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==The Lutheran Church==

==The Lutheran Church==

The Lutheran Church began when Martin Luther, ( a former Catholic Priest)protested against the churches practices of selling indulgence and other non-scripture based practices including "buying" people sainthood or out of hell or purgatory. He also rejected the idea that the Pope as the head of the church on Earth. The Protestants Reformation finds its origin based upon the work of this 16th Century monk. Without the work of Luther and the reformers of this time their would still only be two or three denominations of the Christian Church.  

The Lutheran Church began when [[Martin Luther]], ( a former Catholic Priest) protested against the churches practices of selling indulgence and other non-scripture based practices including "buying" people sainthood or out of hell or purgatory. He also rejected the idea that the Pope as the head of the church on Earth. The Protestants Reformation finds its origin based upon the work of this 16th Century monk. Without the work of Luther and the reformers of this time their would still only be two or three denominations of the Christian Church.  

Today their are more than 70 million Lutheran adherents and more than 400 million of other protestant denominations that are off shoots of his reforms. On October 31, 1517 Luther first posted his 95 Theses on the doors of churches through out Germany. This began the theological debate that lead to the separation of the church in Germany and other countries to split with Rome. The main bases that the Catholic church and the Lutherans saw as the critical point in their beliefs was the reliance on faith to save a person verses the selling of artifacts and indulgences to the adherents.  

Today their are more than 70 million Lutheran adherents and more than 400 million of other protestant denominations that are off shoots of his reforms. On October 31, 1517 Luther first posted his 95 Theses on the doors of churches through out Germany. This began the theological debate that lead to the separation of the church in Germany and other countries to split with Rome. The main bases that the Catholic church and the Lutherans saw as the critical point in their beliefs was the reliance on faith to save a person verses the selling of artifacts and indulgences to the adherents.  

Some of the other major characteristic 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.  

Some of the other major characteristic 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.

 

 

==Early Church History==

==Early Church History==