Lutheranism is based on two teachings of Luther, first, that salvation is by
grace through faith alone; and second, that the Bible is the sole rule of faith
and the sole authority for doctrine. Lutheranism is distinct from other
Reformation churches because of its continued emphasis on a sacramental liturgy
and because of Luther's understanding of the Eucharist.
“Word and sacrament” are the keystones of Lutheran church life.
"Word" refers to the appeal to the Bible instead of to both the Bible
and Tradition. "Sacrament" refers to the high regard for two
sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist.
Salvation is seen as coming only from God’s free gift. There is an emphasis
on human sinfulness. A person who breaks one law is viewed as just as guilty as
a person whose whole life has involved the breaking of laws.
Because of Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in the fifteenth
century, Luther's translation of the Bible could be made widely available. His
translation of the New Testament was published in 1522, and the Old Testament in
1534, and they quickly became best-sellers in Germany.
Lutheran piety developed around hearing the Word in the liturgy, receiving
the Eucharist, and reading the Bible in private.
Luther's understanding of the Eucharist is called “consubstantiation.” Christ
is seen as present everywhere, but his presence is especially focused in the
Eucharist. The bread and wine still exist, but under the guise of bread and
wine is Christ, who is received by the believer physically. This reception
occurs, said Luther, because of Christ's promise at the Last Supper that it
would occur.
The doctrine of consubstantiation allowed Lutherans to preserve their
liturgical worship. Lutheran liturgy is distinct from that of the Anabaptists,
who do not have any sacraments, although they do observe a memorial meal. The
consubstantiation doctrine also kept Lutherans from following the Reformed
tradition, which sees Christ as solely being present spiritually in the
Eucharist.
There is a continuing focus on liturgy. Luther developed a form of worship
with the structure of the Roman liturgy but emphasizing the vernacular in
preaching, in the liturgy, and in hymns. Vestments, candles, and pictures
became optional. The liturgical calendar continued to be used.
The usual organizational structure falls between a congregational and
presbyteral form (decision-making in the hands of the ministers as a whole).
In America each national group of Lutherans established a synod, an
autonomous Lutheran church. There ended up being 150 Lutheran church bodies.
The history of American Lutheranism became a history of the merger of these 150
synods into 21 Lutheran churches today.
In 1987 an important merger occurred between the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, the Lutheran Church in America, and the American Lutheran Church. The new church is called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The new church currently counts over half of all Lutherans in the United States in its membership, though more than 2.5 million remain in the Missouri Synod.
