OUR SINCERE PLEA TO OUR FRIENDS

IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

Origin and History

The Lutheran Church originated with the teachings of Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest. Although Martin Luther attempted his reforms of the Catholic Church in 1517 when he nailed his celebrated 95 theses to the door of the Catholic Church at Wittenburg, Germany in protest against the sale of indulgences, the Lutheran Church did not come into existence until later. At the time, Luther did not intend to splinter the Catholic Church by leaving it but, rather, was committed to reforming it.

From his intense study of the Scriptures Luther concluded that the supreme authority for the church is the Bible and that the popes, cardinals and bishops had no right to claim spiritual supremacy or the exclusive right to interpret the Bible for the people. Several trials were conducted and debates held while Luther continued to be a Catholic priest, but Luther was finally banned in 1521 from the Roman Catholic Church. Luther and his followers were referred to as “Protestants” because of protesting against the Catholic Church.

The term “Lutherans” was used by the Pope in his statement of excommunication and is now universally used as the title for those who follow Luther’s teachings. However, Luther did not want a church to wear his name. He wanted to return to the Scriptures and urged people to call themselves Christians, not Lutherans. He wrote the following:

“I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St Paul, in 1 Corinthians iii, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have.” (Hugh Thomson Kerr, (ed.) A Compend of Luther’s Theology (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1943), p. 135.

While the Lutheran Church began in Germany, it spread quickly to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and America. The earliest Lutherans in America can be traced to the Hudson Bay area in the year 1615.

In 1529 Luther wrote his Longer and Shorter Catechisms. A year later, the Augsburg Confession was authored by his associate Melanchthon. The year 1537 brought the Smalcald Articles of Faith written by Luther, Melanchthon, and other German Reformers. In 1577 the Formula of Concord was drawn up. These documents form the doctrinal basis of Lutheranism. Martin Luther died in 1546 at the age of 62.

Lutheranism and Denominationalism

The Lutheran Church was, of course, the first Protestant Denomination and in that sense she is the Mother of all denominations. Lutherans say,

“Our churches also teach that one holy church is to continue forever. The church is the assembly of saints in which the gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly. For the true unity of the church it is enough to agree concerning the teaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions or rites and ceremonies instituted by men should be alike everywhere. It is as Paul says, “One faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” etc. (Eph. 4:5-6).” (Theodore G. Tappert, The Book Of Concord The Confession Of The Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, p. 464-465).

Lutheranism correctly teaches there is one church as Paul stated (Eph. 4:4). They are correct in stating that the one true church can be identified, in contrast to false churches and religions, by certain identifying marks. While they only list two, baptism and the Lord’s Supper (which they call the sacraments), the Bible clearly establishes other identifying characteristics.

The New Testament church preached but one gospel for all men (Rom. 1:16); taught but one plan of salvation for both the Jew and Gentile alike (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27); and worshipped in spirit and in truth in the following ways: Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), singing without instrumental musical accompaniment (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16); gave as they were prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2); and engaged in prayers and teaching (Acts 2:42). The New Testament Church was governed according to God’s authority with elders and deacons in each church (Acts 14:23; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). How can a church ignore these other characteristics and still be the New Testament church?

These other characteristics are not human traditions as Lutherans would have us believe. Concerning all these other things, they say that it is not necessary that these should be alike everywhere. Yet, in the New Testament times every church was identical because each church was identified by these same characteristics.

Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23).

The only way we can be one today is by laying aside all human traditions and accepting the divine word of God. The failure to do this is the cause of all denominations. Denominationalism contradicts the prayer of Jesus and the plea of Paul (1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6; etc). Denominationalism (including Lutheranism) does not conform to the platform for oneness and unity set forth in the Bible, where we are encouraged to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3-6).

What Lutherans Teach What the Bible Teaches

Endorse Creeds: No Creeds but the Bible

Nicene Creed, Apostles Creed, Athanasian Creed, The Bible alone is the basis of all life, work, and worship
The Augsburg Confession and others. (Matt: 4:4; John 6:63; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 12:48).
(Lutheran Catechism, p. 81-82).

Justified by Faith Alone: Not Justified by Faith Alone:

Justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ The Bible does not teach we are saved by faith alone
is held to be the central doctrine of the word of God or by faith only (James 2:24; John 12:42-43; Gal. 5:6).
(Lutheran Catechism, p. 104).

Baptism by Sprinkling Or Pouring: Baptism by Immersion Only:

Christ does not specify the mode of baptism.                              Baptism is a burial in water (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12).
One mode is just as valid as another.                                          Greek word is baptizo meaning to dip, plunge, or submerge
(Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 147).                                        (Acts 8:38-39; Matt. 3:16; John 3:23).

Practice Infant Baptism: Infant Baptism is Unscriptural:

“Christ has commanded that little children                                    Baptism is not the context of Mark 10:13-16.
should be brought to him and we obey this                                  Son is only guilty for his own sins (Ezek. 18:20).
command by baptizing them and teaching them.                           No example of any infant ever being baptized;
They (children) have inherited a sinful heart,                                 only men and women who were capable of hearing,
and the germs of sin in them will soon grow”                                believing, repenting and confessing Christ
(Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 156).                                         (Acts 8:6, 12; Mark 16:16).

Regarding the Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper:

A sacrament through which forgiveness of sins is                         Term “sacrament” from Roman Catholic Church,
promised (Lutheran Catechism, p. 159).                                      not the Bible. Practice not found in Scripture.
“Always preceded by service of confession and                           Forgiveness is through repentance, confession, and baptism,
absolution” (Lutheran Catechism, p. 161).                                   not by eating the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9).
Christ conferred upon the church the “Power of the                     Keys given to the apostles only (Matt. 16:18; 18:18).
Keys” to remit sins — so the minister uses the power
and pronounces the absolution. (L. C. p 161).

The real presence of the body and blood of Jesus                       Jesus spoke metaphorically the same as when He spoke
are sacramentally and supernaturally received by                        of Himself as a “door” and “vine” (John 10:15; John 15:1-6).
those who partake of the communion. The bread                        Jesus was physically present when He instituted the
and wine do not simply represent the body and                           Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26; Luke 22:19).
blood of Christ (Lutheran Catechism, p. 156, 7).

Lord’s Day is the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1-10;

John 20:19-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10).

Baptism and Circumcision: Baptism and Circumcision:

Circumcision was received by children as a token                         Circumcision of the flesh was a shadow of circumcision
of the covenant — “so now children are to be                               of the heart (Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:11; Rom. 2:29).
baptized and receive the token of the new covenant,
the seal of the righteousness of faith.”                                             Baptism never is compared to circumcision in the Bible.

(Luther’s Small Catechism under Question, 335). If so, then why are females baptized?

“Circumcision, which is a type of baptism” Only males were circumcised (Gen. 17:10-11).

(Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146).

Lutheranism is really a product of Martin Luther and not of Jesus Christ because it is an organization that differs from the church of the Bible. The name Lutheran, the human creeds, false doctrines of original sin, justification by faith alone, and the peculiar doctrine of the Lord’s Supper are all characteristics unknown to the Bible. We plead with our friends in the Lutheran Church to continue Martin Luther’s journey and come all the way back to the church one can read about in the New Testament. Romans 16:16 says, “the churches of Christ greet you.” We, as the true church of Christ, invite you to visit our services and study the Bible with us. We offer the pure and simple gospel of Jesus Christ without addition, subtraction or substitution.

Our Sincere Plea to Our Lutheran Friends

We have both friends and relatives who are Lutherans. We feel it our duty to have this frank and open study. Please study these thoughts in the same spirit of love in which they are written. We are concerned only with serving the Lord Jesus according to His divine word as revealed in the New Testament and we plead for everyone to do the same. We will be happy to discuss these words with anyone. If there is a reputable preacher for the Lutheran Church who will defend the Lutheran doctrine in an open forum or public debate we will be happy to work out the arrangements and discuss these matters.