About the Lutheran Church

The ELCA is . . .

Part of God's One, Holy Church in the whole World.

Lutheranism originated when Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and Professor of Theology at Wittenburg University, began to raise his voice against many of the religious abuses of the Roman Catholic Church of his day. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his "95 Theses" to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. These 95 Theses were an invitation to debate the practice of the sale of indulgences which were certificates which could be purchased to forgive sin or reduce the time a soul had to stay in purgatory.

Luther had learned from his study of scripture that forgiveness of sin could not be purchased nor could it be earned through the performance of meritious works. Full forgiveness of sin came only through faith in the mercy of God revealed in Christ Jesus. This central idea led Luther to criticize many of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Luther, despite his theological disagreements, was a devout Roman Catholic priest who loved the church and had no intention of seperating from it. He only intended a reform of the existing abuses. However, when he was excommunicated by the Pope for his writings and teachings, his break with the Roman Catholic Church was inevitable.

What do ELCA Lutherans believe?

Lutherans don't claim any doctrines different from the common Christian faith described in the New Testament and first summarized in the Apostles' Creed. We are created by God, but we employ the freedom given us by God to disobey our Creator. The result is continual tragedy in human life. But God does not abandon us in our tragedy. He shares it with us.

In Christ, He reveals Himself as the Savior God, suffering punishment and death so we may share with Him in the resurrection from death. Through faith in Christ, a new life begins in us. It is nourished by God's gifts through His Word and sacraments. The Word is recorded in the Bible, but the Word itself is a living, active thing through which the Holy Spirit stirs us to growth in understanding and obedience to God's will.

What Distinguishes Lutherans from other Protestant Groups?

Since Lutheranism developed from Luther's intense experience of salvation through faith, it has been marked by concern for faith as the essential part of religion. So Lutherans, more than most of the other Protestants, emphasize doctrine. They insist on unusually thorough education of their pastors and require young people to engage in a long period of study of the Lutheran Catechism before being admitted to full Church membership.

Lutherans do not stress prohibitions or blue laws. They think of the Christian life as a grateful response to a loving Father rather than as obedience to a stern monarch. Such life should achieve a high ethical level without emphasis on rules and regulations. In this, Lutheranism is sharply different from some other forms of Protestantism.

Since Luther had been an ardent Roman Catholic before his excommunication, he was less drastic than some later reformers in abandoning Catholic forms of worship. These are retained among Lutherans in a simplified form.

Lutherans observe the festivals and seasons of the historic Church year. In their Churches; they have the altar, cross, candles, vestments, and other equipment of worship that most other forms of Protestants discard as "too Catholic." Lutherans believe that these forms of liturgy are not required but are valuable because of their beauty and because, through them, we share in the experiences of the family of Christian worshipers of all ages. Lutheran music is world famous, especially the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach.