Why did you choose to be a Lutheran?

MarkRohfrietsch · Sep 25, 2009

LutheranChick said:
That was my thought as well- only not kidding! God chose me to be a Lutheran. My Lutheran heritage goes back generations. Have I ever considered any other denomination? Not at all. The (confessional) Lutheran view of Law, Gospel, the Theology of the Cross, etc. is exactly right for me.

Me too!

The Holy Spirit gives me no choice but to remain so! :preach:

Aibrean · Sep 25, 2009

The theology makes the most sense.

joyfulthanks · Sep 25, 2009

Archaenfel said:
I struggle enough with my faith right now ... moreso because tomorrow is my last day of work with no prospects for the future. I have prayed and prayed to be spared from being a burden to others or worse - and so far my prayers have gone unanswered, or answered with a big fat NO!

With what I am struggling with today, could you imagine what I would be feeling if I felt that it was possible that God was grinding my life down to powder just to honor Himself in some inconcievable way? When one considers that I can come up with a dozen ways to kill myself with most of them being painless ( especially when I get bored ), it's really not a good thing for me to think that God isn't listening ... or worse.

I'm so sorry you're going through such a difficult time! I'll pray for you, friend. ((hugs))

Flipper · Sep 27, 2009

I have a lot of reasons, but what got me interested is that Lutherans are willing to look at the culture, history and politics of a time period in interpreting the Bible. Hook, line and sinker was understanding for the first time what Grace meant. I don't think any other denomination understands Grace like Lutherans do.

I'm confused by the statement "God chose me to be a Lutheran." I know God chose me to be His child. Further, God chose me to be a unique individual. He did the same for all of us. How does it work that God chooses you to be a denomination? Is it just simply that you were born into it?

BabyLutheran · Sep 27, 2009

It is a little frightening to me that there are so many "heritage Lutherans" answering and so few newcomers to the denomination. Doesn't bode well for Lutheranism in the long-run.

I am so happy I came to it, I just wish more "outsider" people could see it and they would love it as much as I do.

Flipper · Sep 27, 2009

BabyLutheran said:
It is a little frightening to me that there are so many "heritage Lutherans" answering and so few newcomers to the denomination. Doesn't bode well for Lutheranism in the long-run.

I am so happy I came to it, I just wish more "outsider" people could see it and they would love it as much as I do.

In my church, "heritage Lutherans" are in the minority - but I know that's rather rare in Lutheran churches. I'm trying to get a sem student to come teach the Small Cathecism to our small group Bible Study (after Revelation) since all but 4 in our group of 16 became Lutherans as adults. Most of us, like me, came from a Roman Catholic background, but we also have a former Southern Baptist, Methodist (my husband) and UCC.

BabyLutheran · Sep 27, 2009

That's cool...my church is mostly non-Lutheran converts as well, but I hear that we are in a minority in that regard...most on here wouldn't consider us Lutheran anyway! lol

I love the traditional liturgy, hearing grace preached instead of fear, and especially taking communion every week, I am so glad God drew me to the Lutheran church that I attend, even if no one on here considers it "real" Lutherans!

joyfulthanks · Sep 27, 2009

BabyLutheran said:
It is a little frightening to me that there are so many "heritage Lutherans" answering and so few newcomers to the denomination. Doesn't bode well for Lutheranism in the long-run.

I am so happy I came to it, I just wish more "outsider" people could see it and they would love it as much as I do.

I'm a newcomer (in the past year). I want to post my story here, but need to wait until I have sufficient time to devote attention to it.

When my husband and I were confirmed, there were a couple of other previously non-Lutherans confirmed with us. And just this morning at church, we received three more previously non-Lutherans into membership. Every time we receive new members, it seems to be about 2/3 current LCMS members, and 1/3 people who were not previously Lutheran. At our church, I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more in the future.

Ave Maria · Sep 27, 2009

Well then, I guess it's my turn now.

I chose to be a Lutheran because I agree with the Eucharistic theology. I also like how the ELCA is quite liberal.

Tangible · Sep 28, 2009

I'm curious, PG, and don't take this the wrong way, but how many different denoms have you been involved with in the last ten years or so?

LutheranChick · Sep 28, 2009

Flipper said:
I have a lot of reasons, but what got me interested is that Lutherans are willing to look at the culture, history and politics of a time period in interpreting the Bible. Hook, line and sinker was understanding for the first time what Grace meant. I don't think any other denomination understands Grace like Lutherans do.

I'm confused by the statement "God chose me to be a Lutheran." I know God chose me to be His child. Further, God chose me to be a unique individual. He did the same for all of us. How does it work that God chooses you to be a denomination? Is it just simply that you were born into it?

Because I didn't choose my faith. God chose me, and the denomination of faith he gave me was Lutheran- I certainly cannot take credit for that myself.

blue stone yellow powder · Oct 7, 2009

I didnt at first my parents Had me baptized into christ and the lutheran church.

latter . It was i that chose it .

All the other christian religions even this web site teach one has to be lovy dovy sweet and a nice or your not saved your not christian . Only luther taught the truth that thats only how people see who has salvation and it means nothing to God . for God breaks peoples rules and enjoy actualy loves justifing people like me the ungodly in christ.

JTornado1 · Oct 8, 2009

I like the liturgical worship services. I used to be a United Methodist. I left the UMC in 1996 and joined the LCMS.

tampasteve · May 21, 2019

I realize this thread is almost 10 years old - but I know some of the members are still around so I thought it might be nice to resurrect it and see if people that were still around feel the same way, and newer members could comment in as well.

Me? Well, I am Lutheran after a long round about trek to get here. I was raised in a non-denominational/Baptist home and went to a Baptist school K- 8th grade. In college I started searching and eventually went to the Catholic Church, and married a Catholic woman. I did not convert to Catholicism for close to 4 year, but eventually I felt comfortable enough to do so.

Fast forward 9 years and we divorced from infidelity on her part, and I had a crisis of faith. I never stopped believing in God, but for a time I felt closer to Judaism than Christianity. Eventually I found my way back to Christianity and in the process the Lutheran church. The similarities between it and the RCC Mass made the transition quite familiar and easy. After studying Lutheran theology further I have found that it really works for me. My wife and I were married in a Lutheran church and my son was baptized in one as well. We currently attend an LCMS church and are interested in joining at some point in the not to distant future.

But as to why I am Lutheran? It it because I feel the theology actually works, there is enough depth and understanding to explain many things, but also enough is left to Mystery that we do not just end up creating certain beliefs for explanation's sake. I love the Lutheran understanding of the Eucharist and the Divine Service.

Julian of Norwich · May 21, 2019

After leaving the RCC, I didn't attend church for awhile. I was hungry for the Eucharist but didn't feel it would be right to commune in the RCC since my beliefs were no longer in communion with theirs. It was suggested to me that I might feel at home in a LCMS church. There was one right down the road so I read the Augsburg Confession and Small Catechism. I didn't disagree with anything. So I went and it felt like the 1928 BCP from when I was a little girl in the Episcopal church (which has since changed). I totally felt at home!

INeedGrace · May 22, 2019

I'm not a Lutheran per se, but I have embraced Lutheran theology. It gives me peace.

Specifically, the teaching of the Sacraments as means of grace. It is this that has freed me from endless introspection where I constantly look within to check if my faith is real. The Sacraments are gifts from God to give us assurance that we are forgiven.

Daniel9v9 · May 24, 2019

There are too many reasons, but the sum of it is that I believe that in the Lutheran system, the Gospel is expressed the clearest. There is no Arminian vs Calvinist tension. Neither is there a confusion of Justification and Sanctification. Law and Gospel are distinctly apart, yet harmonious. In other words, I hold that in the Lutheran system, God's grace is most clearly seen.

Concord1968 · May 25, 2019

Coming out of Catholicism, I revisited the Reformation issues and Martin Luther just made the most sense to me.

grasping the after wind · May 25, 2019

I "became a Lutheran" based upon a visit to a Lutheran congregation when my wife and I were looking for a place to settle in. I found a welcoming, caring, close knit group of people that believed in Christ and acted as if they did not just talked about it on Sundays. I knew I had found my home. There was nothing in the theological underpinnings of the denomination that I could not accept or at least tolerate and of all the options out there I would say the basics of Lutheranism are closest to my own understanding of what God has revealed to his people. Although I have always found certain things in the worship service anachronistic and some of the practices involving hand gestures, special clothing and liturgical movements, as well as the attitudes of some of the more casual church goers ( those that show up for Easter, Christmas , funerals marriages and baptisms in order to check boxes on their salvation checklist) to border on superstitious, still it was less so than my previous religious life experience in the RCC.

Nova Scotian Boy · May 25, 2019

I wanted Jesus, I became so burned out by groups telling me about Jesus rather than giving me Jesus. Lutheranism is the only church where Jesus is not just an abstract concept. So I did the unthinkable and withdrew from my Reformed seminary and joined an LCMS parish.

Why did you choose to be a Lutheran?

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