Lutherans are Christians with our own understanding of what it means to be "born again." Lutherans, like other catholic Christians, baptize infants, believing that God works grace in us. In fact, we believe that every day and in every act of serious return to God we are returning to our baptism. We come forth as new people, which means that we are born again- and again and again!
Lutherans are sinners, but we believe in forgiveness. When we consider our religious beliefs, we confess what you soon find out: we all fall short of God's expectations. This same God, a loving God, forgives us. We believe that it is God acting for and in us, and not our own acts, that brings forgiveness. We call this "justification by grace through faith." As a result, we are renewed people who are not haunted by guilt or bothered by worry. We trust God who comes to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
As Protestants, we continue the reformation which began in European churches in the 16th century. We believe in the catholic (universal) church. We are in communion partnership with the Presbyterian Church (USA), The Reformed Church of America, The United Church of Christ, The Moravian Church, The Episcopal Church, and The United Methodist Church. This means we have a commonality in our theology and mission and act ecumenically for the sake of the world.
The name Lutheran refers to Martin Luther, a German monk and an Old Testament professor, who came to a renewed understanding of the Good News over 500 years ago. We do not worship Martin Luther but celebrate what God worked through him. Luther's writings called for church reform and led to protests known as the Protestant Reformation. His statement on justification by grace through faith remains a central, distinct characteristic of Lutheran understanding today.
Lutherans are worshipers who think of worship not as a pastor's performance but as the people's service. We are sacramental: along with baptism we celebrate the Eucharist (or Lord's Supper or Holy Communion) frequently, (in our many churches, every week.) We believe that Jesus Christ is present when we gather in faith for this sacred meal.
Lutheran Worship stresses preaching in the form of a sermon that addresses the needs of sinners and announces the loving activity of God. God is present when humans speak the divine word, so Lutherans gather to hear it together.
We believe that the Christian good news knows no racial, ethnic, economic, national, or gender-related boundaries. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is organized to give emphasis to it's desire that men and women of all ethnicities share equally in the benefits and tasks that go with Christian life.
We also believe that God speaks to people through the scriptures, and so we revere personal Bible reading in addition to personal prayer. We are serious about our devotion to God but do not prescribe special postures or mannerisms.
Music and Singing enhance our worship services, and help us focus on a gracious God. Lutheran worship includes song and prayer from many Christian traditions.
We reach out to share the message of God's grace, the good news, or gospel, of Jesus Christ. We try to look beyond ourselves to bring the gospel to community life with people of other faiths, and those of no faith. We welcome others to worship with us. We want the church to be as united as Christ prayed it would be.
We confess our faith through creeds and statements designed to set forth our distinctive Lutheran understanding about a gracious God. We do not think of ourselves as better than others. We do believe all Christians should speak clearly of their understandings of faith.
Lutheran congregations are connected by synods and by church bodies like the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which has over five million members. We pool our resources so that together we can better reach out to people in need everywhere.