Church History

 

History of Our Church

Each October 31, we are reminded of our heritage as spiritual descendants of Dr. Martin Luther. On the last day of October, in 1517, Martin Luther posted his famous 95 theses on the church door at Wittenburg. 

 

By posting his theses, Luther unleashed an unexpected series of events which we have come to know as The Lutheran Reformation. As we mark the 498th anniversary of this world changing event, it might be helpful to again ask ourselves the question, "What is a Lutheran?" The first definition comes from Luther himself, in his famous triple theses.

 

Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone

• A lutheran professes that we are saved by God's grace alone-not through any merit or worthiness on our part.
• A Lutheran is one who confesses that we are saved by faith alone solely in the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins on The Cross and the forgiveness that Good offers in the crucified and risen One. 
• A Lutheran relies soley on the Holy Scriptures as the authority for the church and as the only source and norm of Christian faith and Christian life. 

There are other distinctive marks of our Lutheran heritage. It was Luther who insisted that the church was the whole people of God and not restricted to the Bishops or Priests. 

 

Lutherans believe that God performs life-giving and life-renewing work through the means of grace, which are His Word and The Sacraments. Through the proclamation of The Gospel-through Holy Baptism-through Holy Communion, God gives forgiveness of sins, life, and eternal salvation.

 

Lutherans believe that the 3 ancient creeds-The Apostles', The Nicene, and The Athanasian, and The Lutheran Confessional Writings(as gathered in The Book of Concord) are a correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and properly confess our Holy Christian faith.

 

Lutherans believe that worship should be Biblically grounded. We offer the finest in Word and Music to God, as our joyful and thankful response to his Love for us, as shown in The Gospel.

 

Lutherans believe that the entire Christian faith centers in God's redemptive action through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is this Gospel of Christ which dominates our theology and lives.