What My Neighbor Believes: Lutheranism (Part One)

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This morning, I happened upon a post at The Truth In Context entitled “Lutheran vs. Reformed.” The author, Alan, discussed the differences between Lutheran and Reformed churches, inviting commentary and discussion in an effort to assist his readers in their understanding of the topic.

His comments on Lutheranism inspired me to respond, given that, until a little more than a year ago, I was a lifelong member of and extremely active participant in the Lutheran church. I am not and have never been a pastor, nor have I attended or graduated from seminary. Rather, my knowledge is based purely upon my nearly lifelong tenure as a member and employee of, and leader within, the church.

Different Types of Lutherans

The danger in talking about Lutheranism is that there are different kinds of Lutheran churches and their beliefs and practices vary widely. Much of what Alan described applies only to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), an extremely conservative group that clings, in my opinion, to outdated notions about everything from the status of women in the church (they neither vote in congregational elections nor hold positions of leadership that would require them to lead or teach men, and they may not serve as ordained pastors) to questions of sexual orientation (it is believed to be a sinful lifestyle choice) to views on baptism, communion, worship styles, etc.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) in America was formed in 1988 when the American Lutheran Church (in which I was raised), Lutheran Church in America, and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches banded together to form one unified church. The LCMS did not join, opting to continue operating independently, apart from the ELCA.

In contrast to the LCMS, the ELCA and its predecessor ALC, has 0rdained women since 1970. Moreover, women serve in all kinds of leadership positions all the way from Sunday School teacher to pastor to bishop.

Alan accurately states that the ELCA recognizes only two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. In the Lutheran church, sacraments are defined as specific acts having three characteristics:

• They are acts we are told in Scripture to perform;
• Those acts that bring us something promised in Scripture as a result of those acts;
• Those acts contain an earthly element.

Holy Baptism

Regarding baptism, Alan said:

Baptism in the Lutheran view is efficacious. This is why they baptize infants. Baptism regenerates one and brings them into salvation. This is often referred to as Baptismal Regeneration.

Martin Luther said: “In baptism God forgives sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe in what God has promised.”

Baptism is a sacrament because:

• Jesus told us to go “to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19);

• Baptism is a gift given forever, through which God promises never to desert or disown us; and

• Baptism is accomplished through the earthly element of water.

In the ELCA, baptism is seen as a requirement for salvation, but a parent’s act of presenting his/her child for baptism is not the end of the road. We are all born with and must exercise free will. Thus, the ELCA believes in Affirmation of Baptism, more commonly known as Confirmation. After two years of instruction, young adults (eighth graders) publicly confess their belief and affirm their infant baptism, taking their place as voting members of the congregation.

If a young person was not baptized earlier in his/her life, he/she can be baptized whenever he/she expresses a desire for the sacrament, including contemporaneously with his/her Confirmation.

Some of the most meaningful and poignant worship experiences during my many years of church membership occurred when adults were baptized because adult baptism in the Lutheran church is a rare event, motivated by an individual’s desire to formally acknowledge and profess his/her belief.

The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically how to baptize. The Greek New Testament word “baptizo” means “to wash.” So different churches have different practices. Some believe that baptism must be accomplished by immersion, but Lutherans do not.

Baptism takes place at an eight-sided font, with water placed on the baptism candidate’s forehead, as the pastor declares that he or she is baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Lutherans accept any method or baptism by which water and God’s word are used. Therefore, if an individual is baptized in another church, that baptism will be recognized and accepted at the time that person expresses a desire to join the Lutheran church. The converse is not true. Many Protestant churches who believe that immersion is required will not acknowledge a former Lutheran’s infant baptism. In order to join one of those congregations, the candidate will be expected to undergo another baptism by immersion, i.e., be re-baptized. That, of course, violates the Lutheran belief in one baptism, as expressed in, for example, the Apostles’ Creed.

Why do Lutherans baptize infants?

We baptize a baby because it is a gift that we give that child. It is a gift that the child need not understand or deserve. Just as the parents adopt a tiny baby without asking the baby if he/she wants it, or just as giving a Christmas gift to a tiny infant long before he/she understands what Christmas is or what grandparents are or anything like that, so, too, God adopts and gives a gift at the baptismal service.

Preparation for Discipleship: A Handbook for New Christians
by Jerry Schmalenberger

Holy Communion

Alan said:

The Lutheran view of communion is called “Consubstantiation” as opposed to the Roman Catholic “Transubstantiation.” In the Roman view the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ, worthy of worship, which they do, they actually worship the elements. In Lutheran doctrine the bread and wine are the body and blood in a “mysterious” manner, they do not try and explain it save to say that Christ is in, with, and under the elements and they do not worship the elements. They also practice close communion, meaning one must be examined by clergy and agree with their stance on the supper before partaking.

Martin Luther said that when we commune, the Triune God is present “in, through and under the elements [bread and wine].” In the Lutheran church, Holy Communion is a sacrament because:

• Jesus told his disciples to eat and drink in this fashion;
• Jesus promised the forgiveness of sins and his presence with us when we commune; and
• It contains the earthly elements of bread and wine.

The LCMS practices “closed” communion. That means that not only must you be a Lutheran Christian, you must be a member of the LCMS in order to participate.

ELCA churches adopt no such requirement. Communion is offered to “all baptized believers” who want to commune. Whether or not they belong at the communion rail receiving the sacrament is a matter left to them and God.

Corporate confession takes place early in the service. It is called the Order for Confession and Forgiveness. Therefore, by the time the sacrament is administered, all worshipers have had an opportunity both to confess and declare their beliefs via recitation of The Apostles’ Creed, which generally occurs immediately after the post-sermon hymn.

In the ALC, some churches announced in advance on which Sundays Holy Communion would be offered and required all those who planned to commune to meet with the pastor in advance to prepare. My congregation never did that. I believe that practice was a hold-over from the old Roman Catholic and, in some instances, LCMS, traditions. However, I do remember the days when Holy Communion was only celebrated once per month and, later, every other Sunday. It was in the 1980’s when I was on staff that a decision was made to offer the sacrament at one of the various worship time each week so that members who wished to could commune at least once per week would have that opportunity. That was a compromise, as some folks believed it should be celebrated during each and every worship service.

Social Justice

As to more contemporary issues, including sexual orientation, the LCMS and many other churches aren’t even studying or analyzing the questions. The ELCA has, however, been wrestling with concerns since at least 1990. If memory serves, it was in that year that five churches in California’s Bay Area defied the bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod and the church as a whole by proceeding with ordination of recent seminary graduates who refused to hide their orientation and/or take a vow of celibacy in light of their authentic selves. The then-bishop decided that, rather than just exiling those congregations from the Synod, the church would begin a “five-year dialogue” in order to listen to each other’s viewpoints, understand one another’s differing perspectives, and try to achieve consensus.

The ELCA is still looking for consensus. During its 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Florida there was protest on the floor over the issue. There have been classes taught, position papers drafted, etc. The issue will be at the forefront during the church’s next assembly, scheduled for 2009.

Thus far, each time the matter has been scheduled for a final vote on the questions of whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons should be ordained and able to marry within the church, the church leaders has avoided the vote.

Why? Because it is, like many other societal issues, one which does not lend itself to compromise.

Church leaders know that this issue is the one that will irrevocably divide the ELCA into two separate, new churches. And that reality scares them because it will have far-reaching consequences, primarily financial.

The ELCA’s failure to courageously take a bold stand in favor of social justice was one of the primary reasons why I left the church.

Invitation to Serve as a Guest Blogger

This discussion has inspired me to issue an invitation to fellow bloggers to contribute to an ongoing discussion On the Horizon. Would you like to publish an article here, explaining your particular belief system? I am interested to hear about what the many various churches believe and teach, but the invitation extends to those who, like me, are spiritually walking beyond the walls of organized religion. Moreover, I would love to hear from persons of all different faiths, not just Christians, in order to further our knowledge and tolerance of each other’s understanding of and approach to spirituality and belief.

Send your contribution to admin at hopefulspirit dot com!

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