Lutherans are 'catholic'

“Catholic” comes from the Greek word katholikós, meaning “universal.” When Lutherans say we are catholic, it means we belong to the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church of Jesus Christ.

Martin Luther never intended to start a new church, but to reform the existing Western Church around the Gospel, justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. When these biblical reforms were rejected, Luther envisioned those who held to the Gospel to be "Evangelical Catholics." Guided by Scripture and historic Christian confessions like the Augsburg Confession, Lutherans remain rooted in the universal Christian faith.

Lutherans are evangelical

"Evangelical" comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning "Good News" or "Gospel." Lutherans are evangelical because we center everything on this core truth: salvation is a free gift of God's grace received through faith, not something we earn through good works.

Instead of us striving to reach up to God, God reached down to us in Jesus Christ. Knowing we are fully forgiven and loved, our good works naturally flow as a thankful response to His grace.

Lutherans are sacramental

Lutherans believe God actively works through specific means to deliver His grace, forgiveness, and salvation to us today. We receive these gifts through His preached Word and three Sacraments:

Holy Baptism: More than plain water, Baptism is water connected to God’s Word. It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe.

Holy Absolution: In confession, we lay down our sins and receive absolution—forgiveness spoken directly on behalf of God, leaving no doubt that our sins are wiped away in heaven.

Holy Communion: Also known as the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion is the true body and blood of Jesus Christ under the bread and wine. In eating and drinking His gift "given and shed for you," we receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Lutherans are liturgical

Lutherans are liturgical, following the historic Western Rite centered on Word and Sacrament. Our Sunday worship follows the traditional pattern of prelude, gathering, word, meal, and sending, with each part either quoting or referencing Scripture, aligned with the traditional Church calendar.

As the Lutheran confessions state:

"We do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord’s Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things."

— Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV

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