Lutheranism
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Lutheranism is a denomination of Christianity based on the teachings of Martin Luther. It is the dominant Christian denomination in Scandinavia and parts of Germany. The two main branches of Lutheranism in the United States are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the more conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
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Beginning
It began when Luther annoyed at the Catholic Church's selling indulgences and other practices that he considered to be non-scriptural posted his 95 Theses on the doors of churches through out Germany. Unable to reach an accommodation with Rome over the differences, Luther's beliefs broke away from the Catholic Church and formed what became known as the Lutheran Church. This breaking away was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Doctrines
The Lutheran denomination is the first Protestant church to have formed. The main cause for the schism from the Catholic church was Luther's belief in justification by faith alone. Lutherans also believe that the bible, as a divinely inspired book, is the source of all revealed divine knowledge. While Lutherans use a similar liturgical format to the Catholics, it is also similar to that followed by the Methodists and Episcopalians. Some other characteristics of the Lutheran Church include the use of Luther's Large and Small Catechism as an educational tool and the use of the "Lord's Supper" for communion and infant baptism. Lutheran doctrine is summerized in the Book of Concord, containing among others, the famous Augsburg Confession.
Modern Day
In 2007, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to allow ministers in homosexual relationships to keep their posts.[1]. Luther's personal writings condemned the practice of homosexuality.
Today there are more than 70 million Lutheran adherents[Citation Needed].
Lutheran Churches
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
- Church of Sweden
- Church of Norway
- Church of Finland
- Church of Denmark
- Church of Iceland
