Lutheran Ecclessiology?

[ALoveDivine]

How exactly do Lutherans understand "The Church"? Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity are both big on this notion, and believe they are the "true" Church, even in the sense of an institution, established by Christ and traceable back to the first century. Reformed protestantism on the other hand tends to view "The Church" as the totality of the elect throughout space and time, and the local church as the gathering together of such at a specific place in space and time, though gathered together with unbelievers as well (wheat and tares together etc).

How do Lutherans view "the Church"? Is it like the reformed/nondenominational view, or is it more akin to the Roman Catholic/Orthodox view, or something else entirely? I find myself in agreement with much of Lutheran biblical exegesis, but this issue of Ecclessiology confuses me.

 

[Charlie7399]

As far as I'm aware, "the Church" for Lutherans is composed of all Christians. That means our definition would be closer to the Reformed one.

 

[Taom Ben Robert]

The church is the assembly of believers where the word is preached and the sacraments administered , it is both visible , and invisible, and although apostolic succession is not mandatory, it is recommended for ordinations.

Hope that helps

 

[HermanNeutics13]

The church is all believers. However, there is also a distinction between the visible and invisible church. The invisible church is the true church, those who are truly saved. The visible church is those who you see at service and may act like Christians but may not actually be.