has the right to reach God through Scripture with a responsibility to God alone.
It is not necessary for a priest to mediate. This "priesthood of all believers" was a radical change from Catholic doctrine. The Lord's Supper: Luther retained the sacrament of the Lord's Supper , which is the central act of worship in the Lutheran denomination.
But the doctrine of transubstantiation was rejected. While Lutherans believe in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the elements of bread and wine, the church is not specific in how or when that act occurs. Thus, Lutherans resist the idea that the bread and wine are mere symbols. Purgatory: Lutherans reject the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a place of cleansing where believers go after death, before entering heaven.
The Lutheran Church teaches that there is no scriptural support for it and that the dead go directly to either heaven or hell.
Salvation by Grace through Faith: Luther maintained that salvation comes by grace through faith alone; not by works and sacraments. This key doctrine of justification represents the major difference between Lutheranism and Catholicism.
Luther held that works such as fasting , pilgrimages, novenas , indulgences, and masses of special intention play no part in salvation. Salvation for All: Luther believed that salvation is available to all humans through the redeeming work of Christ. Scripture: Luther believed the Scriptures contained the one necessary guide to truth. In the Lutheran Church, much emphasis is placed on hearing the Word of God.
The church teaches that the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God, but every word of it is inspired or " God-breathed. Sacraments: Luther believed the sacraments were valid only as aids to faith. The sacraments initiate and feed faith, thus giving grace to those who participate in them. Worship: As to the manner of worship, Luther chose to retain altars and vestments and prepare an order of liturgical service, but with the understanding that no church was bound to follow any set order.
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