Christianity is unique among all other faiths, because it is about a relationship rather than religious practice. Rather than living according to a list of "dos and don'ts," the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God. That relationship is possible because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. Christians believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God, and that its teaching is the final authority. Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons, Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe that everyone was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but that sin separates us from God. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man, and died on the cross. Christians believe that after his death on the cross, Christ was buried, rose again and now lives with God the Father, making intercession for the believers forever. Christianity proclaims that Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to restore the broken relationship between God and humanity caused by sin.

To be saved, we must simply believe that Jesus died in our place and rose again. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. Nobody can be "good enough" to please God on his or her own.

What Lutheran Christians Believe

Lutherans accept and teach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reform of the Christian church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone...

Today, nearly five centuries later, Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of Luther's theological teachings, such as Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone. These comprise the very essence of Lutheranism:

We are saved by the grace of God alone — not by anything we do.

Our salvation is through faith alone — a confident trust in God, who promises us forgiveness, life and salvation.

The Bible is the true standard by which all teachings and doctrines are judged.

Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483-1546) dealt the symbolic blow that began the Reformation when, on October 31, 1517, he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses, or points of debate, to the door of the Castle Church at the University in Wittenberg, Germany.

The church door functioned as a kind of bulletin board, and Luther's intent was to spur debate among the academic community. That document contained an attack on abuses by church, particularly the sale of indulgences by church officials to finance, amongst other things, the construction of a new St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Anyone who purchased an indulgence behalf of themselves or a deceased relative was promised a lessoning of time their souls spent in purgatory. The practice greatly enriched the church, but created great hardship among the poor.

But Luther himself (right) saw the Reformation as something more important than a revolt against church abuses. He believed it was a fight for the gospel. Luther even stated that he would happily have yielded every point to the pope had he affirmed the gospel.

To learn more about Martin Luther and the Reformation, see the "Luther Quiz" or "Martin Luther: Reluctant Rebel."

Lutherans are part of a reforming movement within the whole Christian church; as a part of practicing their faith, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its predecessors have engaged in dialogue with other church bodies for decades. In fact, the ELCA has entered into cooperative "full communion" agreements (sharing common convictions about theology, mission and worship) with several other Protestant denominations, including:

Moravian Church

Episcopal Church

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Reformed Church in America

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Church