What is a Lutheran?
The Lutheran church is a major branch of Protestant Christianity, originating with the theology of Martin Luther (1483–1546), a German theologian who sought to bring about certain changes in the Catholic Church and launched the Protestant Reformation. His Ninety-Five Theses, published in 1517, were his writings that spread the early ideas of the Reformation.
The differences centered primarily on authority and justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", accepting that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. The Catholic Church defined authority as coming from both the Scriptures and Tradition.
The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran statement of belief contained in the Book of Concord, teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church".
The Lutheran church kept many of the Catholic liturgical practices and sacramental teachings, including the focus on the Eucharist (Communion, or Lord's Supper).
Lutheranism is one of the largest Protestant denominations, with approximately 80 million adherents, the third most common Protestant denomination after historically Pentecostal denominations and Anglicanism. The Lutheran World Federation, the largest communion of Lutheran churches, represents over 72 million people.
Other Lutheran organizations include the International Lutheran Council and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, as well as independent churches.
The differences centered primarily on authority and justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", accepting that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. The Catholic Church defined authority as coming from both the Scriptures and Tradition.
The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran statement of belief contained in the Book of Concord, teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church".
The Lutheran church kept many of the Catholic liturgical practices and sacramental teachings, including the focus on the Eucharist (Communion, or Lord's Supper).
Lutheranism is one of the largest Protestant denominations, with approximately 80 million adherents, the third most common Protestant denomination after historically Pentecostal denominations and Anglicanism. The Lutheran World Federation, the largest communion of Lutheran churches, represents over 72 million people.
Other Lutheran organizations include the International Lutheran Council and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, as well as independent churches.
