Lutheran Church?

Question

What all goes on at a Lutheran Chuch? I am trying to do the similarities and the differences with the Catholic Church but I am having some trouble, can anyone help me?

Answer 1

Wow, that's a pretty big question. :) In a nutshell, in most (traditional) Lutheran churches you'll recognize a lot of the parts of worship as being similar to Catholic practices--standing for certain parts of the service, centering focus around the reading of Scripture and the Sacraments...that sort of thing. In terms of theology, the major difference (IMO) is that the primary source of theology and authority for Lutherans is the Bible alone (sola Scriptura), while Catholics hold that both Scripture *and* the authority of the church as it has moved throughout history are binding. This is the primary source of the initial division between the two churches...Lutherans saw that the Roman church were doing things that didn't mesh with what they read in Scripture, so they parted from them. If you're interested in reading a book that (IMO) is a very good description of what it means to be Lutheran, check out Gene Edward Veith's book _The Spirituality of the Cross_.

Answer 2

I am a former Moravian minister before converting to Catholicism. The Moravian Church practices and worship are almost identical to the Lutherans, in that, both are liturgical churches and both believe in the real corporeal presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The only major difference is that the Moravian church claims apostolic succession for its clergy and the Lutherans do not except for the Scandinavian Lutherans.

The differences are, to name a few, the focus of worship in the Catholic Church is the consecrated bread and wine which has become the real corporeal body and Blood of Jesus. The Lutherans use worship as more of a teaching opportunity focusing on sermons, etc.

The Catholic Church is the Church created by Christ and the apostles while the Lutheran Church is in protest to the authority of the Church in matters of faith and morals.

The Lutheran Church believes in "Sola Scriptura" but not in the sense of most Protestants, in that, they do not believe that everyone is their own theologian, as other Protestants, and that interpretation is done in community.

These are just a few differences God bless.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 3

Lutherans are Biblical literalists (generally). Catholics are not.

Both place great importance in the Lord's Supper (called the Eucharist by Catholics), although Lutherans do this to a lesser degree. There is a subtle difference in their interpretations, though. Catholics believe in transubstantiation (bread + wine becomes the true Body and Blood of Christ) while Lutherans believe in consubstantiation (the true Body and Blood are really there, but so are real bread and wine).

Both practice infant Baptism.

Actual rites and rituals are similar. If a typical Baptist visited a Lutheran Church, and was familiar at all with Catholicism, he'd probably say that the Lutherans were "Catholicky" or something like that.

Answer 4

Not sure if you are asking about what goes on during Worship or their Beliefs:

Some of the striking differences coming from a Lutheran perspective:

Authority of the Bible:
RCC- Accept the Bible as the source of truth interpreted in the light of tradition.
Lutheran- Accept the Bible as the sole source of truth. The Holy Spirit interprets scripture and scripture interprets scripture.

Sacraments:
RCC- Celebrate seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Marriage, Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
Lutheran- Celebrate two sacraments (means of Grace): Eucharist and Baptism.

Eucharist:
RCC- Believe in Real Presence that the consecrated bread and wine turns into the body and blood of Christ
Lutheran- Believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The consecrated elements (bread and wine) is the bread and the wine and the ACTUAL Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. People really need to stop confusing the Lutheran belief on the Eucharist with the other Protestants (excluding the Anglicans and some Presbyterians).

Church Government:
RCC- College of Bishops shares authority with the Pope as the head of the College (called collegiality). Ultimately, the Pope is the visible head on earth of the Roman Catholic Church.
Lutheran- Congregational form of church government. I would like to point out that the Lutheran Church gets its Apostolic Succession through the Bishops of the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan). See Gustavus Vasa 1527 and Pope Clement VII's decree on the Swedish Bishops.

The Priesthood:
RCC- Restricted to males who are forbidden to marry. From what I understand, there are some exceptions to this ruling if a married priest converts to Roman Catholicism, since they would have to divorce to remain celibate.
Lutheran- Ministers are allowed to marry. It can be pointed out that some Liberal Synods ordain women as ministers. It has to be pointed out that ordaining women is contrary to Scriptures and not a Confessional Lutheran belief.

The Virgin Mother:
RCC- Teach that the Virgin Mary was a virgin before, during and after the birth of her son Jesus Christ. They teach and believe that the Virgin Mary was born with out original sin (Immaculate Conception) and at the point of conception she was redeemed (full of grace, see Luke 2). Some Roman Catholics pray to Mary and over emphasis her role and claim she is a Co-Redempterix.
Lutheran- The Virgin Mary being a "Perpetual Virgin" is not taught in the Lutheran Church as cannon law. It is not discouraged if members believe she continued as a virgin after Jesus' birth. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and Co-Redempterix is not confessed or affirmed by the Lutheran Church.

Faith/Forgiveness of Sins/Means of Grace:
RCC- Faith not only can come by the Word and the sacraments, but Icons can be a visual representation of the Gospel.
Lutheran- Faith comes by the hearing of the Word and the receiving of the sacraments.

Papal Authority:
RCC- The Roman Catholic Church claims the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, has primacy of honor (universal immediate jurisdiction) and infallibility on matters of Christian living and faith. They claim the Pope is the direct successor of St. Peter (the first Pope).
Lutheran- Because Lutherans affirm Apostolic Succession, the Popes before the Reformation are considered first among equals. They do not affirm primacy of honor, infallibility and the title of Vicar of Christ.

Answer 5

Try attending the church and find out first hand, there are many similarities with the Catholic church in the ceremony but they are vastly different in the approach.

Answer 6

The similarities are they both believe in Good works getting you to heaven the difference is the Catholics believe Mary is equal to God

Answer 7

1 John 4:1-3.

Any chruch should build its way upon the bible and any chruch that preaches JESUS is the son of GOD and came to earth in the form of man and died for our sins is the true church.

GOD loves u so much that he sent his son JESUS to die for u to reconcile u back.

John 3:16 says "For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoso ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life".Ask JESUS to come into your heart and forgive ur sins and cleanse ur past with his blood.

With a simple prayer like above u can be saved.

Answer 8

Don't listen to Terry S - he's incorrect.