Clarification on Lutheran beliefs

[CanIHunt]

1. Am I right in believing that Lutherans respect saints but do not venerate them in the Catholic sense? Meaning they do not physically pray to them/bow down to them or think they mediate a person to Christ?

2. Does a Lutheran believe that a Christian needs the Church to be saved? Through Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist or other means? Or can a person be saved by only reading the Bible?

3. Does a Lutheran believe that the traditions of the Church over time are essential to a persons salvation or just helpful in their journey?

 

[Arcangl86]

1. Am I right in believing that Lutherans respect saints but do not venerate them in the Catholic sense? Meaning they do not physically pray to them/bow down to them or think they mediate a person to Christ?

2. Does a Lutheran believe that a Christian needs the Church to be saved? Through Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist or other means? Or can a person be saved by only reading the Bible?

3. Does a Lutheran believe that the traditions of the Church over time are essential to a persons salvation or just helpful in their journey?

1. Yeah, sounds about right to me. We remember and honor the saints, but we don't ask them to intercede for us in front of God.

2. We think that Baptism is necessary, but not absolutely necessary for salvation. By that we mean that ordinarily, one needs to be baptized to be saved, though we do not discount the ability of God to save people without baptism.

3. Traditions are useful, but necessary for salvation. The fancy Lutheran term is adiaphora, things that are indifferent.

 

[Tangible]

2. The Bible is a product of the Church. God used the Church to write, read, interpret, disseminate and preserve the Bible. You can't really separate the Bible and the Church like non-denoms and some Baptists would have you do. The Church is the mouth, the Bible is the word.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

1. Yes, you are correct. Lutherans do not pray to Saints.
2. Sacraments are a necessary part of our faith.
3. Traditions are unnecessary.

 

[Tangible]

3. Traditions are unnecessary.

The Scriptures are tradition. The Sacraments are tradition. The Liturgy is tradition. Preaching the Gospel is a tradition. Doctrine is tradition. Etc.

 

[CanIHunt]

thank you for the help

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

We do however commemorate the Saints, but do not request their intercessions. We also believe that the saints do intercede for us; we are told this in the Revelation.

 

[GracetotheHumble]

The Scriptures are tradition. The Sacraments are tradition. The Liturgy is tradition. Preaching the Gospel is a tradition. Doctrine is tradition. Etc.

I typically think of traditions as practices that take place that aren't mandated by scripture. Since you put it that way I would agree that those traditions are necessary. Although I am not positive that I would agree that the liturgy is a necessary tradition.

 

[CanIHunt]

but you do not pray to them right?

 

[Tangible]

but you do not pray to them right?

Right.

We may remember them, we may even pray ABOUT them (example below) but we don't pray TO them.

Collect Prayer for the Feast of St. Nicholas

Heavenly Father, shepherd of your people, we thank you for your servant Nicholas, who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the full stature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

[CanIHunt]

thank you

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

but you do not pray to them right?

Right.

We may remember them, we may even pray ABOUT them (example below) but we don't pray TO them.

Collect Prayer for the Feast of St. Nicholas

Heavenly Father, shepherd of your people, we thank you for your servant Nicholas, who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the full stature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

And sing about them sometimes: http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/517

First verse, then insert the appropriate one for the day, then last verse. These are only a few of the verses.

There are other commemorative hymns as well.

 

[CanIHunt]

thanks, this is all i need to know for now.