What are Lutherans all about?
It amazes me every time the same topic comes up multiple times in a row, but in very different contexts. Recently this happened to me with the Hebrew word ‘sheol’; within 24-hours three people, in three different cities, brought up the topic to me . It happened again last week, as multiple people, in different arenas of my week, sparked discussions on how our views differ from other denominations and how we as Lutherans define the Christian faith.
Some of these conversations were not a surprise, since this spring a dozen women of WOW are gathering on Wednesday nights to read and discuss a book called “Being Lutheran” by A. Trevor Sutton. The book shares some history of the Lutheran church, defines our beliefs, shares stories of believers, and then discusses how our beliefs translate into actions.
What does this mean?
In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther repeatedly defines our faith by first asking “what does this mean?”. I think this encapsulates Lutheranism pretty well. By this I mean that, in every aspect of our doctrine we ask questions and glean answers only from Scripture. We use the Bible to interpret the Bible, using it’s context to derive our views and beliefs on everything – from what sin is to who God is, from what happens in baptism to how we respect our elders and authorities.
Martin Luther’s response to the question “what does this mean?” always begins with “We should fear, love and trust in God so that…” Everything we do is based on the foundation of our relationship with God. He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins so that we can take on His righteousness and be in God’s presence in eternity. How do you respond to such love? Lutherans respond by recognizing God’s power by fearing and respecting Him. We respond by loving Him back. And we respond by trusting His omniscient (all-knowing) plan for us and the world as He guides our lives through His Word, the Bible.
How does this impact you on a weekly or daily level?
How do we show love to the creator of the universe? By obeying His call to fulfill the mission He gives us in the Bible: firstly to care for the world and others and secondly to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus.
We care for others through our daily work – being a good spouse, child, parent, friend, employee or coworker. When we execute these various roles in our life well (also called vocations) we are being faithful to our mission. These roles also offer the most simple and clear way to share the Gospel with others. We don’t have to be overseas missionaries, there are plenty of people around us that need to hear about Jesus for the first time, or need to hear how the Bible shows Jesus’ love and blessings for them personally, in their situation.
In order to obey God, we need to get to know what He says to us and who He is for us personally. This is done by studying the Bible. Being Lutheran means studying God’s Word! There is so much to unpack in the Bible, but there are also so many resources available to help learn and apply it as we read. I think the biggest blessing of being in a church is having fellow Christians to study the Bible with, because in those conversations we grow in faith and we grow in community as we unpack our burdens and support one another. Everyone has had different experiences and can assist each other in reading, understanding, and applying what is being studied. I love watching those different backgrounds come together in a Bible study group to help each other learn and grow.
What’s next?
- If you have questions about what Lutherans believe or how to apply the Bible to your daily life, a great resource to review is Luther’s Small Catechism and the expanded questions that help apply the material to situations people of all ages may face. Copies are available in the Church Office if you’re interested.
- Join a Bible study! If none of the current studies fit in your schedule, please reach out to Deaconess Michele so a new study can be arranged.
The Luther Rose
Pictured here is Martin Luther’s symbol to encapsulate his theology:
- Black cross reminds that we are saved by Christ’s work on the cross
- Red heart reminds that we justified by faith from the heart (Romans 1:17 and 10:10)
- White rose to symbolize that faith gives joy, comfort and peace (John 14:27 and 20:12)
- Blue background symbolizes that our faith is just the beginning of our future heavenly joy
- Gold ring signifies the bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than gold
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