What is a Lutheran

WHAT IS A                                                                                                                   LUTHERAN                                                                   Plus commentary

Lu ther·an·ism, Lu ther·ism n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---

Lutheran [ˈluːθərən] (Christianity / Protestantism) a follower of Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German leader of the Protestant Reformation, or a member of a Lutheran Church. adj  1. (Christianity / Protestantism) of or relating to Luther or his doctrines, the most important being justification by faith alone, consubstantiation, and the authority of the Bible. 2. (Christianity / Protestantism) of or denoting any Protestant Church that follows Luther's doctrines.

Many Churches and Seminaries lay claim to this name.  Although when you enter their doors or listen to their preaching and teaching, it is far removed from what Martin Luther wrote about and believed.  In particular the ELCA is the most guilty. Just a quick look at Luther’s Small Catechism would dispel all the notions of Relativism that are being preached and taught.  Yes, there is Black and White. The silliness that we must be all things to all who ask is not what Jesus wanted us to carry forth.  Mark 1:17 Jesus said “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  He does not sway to the feelings (political correctness) of the day. The foundations of Christianity must not be compromised just because we may hurt some feelings.  The Core Principals upon which Christianity is based, The Ten Commandments, The Apostles Creed & The Lord’s Prayer, must never be subjected to the whims of political correctness. These as well as the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession of Faith and most certainly The Sacrament of Holy Communion (which are not the Elements as some are touting) are the basis of Christianity and most certainly of the Lutheran Faith.  By using the Lutheran name they are hijacking the denomination for their own use.  This ecclesiastical nonsense is tantamount to stealing the Lutheran following to accommodate their wants, versus starting their own following based on their beliefs.  Might this have to do with money/greed?

A recent book that I read made it very clear; we have deteriorated to looking out for the things that sell and not the Gospel as the core value of our congregations. The United States of America was founded as a Christian Nation, contrary to popular teachings.  The separation of church and state referred to not having a government sponsored religion.  We must get back to teaching the Holy Gospel as written and quit changing it to reflect the messages people want to hear.

Couple this with the removal of His presence from our schools and government and we are headed for a truly godless society.  Look at the history of the World and see how many survived.  The best example of this is the former USSR, a country who had killed tens of thousands of Christians, which collapsed with the help of Ronald Reagan bringing Christ’s message to them over and over.  It obviously was not the only guiding principal, but it sure didn’t hurt as history has recorded.

2 Peter 2:1-3 1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2. Many will follow their shameful ways and bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Blessings ‘til we meet again