What does it mean to be Lutheran?

Well, Lutherans are Christians who follow the work of Martin Luther.  Luther was a monk who lived during the 16th century.  In his studies and worship, he found that there were differences between what he read in the Bible and what the Roman Catholic Church was practicing.  He created and posted a list of 95 theological issues (the 95 Theses) that he hoped would help reform the Roman Catholic Church.  What began as a debate ended in a separation between those who agreed with Luther’s ideas and those who upheld the current teaching of the Catholic Church.  Those who followed Martin Luther were eventually named Lutherans.

The main tenets of the Luther’s theological teachings are Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone.
•    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.

If you are new or returning to the church, you can visit the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s website to explore more.