Jan 3 - What do Lutherans believe? Part 1

More and more people are asking me to tell them more about who Lutherans are and what Lutherans believe.

A few days ago, I wrote a long explanation to a friend, realizing that it would be good to share with all of you -- and hopefully lots of future new members.

Here's a five-part glimpse of what Lutherans believe ...

since all have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God;

they are now justified by his grace as a gift

... effective through faith ...

apart from works prescribed by the law.

Romans 3:23-28

Martin Luther grew up in a time when God was painted as angry and vengeful, looking for any excuse to cast us into purgatory or hell.

Luther was literally tormented by this horror. He was in a shell. To use our modern terminology, he was beyond clinically depressed. He would spend hours every day in the confessional booth and then stay awake at night worrying about what he might have forgotten to confess.

His father confessor got tired of this. (Wouldn't you?!) So he finally sent this cowering monk away from a life of contemplation and assigned him to a practical ministry -- teaching.

In the age just before the printing press, this was Luther's first extended exposure to scripture. And when he turned to Paul's letter to the Romans, he discovered God's amazing grace. And the Reformation started! This unmerited gift of love and redemption set this tortured monk -- and much of the Western world -- free.  

Think about this: Grace turned Martin Luther from terribly fearful (cowering for hours a day in the confessional booth) to triumphantly fearless (standing up even to the threat of death from "the Roman Empire.")

Based on Martin Luther's experience, I summarize the core of Lutheran belief, as Word and Grace. Luther turned to the Word and discovered Grace.

At Spirit of Joy, that's what being Lutheran means ... and that's what we always and absolutely strive to do:

Turn to the Word

and discover God's grace.

In Christ's Love,

a happy Lutheran

(I turn to the Word daily

and I always see God's Grace!)