The History Of What Is Lutheran Theology Religion Essay Example

denominations are similar and influenced by Lutheranism as the first Protestant church formed during the reformation, this is not accurate. According to David Barrett, editor of the "World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative study of churches and faiths - AD 30 to 2200," there are currently 34,000 distinct Christian groups worldwide.

While there are various Christian denominations that share similar beliefs and practices, there are also notable differences among them. Two examples of such divergent denominations are the Lutheran Church, to which I belong, and the Mennonite Church. The origins of the Lutheran Church can be traced back to Martin Luther's teachings, whereas the Mennonites emerged from Menno Simon's beliefs and were part of a group known as Anabaptists (referring to "re-baptizers"). One significant distinction between Mennonites and Lutherans lies in their approach to baptism. In the Lutheran Church, individuals of all ages including babies can be baptized. Our church typically performs this sacrament by sprinkling water on the head. Conversely, baptism holds great significance for the Mennonite Church as they often practice full immersion in water.

The Mennonite church and Lutherans have differing baptism practices. In Lutheranism, both infants and adults are eligible for baptism, while the Mennonite church requires individuals to publicly profess their faith before being baptized. This reflects the belief of the Mennonites that one must take responsibility for their actions, making adulthood a prerequisite for baptism. Additionally, there is a discrepancy in how the two denominations view the Eucharist sacrament. The Mennonite church regards bread and wine as symbols of Christ, whereas Lutherans believe in consubstantiation – where during Communion, the body and blood of Christ coexist with the bread and wine.

The Lutheran

Church observes foot lavation, anointing of the sick, and the holy buss as sacraments. Meanwhile, the Mennonite Church includes additional sacraments and has distinct beliefs. The Mennonite Church is renowned for its pacifism and opposition to war and violence, whereas the Lutheran Church does not explicitly condemn war and force. Another distinction can be found in their Sunday worship practices. In Mennonite churches, ministers lead prayers, members share testimonies, and deliver sermons. Additionally, traditional four-part a cappella singing is prevalent in many Mennonite churches.

The Mennonite church and the Lutheran church have distinct practices in their worship services. While the Mennonite church has a worship style similar to evangelical churches, the Lutheran church shares more similarities with the Roman Catholic church. This includes the use of vestments by the curate and a communion table resembling that of the Catholic Church. In Lutheran worship, great significance is placed on the holy Eucharist, whereas the Mennonite church emphasizes community and the Bible as a whole.

Despite these differences, Christian churches are making efforts to unite Christianity through a process called the oecumenic motion. This motion aims to achieve unity across denominational, cultural, and spiritual differences among modern Christian groups.

As Lutherans, we actively participate in various initiatives dedicated to promoting Christian unity.

Our Lutheran Church in Australia is a member of the NSW Ecumenical Council, an organization that aims to provide a platform for churches to come together and understand and proclaim the Gospel. We have collaborated with the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Uniting churches to create the Australian Hymn Book, emphasizing the importance of unity in spreading Christianity. A local example of our joint efforts can be seen in St.

Martin's church in Mackay, Queensland. Our Lutheran church needed to replace their building but had limited funds to start the project. At the same time, the Roman Catholic community was unsuccessful in acquiring land for their own church. As a result, we combined our resources and opened St. Martin's Church in 2003; it has since served both denominations.

Ephesians 2:8-10 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith."

The text highlights the concept that our salvation is not achieved through our own efforts, but rather is given to us as a sacred gift. It stresses that we are God's work of art, formed in Christ Jesus to fulfill righteous actions that He has already predestined for us. Furthermore, the passage serves as a reminder to remember and have faith in order to obtain salvation.