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What is a Lutheran...
Lutherans are first and foremost Christians who believe in Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior!
Family of Faith is a member of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America). For more information on what Lutherans believe, visit
the website of the ELCA:
http://www.elca.org/... even better... visit us one Sunday morning for
worship or contact us!
Confession of Faith (ELCA)
from the
Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- This church confesses the Triune God, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
- This church confesses
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the
salvation of all who believe
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom
everything was made and through whose life, death, and
resurrection God fashions a new creation.
- The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel
is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word
and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the
history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and
work of Jesus Christ.
- The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the
written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through
their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering
in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create
and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the
world.
- This church accepts the canonical Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the
authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
- This church accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as
true declarations of the faith of this church.
- This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg
Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In
faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the
Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
- This church accepts the other confessional
writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg
Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the
Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations
of the faith of the Church.
- This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in
the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran
confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church
for God's mission in the world.
A Brief History of the 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:
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We are saved by the grace
of God alone -- not by anything we do; |
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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; |
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The Bible is the only norm
of doctrine and life -- the only true standard by which teachings and
doctrines are to be judged. |
Another of Luther's principles was
that Scriptures and worship need to be in the language of the people.
Just For Fun...
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For a look at the 'lighter side' of being
Lutheran, visit
www.oldlutheran.com...(external content - will open in a new window) |
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