Martin Luther loved (and composed) joyful music – though perhaps his face doesn’t show it here, in a famous painting of Luther on lute singing with the family.
Lutheran Protestants trace their origins to the early church through the Reformation in Northern Europe. They are now prominent at home in new places such as Tanzania and Indonesia. Famous historical lutherans include Martin Luther himself, J.S. Bach, Soren Kierkegaard, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and George Handel (lots of musicians).
Our confessions of faith include the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds, shared in common with Catholics and many other Protestant groups. A central teaching is that our worth and our hope aren’t based on personal achievement or moral effort but solely on the kindness and mercy of God, shown to us in Christ. We seek to convey and live this message any way we can.
Are we Evangelicals?
On a national level, we belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. But we’re not Evangelicals. Confused? That “E” word is perhaps an “antagonym” – it’s come to mean almost the opposite of what it once meant. Today, for many, ‘Evangelical’ means authoritarian, restrictive and conservative. But the root New Testament word means “good news” or “glad tidings” – a message about God that brings real joy actually liberates people.
What else?
In lutheran tradition, singing and music are highly valued as expressions of faith – see more info here. Also, higher education and the use of reason: you serve God not just by doing religious stuff, but in vocations like parent or scientist. Our liturgy is like Catholic Mass, but we emphasize use of the vernacular in language.
In his Catechism, Luther taught us to say, “I believe that by my own understanding or strength, I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him.” Faith isn’t something we have or possess; it’s like being caught up in the power of God. Some of us aren’t sure what we believe, or don’t know if we’d call ourselves “Christian.” But God meets us in the messy mud of life, and frees us so we can trust and love. So here’s a picture of mud from one of our hikes, and a quote from Luther:
Christians do not live in themselves but in Christ and their neighbor; or else they are not Christian. They live in Christ through faith and in the neighbor through love. Through faith they are caught up beyond themselves into God; likewise through love they fall down beneath themselves into the neighbor – remaining nevertheless always in God and God’s love …”
Martin Luther
