Lutherian church

[evangeline2020]

Hi All,
I live in England and am a christian (anglican, church of england). I recently moved house - not far, about a mile or so. Close enough that we continue to go to the church we are settled in and used to live next door to. However there is a church locally to our new house and I was curious as to its denomination. Well yesterday we had a note about the christmas services they are holding and it stated it was a Lutherian church.
My question is simple really, what is a lutherian church and what are its main beliefs? do they fall in with the nicene creed or are they a minor "cult" type church?
I hope I don't offend anyone by asking, its just that I have never come across one before.
thanks for listening.

 

[MizDoulos]

This thread has been moved from Questions About Christianity. It is more appropriately discussed here.

 

[evangeline2020]

Thanks for that, I wasn't sure where it belonged.

 

[Phoebe]

Lutheran?
Have you ever heard of a German man named Martin Luther?
The Lutheran church isn't greatly different from the Anglican/ Episcopal church. Feel free to check it out. No cults there.
We use the Apostle's and Nicene Creed. The Lutheran church (ELCA) has open communion. We believe that we are saved by grace through faith. We believe in consubstantiation, not transubstantiation. Our Sacraments are baptism and the Eucharist/ Holy Communion.
try www.elca.org

 

[evangeline2020]

Now you got me, what's consubstantiation and transubstantiation?
just showing my ignorance for all to read
thanks for the link, I'll check it out too, sounds like a more informal type of anglican format?

 

[Phoebe]

Transubstantiation is what the Catholic Church teaches. The elements mysteriously become the body and blood, literally. (bread and wine)
Instead of priests, we have pastors.
Yeah, 'd say it's a little less formal than the Anglican church.
Here in the U.S., the ELCA Lutherans generally get along well with Episcopalians. (and Methodists)
I had an aunt that passed away over two years ago. She was born and raised in England. She was also Anglican.

 

[I can eat 50 eggs]

There are many different variances inside Lutheranism. the ELCA is a more liberal take, with the LCMS (go to www.LCMS.org) a more conservative branch. I'm not sure what they have over in England.
They are the closest you can get to being Catholic, and still call yourself a protestant.

 

[evangeline2020]

thanks Phoebe, I knew about the belief of catholics in the change of the bread and wine, I just didn't realise it had a name given to it. I guess I would be a believer in consunstantiation then, as to me they are just symbols. interestingly enough though, we have just had a discussion about this with the mother in law who thinks that communion is barbaric for exactly the transubstantiation beliefs.
The lutheran church sounds very welcoming and we might well check it out. but the children really enjoy the sunday school at the one we go to at the moment, so I'll have to pray about any possible change.
thanks for all your understanding and help.

 

[I can eat 50 eggs]

You might want to do a little more research. Consubstantiation, the lutheran belief on the Lords supper is NOT that it is only symbolic. Catholics believe that the bread is completely transformed (thus TRANsubstatiation) while Lutherans believe that the both the bread and wine, AND the Body and Blood of Christ are physically present (CON=with)

 

[ZiSunka]

Forget all that stuff.

Lutherans are Christians, and it's not a cult. They teach out of the Bible, believe that Christ is the only way to God, and that we are saved by faith alone. In other words, they are cool, doctrinely speaking.

Here is a link to the Lutheran England website:
http://www.lutheran.co.uk/

 

[I can eat 50 eggs]

if you don't believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, you should look elsewhere.

 

[Phoebe]

Thanks, Lamb's Love.
Martin Luther wrote that the Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in and under the bread and wine.
St. Augustine said, "When the Word is joined to the external element, it becomes a sacrament."
It s the body and blood because the Word is with it.
Go where you are happy. Give it lots of prayerful consideration.

 

[DeputyDan]

I grew up in a Presbyterian Church but married a Lutheran.

The basis of the Lutheran Church is God's grace through faith.

Its not a cult and you won't hear much about Hell there.

The thought is that God loves you and you in turn should love God and therefore as a child of God and a member of his eternal family, Hell is not an issue.

The previous post about the ELCA being the liberal side is true. Also, the official "Church" considers itself more Catholic than Protestant. But most of the members consider themselves more Protestant than Catholic.

I attend an ELCA Church than is more liberal than I care for, but my wife is comfortable there and I and secure enough in my faith and relationship with God that and small issues I may have - can be kept in the background.

 

[aggie03]

If you really want to know what the Lutheran denomination teaches, you should get a copy of their catechism and read it. I would recommend doing that before you join any denomination so that you really know what you are supporting and what they teach.