Why Lutheran?
The Lutheran Movement was part of a larger Reformation Movement of the church in the early 1500’s. Martin Luther was a leader of the Reformation Movement in Germany. Followers were called Lutherans. Martin Luther resisted the name Lutheran, but the name remained for that segment of the church emerging from the Reformation in Germany
In studying Psalms and the Epistles, Luther concluded that God’s favor was not a prize to be won, but a gift of God, received by faith through God’s grace. Luther rejected the idea that God’s favor can be purchased. Luther preached and taught that salvation was a gift freely given by the grace of God received by faith.
Luther’s teachings were rejected by the existing church and he was excommunicated from the church. At a conference of high church officials, Luther was told to retract his teaching. He made his famous “Here I Stand” statement:
“Unless I am convinced by the Testament of Scripture, or by clear reason. I am bound by Scripture and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I can not and will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand..”
Lutheran Theology can be summed up in three phrases:
Scripture alone
Grace alone
Faith alone
The Lutheran Church emphasizes::
• The centrality of Jesus Christ
• The Bible as Gods Word
• Salvation as a Gift of Grace through Faith.
• Baptism and Communion as sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ which are an important “means of grace” by which God brings us into family relationship with God and nourishes and empowers us in that relationship.
