Ongoing thoughts from Pastor Sue 

What does it mean to be a Lutheran?  

About 2 billion people are Christians, but only some of them are Lutherans.

800 million–1 billion are Protestants.  Protestantism is the second largest major group of Christians by number of followers.

Estimates vary from 800 million to 1 billion, or between 31% and 38% of all Christians.

With around 80 million followers worldwide, Lutheranism remains one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world.

There are many denominations of Lutheranism.

Over 40 different Lutheran denominations currently exist in North America.

However, most North American Lutherans belong to one of the three largest denominations, namely, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or ELCA,

the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Long Lake Lutheran Church belongs to the ELCA, Minneapolis Area Synod, Northern Conference.

Lutherans are Confessional, Creedal, and Liturgical.

We believe that the crucified and resurrected Christ accomplished our salvation, so we are free to live our lives for the good of our neighbor.

We are confessional, creedal, and liturgical.

What does this mean?

Confessional: We use a corporate or public confession where we confess together as one body during the worship service.

We admit that we are sinful and unclean and cannot free ourselves from sin.

It is by God’s generous grace that we are forgiven.

The congregation states a confession together, then the Pastor pronounces that by God’s authority, their sins are forgiven.

This is known as absolution.

Public confession developed as a replacement for private confession in the eighteenth-century.

Creedal: We state a creed of beliefs during our worship services.

We have the Athanasian, Nicene, and Apostle’s Creeds to choose from.

The Apostle’s is the shortest and is used more widely than the others.

Liturgical: In our traditional worship services, we use a liturgy.

“Liturgy” refers to the order of a corporate worship service.

It comes from the Greek leitourgia, which is a combination of two other words: people (laos) and work (ergon).

Literally, a liturgy is a “work of the people,” or perhaps more helpfully, a “public service.”

We are the servants who come to do God’s bidding. True worshipers say, “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:10). 

Liturgy is an order of worship that can change with the seasons of the church year.

Much of it is sung or chanted: Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia.

At the heart of Lutheran belief is “justification by grace through faith.” This means that there is nothing we can do to become right with God by our own efforts. We are saved by grace alone. That is difficult for some people to accept. Some believe they are saved by doing good works. Lutherans believe that we do good works in response to already being saved by God. God does not need our good works, but our neighbors do! This generous gift of God’s grace is received by us through faith.

            God forgives our sins, gives us new life in Christ, and invites us into relationship with Godself. We believe that God is Love, not wrath and vengeance. Although, there will be a judgment day, when all will face God in humility, we cannot earn our way into eternal life. We admit that we are sinful and cannot help ourselves. But, God who is merciful, forgives us and loves us anyway. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has purchased our salvation with His own precious blood. That is the Gospel, or good news.

Lutherans have just two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (Eucharist or Lord’s Supper).

Sacraments are designated as such because they contain the Word of God and an earthly element. The Lutheran sacraments are “sacred acts of divine institution”. They are also defined as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”

Lutherans believe that, whenever they are properly administered by the use of the physical component commanded by God along with the divine words of institution, God is, in a way specific to each sacrament, present with the Word and physical component. We teach that God earnestly offers to all who receive the sacrament forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.

Baptism: Word of God: I Baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Earthly element: Water.

Holy Communion: Word of God: Do this to remember me. Earthly elements: Bread and Wine.

Holy Baptism

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which one is initiated into the Christian faith. In practice, a person being baptized may be wholly or partly immersed in water, water may be poured over their head, or a few drops may be sprinkled on their head. It symbolizes a washing away of sins and welcomes the person to the church community. Lutherans teach that at baptism, people receive  God’s grace and promise of salvation. At the same time, they receive the faith they need to be open to God’s grace. Lutherans baptize by sprinkling or pouring water on the head of the person (or infant) as the Trinitarian formula is spoken. Lutherans teach baptism to be necessary, but not absolutely necessary, for salvation. That means that although baptism is indeed necessary for salvation, it is, as Luther said, contempt for the sacraments that condemns, not lack of the sacraments. Therefore, one is not denied salvation merely because one may have never had the opportunity to be baptized. This is what is meant by saying that baptism is necessary – but not absolutely necessary – to salvation. Lutherans believe in ONE Baptism. since it is a gift, not an achievement, it takes place as soon as possible. We do not “rebaptize” anyone who has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and with the use of water.

Holy Communion

The Sacrament of the Eucharist is also called the Sacrament of the Altar, the Mass, the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Table, (Holy) Communion, the Breaking of the Bread, and the Blessed Sacrament. In practice, communicants eat bread and drink wine or grape juice as the true presence of the Body and Blood of Christ Himself, “in, with and under the forms” of the consecrated bread and wine. We do this as commanded by Christ when he said to his disciples, “do this to remember me.”  The true gift of the meal is forgiveness. Lutherans do not believe in transubstantiation, where the bread and wine become actual flesh and blood. We make the connection through faith, and we share God’s promise of Christ’s presence when we gather for it.

Dr. Martin Luther, a sixteenth-century German monk became a reformer of the Catholic Church by posting 95 theses on the wooden door of the Wittenburg Church. He just wanted a good debate, but he was excommunicated, imprisoned, and threatened with death. Churches that broke away from the Catholic tradition and followed the teaching of Martin Luther were originally called evangelische, or evangelical churches. Opponents of these churches called them Lutheran after Dr. Martin Luther. Martin Luther did not wish for churches to be named after him.

Lutherans are disciples of Jesus Christ, not Martin Luther. We ascribe to the teachings of the Holy Bible. Scripture is the only doctrine and practice that we emphasize, rather than human traditions or “churchly” authority. We confess our faith, what we believe, using one of three creeds: Apostle’s, Nicene, and Athanasian. We interpret the Bible with the two teachings of Law and Gospel.

We confess that we are sinners and can’t save ourselves. That’s Law. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved by grace. That’s Gospel.

Romans 2: 21-26 ^21 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Christ is the foundation of our faith as well as our Savior. We look to Jesus for help through difficult times. Jesus suffered and died for our sins. It took it all upon himself in obedience to the Father. Therefore, we can rejoice, because even though we are sinful creatures, we are saved by grace, and are now free to serve God and love one another.

Do I have to go to church? Well, no, you don’t have to, but you miss out on participating in the specialness of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Yes, you can commune with nature out on the lake or out in the woods, but you miss the grandness of God by focusing only on the creator God. There is so much more to God through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. When you attend church, you are showing God, that God is important to you, and you wish to spend some time worshipping and praising God. It’s all about making choices. You also miss out on the important aspect of fellowshipping with other believers. Singing praise together, praying together, learning together, then enjoying coffee time together is an important part of our Christian community. It is here that you might find out someone is ill or in need, and you can work together to help.

Do Lutherans confess their sins? Yes, absolutely. We don’t use the confession every Sunday simply due to time. We confess many Sundays in a communal, or public, fashion right alongside our family and community members. It can be very humbling. We confess our sinfulness and receive the wonderful words of forgiveness and salvation. If there is an especially heavy burden of sin that weighs you down, you can speak privately with your pastor who will keep the seal of confessional confidentiality unless you are a danger to others or have committed a crime that would require disclosure.

Do we make the sign of the cross? Of course! Luther actually encouraged it! It is a reminder or rededication of the cross made on us at baptism. Any time the Holy Trinity is spoken about, it is proper to make the sign of the cross. You do not need to be embarrassed if you do or if you don’t. It is a matter of choice, but is a good reminder of how Jesus  saved us!

What about sharing the peace? We used to do it a lot more, but during and post-covid people were uncomfortable with handshakes due to germs. It was a widely used practice in the time of Christ and sometime even included a kiss. People are much less comfortable with that practice now. But, it is a nice thing to hear your neighbor say, “peace be with you.” To which you reply, “and also with you.” We are supposed to be clear of conscience when we come to the Lord’s Supper. Sharing the peace is a sign to your neighbor that all is well between you.

from Pastor Sue