WHAT IS A LUTHERAN?

 We live in troubled times, times of fear and uncertainty. We see tragedy, sickness, wars, the threat of atomic destruction; and in the face of all that, weakness among leaders and false teachers offering instant peace of mind .....

People are looking for something to believe in.

The Lutheran church has that something. It has the Bible   God's certain and saving Word for people of every age, race and place

  People are also looking for someone to believe in. The Lutheran church has that someone   Jesus Christ. The central message of the Bible is that sinners (and that includes us all) have a Savior. Jesus Christ is God's own Son who lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose from the dead to bring us forgiveness, peace with God and everlasting life, in place of guilt, fear and damnation.

  That's the heart of our faith. In our age of uncertainty and fear, only such faith offers hope and confidence   in death as well as in life.

A life worth living

This faith isn't merely an emotional feeling or an intellectual exercise. Rather, it is a living confidence which daily expresses itself. Lutherans at their best express their faith as giving and sharing people, just like Jesus himself was.

According to the Bible, all believers enjoy a personal life with God in prayer and devotion. Believers together exercise a shared ministry to each other and their world. We try to do this by being warm and caring, by helping and by praying for others in need.

In a word, Lutherans try to live their faith in love   love for God and love for people.

A gift to share

God's free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ is a gift to share. That's the reason for Lutheran worship and education.

You are welcome to attend Sunday or midweek services, hear God's Word and join our songs of praise. Our churches also offer Bible instruction and discussion for people of all ages and backgrounds. Lutheran education centers around Christ and his message of salvation. In fact, Lutherans have developed an extensive school system for both children and adults, from preschool through college.

A heritage to build on

Our Lutheran faith is rooted in the truths of the Bible itself, but the name Lutheran dates back to the sixteenth century. It comes from a man named Martin Luther, who lived in Germany from 1483 to 1546. Bible believing Lutherans everywhere still hold to his teachings.

Luther struggled with the same basic problems that trouble people today. He longed for peace with God, for assurance and certainty. Unable to achieve this by his own good works, he found it in the Bible.

Pamphlet: “What is a Lutheran”, Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, WI