Lutheran Questions

[New_Found_Faith]

Hey everybody,

I was raised Catholic, I'm currently non-Denomonational and I'm looking for a Church to call home. The non-Denom Church I'm attending is alright, but it's a little bit large in congregation size for my taste. There's a Lutheran Church just a block away from me so I figured that I should check it out.

I have a couple questions:

What are the Lutheran views on real presence in the Eucharist, and how do these views differ from the RCC's?

Does the Church take a stand on political issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and what are these positions?

Where, geographically, is the Lutheran Church 'headquartered'?

Does the Church ordain female ministers?

And also since I'm very familiar with the RCC, what main issues do Catholics and Lutherans differ on? What are the main differences?

 

[Jim47]

What are the Lutheran views on real presence in the Eucharist, and how do these views differ from the RCC's?

We beleive that Chrisy's body is in and with the bread and wine, but we do not believe it is turned into His body and blood. In other words His body is there, but does not transform the elements of the bread and wine.

Does the Church take a stand on political issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and what are these positions?

The Lutheran takes no political stand on anything, we don't preach politics from the pulpit, but we certainly teach against abortion and any kind of sexual relationship outside of a man and a woman joined in marriage as God instituted it.

Where, geographically, is the Lutheran Church 'headquartered'?

There is no single head quarters and there are many different Lutheran church bodies, too many to mention. The main differeneces are between the liberal and the conservative churches. See the 2 different sub forums here and you will see the difference.

Does the Church ordain female ministers?

The liberal churches do, but Luther certainly did not approve of that, as he taught as the bible teaches.

And also since I'm very familiar with the RCC, what main issues do Catholics and Lutherans differ on? What are the main differences?

The RCC teaches a mix of works and faith, Luther teaches as the bible does, that we are saved by grace through faith. See 2nd Ephesians and read it several times.

Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

[filosofer]

Hey everybody,

I was raised Catholic, I'm currently non-Denomonational and I'm looking for a Church to call home. The non-Denom Church I'm attending is alright, but it's a little bit large in congregation size for my taste. There's a Lutheran Church just a block away from me so I figured that I should check it out.

Howdy, and welcome. Good questions.

I have a couple questions:

What are the Lutheran views on real presence in the Eucharist, and how do these views differ from the RCC's?

We believe in the real presence of Christ's body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We do not believe that the bread and wine are changed in substance (RCC), nor do we believe that the bread and wine are only symbols (most Protestants). We believe that through the Body and blood of Jesus in the sacrament we receive the forgiveness of sins.

Does the Church take a stand on political issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and what are these positions?

Each Lutheran denomination has its own stand on each of these. Most conservative Lutheran denominations (LCMS, WELS, ELS, AALC) oppose abortion, and formally oppose accepting "gay marriage". The ELCA has a divided stand, some in the church oppose, many support, and others take a middle ground.

Where, geographically, is the Lutheran Church 'headquartered'?

ELCA has its headquarters in Chicago, LCMS in St. Louis, AALC in Fort Wayne, etc.

Does the Church ordain female ministers?

ELCA does, LCMS, WELS, ELS, AALC, Free Lutheran do not.

And also since I'm very familiar with the RCC, what main issues do Catholics and Lutherans differ on? What are the main differences?

Basic issue revolves around the different understanding of justification by grace through faith. RCC teaches that the person is infused with grace which makes the person acceptable to God and is thereby justified.

Lutherans believe that we are justified by God's grace, entirely apart from us, because of what Jesus Christ has done. We are declared righteous/justified. We receive that by faith alone. RCC teaches that it justification is by "faith and love" meaning a mix of God's work and the person's work.

 

[Lupinus]

Hi Newfound

What are the Lutheran views on real presence in the Eucharist, and how do these views differ from the RCC's?

Lutherans teach that Christs body/blood are in, with, and under the bread/wine. In other words we believe he is literally and truly present unlike most Protestants, but not that the bread and wine are actually transformed into body and blood. In a lot of ways you could look at it as Lutherans consider the bread and wine to be vehicles or hosts.

Does the Church take a stand on political issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and what are these positions?

While most of the Lutheran church bodies have clear stands on political issues, they are generally theologically expressed rather then politically. It's rare if ever you will hear a Lutheran Pastor or someone in the church endorse a candidate or law or some such. But we certainly have clear theological stances on these things.

Where, geographically, is the Lutheran Church 'headquartered'?

There is no real headquarters. There are many different Lutheran Church bodies with their own HQ.

Does the Church ordain female ministers?

Some of the liberal church bodies do. However, traditional Lutheran teachings and conservative Lutheran church bodies do not.

And also since I'm very familiar with the RCC, what main issues do Catholics and Lutherans differ on? What are the main differences?

Main differences would be salvation- grace through faith for Lutherans, combination of faith and works/justification for RC; communion (as noted above); prayers to saints which Lutherans do not do; and purgatory...which I suppose also falls under differences in salvation.

 

[Edial]

Wecome to TCL.

Ed

 

[seajoy]

Yes, welcome. Please feel free to ask more questions. Looks like you got some great answers already.

 

[New_Found_Faith]

Thanks everyone.

I was wonder why Lutherans feel Apostolic Succession is not neccesary for sacraments to be valid?

 

[LilLamb219]

Thanks everyone.

I was wonder why Lutherans feel Apostolic Succession is not neccesary for sacraments to be valid?

The sacraments are dependent upon God's Word...that's what makes them valid. He attaches a promise to an earthly mean by His Word.

 

[RedneckLutheran]

welcome...looks like everythings pretty well been covered...guess I'm not needed here either...ummm...carry on...

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Welcome! You've got great answers!

 

[New_Found_Faith]

The sacraments are dependent upon God\'s Word...that\'s what makes them valid. He attaches a promise to an earthly mean by His Word.

So technically any baptised person could consecrate the Eucharist?

 

[filosofer]

So technically any baptised person could consecrate the Eucharist?

The Lord's Supper, technically, yes. And baptize, and preach. Those belong to the priesthood of all believers. But God has also established the pastoral office which publicly performs that in behalf of and for the congregation. Thus, baptisms are normally done by the pastor, but in emergencies, any Christian can baptize. But note, it is not the emergency that allows that and makes it a valid baptism.

Also, the term "Eucharist," while used by many Lutherans today, comes out of a different theological understanding of the Lord's Supper. The term came into Lutheran Churches as a result of the ecumenical movement and the ELCA (actually predecessor church bodies) movement toward the Episcopal Church and RCC back in the 1950's. Lutherans historically refer to it as the Sacrament of the Altar or the Lord's Supper.

 

[New_Found_Faith]

Thus, baptisms are normally done by the pastor, but in emergencies, any Christian can baptize. But note, it is not the emergency that allows that and makes it a valid baptism.

Why does an emergency have to occur, then?

 

[filosofer]

In the event a person may be near death and it would be impossible for a pastor to be present.

 

[New_Found_Faith]

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In the event a person may be near death and it would be impossible for a pastor to be present.

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I probably didnt phrase my question as well as I should have. I meant; If the emergency is not what causes the sacrament to be valid, why must an emergency be present in order for a lay person to admisnister the sacrament?

 

[DD2008]

In the event a person may be near death and it would be impossible for a pastor to be present.

If the Catholic Church requires a scheduled class be completed by parents before baptism, and a parent then baptizes the child while waiting to qualify him for Catholic baptism is the temporary baptism valid until the child can get an official one?

 

[Edial]

Why does an emergency have to occur, then?

Pastor is away or sick and some other common sense restrictions, yet the parents feel strongly to baptize their child sooner rather than later.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[filosofer]

If the Catholic Church requires a scheduled class be completed by parents before baptism, and a parent then baptizes the child while waiting to qualify him for Catholic baptism is the temporary baptism valid until the child can get an official one?

For Lutherans, the normal process would be for the parents to receive instruction. But if the parent or other lay person baptizes the child in an emergency, it is not a "temporary baptism" it is a full blown, complete official baptism. When possible then the child is brought before the congregation to recognize the baptism that had been done as part of the congregation's ministry.

 

[DD2008]

Is Baptism from the Baptist Church valid? Which denominations have invalid Baptism according to Lutherans?

 

[filosofer]

We recognize the baptism done in any Christian Church (if done with the Triune formula), which then necessarily excludes baptism done in LDS and JW groups.