What is a Lutheran
Lutherans are Christians who accept the teachings of Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther was a German priest who realized that there were significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church at that time. On October 31, 1517 he posted a challenge on the door of Wittenberg University, titled “95 Theses,” in which he debated 95 theological issues that he thought should be addressed in order to reform the church’s practices and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible. Today, nearly 5 centuries later, we still hold to the basic principles of Luther’s teachings.
These comprise the very essence of Lutheranism:
We are saved by the grace of God alone---not by anything we do.
Our salvation is through faith alone---a confident trust in God, who in Christ promises us forgiveness, life and salvation
The Bible is the norm for faith and life---the true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.
Ascension Lutheran Church is part of the community of faith known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a strong belief in God as made known to us in Jesus Christ. Through worship, service, and education we practice our faith, grow our relationship with God and experience God’s grace in our lives. We also work hard to put our faith into action. With nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as in many third world countries, and with nearly 5 million members, the ELCA strives to make a difference in practical, realistic ways in the complex world in which we live.
Lutheranism is a faith tradition that is open to all, regardless of background. If you would like to know more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, please visit their website at HYPERLINK "http://www.elca.org" www.elca.org (from which much of this information was obtained). If you would like to know more about the Ascension community, please join us for Sunday morning worship.
