Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lutherans believe in God and Jesus Christ?
As Christians, we Lutherans confess the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and believe that the second Person of the Trinity (the Son), namely, Jesus Christ, became incarnate from the Virgin Mary. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, resurrected, and ascended into heaven. Therefore, we profess the faith common to all Trinitarian Christians, summarized in the Creed.
What is a Lutheran Mass like?
Despite some theological and stylistic differences, the Lutheran liturgy is very similar to the Roman Catholic liturgy. Historically, Lutherans have used vestments, candles, the sign of the cross, texts, and chants, and have largely retained the same liturgical order as the Late Antique and Medieval Churches.
I'm not Lutheran. Can I still participate?
Everyone is welcome to participate in the life of our Church, whether at Mass, Bible studies, or other community activities! Anyone who wishes may also request a private meeting with one of our pastors.
● Communion Participation: Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in our Masses. However, our church views the sharing of Holy Communion as a sign of doctrinal unity and common confession, and therefore admits to its altar only those who profess and wish to live this faith. If you wish to receive Communion in one of our churches, we invite you to contact the pastor of the local congregation in advance. If this is not possible, you are still invited to come to the altar and receive a blessing from the pastor at the moment of Communion.
Do Lutherans believe in Mary and the saints?
Lutherans believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints pray for the Church. We honor Mary with the title of Mother of God, recognizing the special role for which God created her in the history of salvation, as the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. In many Lutheran churches, the memorial of the Saints is still celebrated throughout the year, to thank God for the examples He has given us in them. However, we do not invoke the Saints as intercessors, since we recognize that Christ, God made man, is the sole and sufficient Mediator between us and the Father.
Do Lutherans believe in the Pope?
Individual popes may be appreciated for their depth of thought, intelligence, or culture; however, Lutherans do not recognize the articles related to the papacy, such as the primacy of Rome over the universal Church or the dogma of papal infallibility. We recognize Jesus Christ as the sole universal Head of the Church, and we grant ministers and their organs (pastors, bishops, synods) only limited jurisdictions (typically geographical).
Is Lutheranism only for Germans and Scandinavians?
Historically, Lutheranism was most successful in Germany and Scandinavia, where many princes and kings adopted it as their state religion. However, our confession of faith is not limited to Germans, nor is it of German origin: the Lutheran Church recognizes itself as the heir to the faith born in Jerusalem around 30 AD, and continued through the labors of Greek, Latin, Arab, Germanic theologians, and others. The promise of free forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ is for all people, as demonstrated by the fruits of Lutheran missions in recent history in Africa and Latin America.
Can Lutheran priests/pastors marry?
Yes; in Lutheran churches, ministers of all ranks (pastors, bishops) can marry, before or after their ordination. For pastors who marry, the family becomes another environment in which to witness and live the Christian faith.
Why do many of your churches celebrate Mass on Saturday?
Dedicating Sunday to weekly Mass is encouraged by our constitution, as well as being a biblical and historical custom. However, in many circumstances, suitable worship spaces are not available on that day, and so we move our services to Saturday. We hope that, as the CLCI grows, more and more of our congregations will be able to gather on Sundays.
What does it mean that salvation is by grace?
In one of his moments of anguish, King David prayed: "Lord, hear my prayer... and do not bring your servant into judgment, for before you no one is righteous" (Psalm 143:1-2). Although honored by Christian tradition as a great prophet and saint, he did not dare claim to deserve God's help; rather, he asked for mercy, knowing that before God no one is righteous. Centuries later, Saint Paul offered the same perspective: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Therefore, if God's favor cannot be earned, it must be freely given to us, indeed, given by grace. And the Gospel, the central proclamation of Christianity, teaches us precisely this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Thanks to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, this gift is now promised to all who trust in him. For this reason, therefore, our church confesses that salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Why do Lutherans bear this name?
Originally, Lutherans simply called themselves "Evangelicals," or sometimes "Churches of the Augsburg Confession" (after the confession presented to Emperor Charles V in 1530). This was no coincidence: the Reformation had sought to remind the Church of the Gospel's promises of grace and forgiveness—and thus, its churches called themselves "Evangelical." However, hostile theologians, most notably Johann Eck, began calling the movement "Lutheran" with derogatory intent. Luther was opposed to giving his own name to the Reformation (even when used positively), but historical circumstances ensured that the name persisted, and was eventually incorporated into the official denominations of many Lutheran churches, where it often still coexists with the title "Evangelical."