What's an important difference between Lutheranism and the ideas of John Calvin?

Answer 1

First, Some Major Similiarities:

Theologians point out that Lutherans, Presbyterians (Calvinists), and Baptists (whom I throw in as a bonus because they seem to split the difference between the other two denominations) all believe in the "priesthood of the believer", that is they believe in the ability of the individual to talk to God without an intermediary (or priest) and in the local congregation's ability to govern itself, all pointing out that they are following traditions established by first-century Christians.

All three denominations also practice the same ordinances--Baptism and Communion. Presbyterians (and Baptists) view these sacraments as a sign or symbol of God's grace while Lutherans see them as an actual means of God's grace. Baptists, however, don't baptize infants, nor do they confirm children at an age at which they can reasonably accept or reject salvation. Most Baptists, by way of contrast, make their confession of faith and receive believer's baptism at about the age that other churches confirm children into the church. In the meanwhile, Baptists at least in recent times have started to "dedicate" infants.]

Now for the Major Difference: Predestination vs. Unlimited Grace

Again, according to theologians, Luther (and his Anabaptist counterparts) taught that the sinner is saved by grace alone whereas Presbyterians, who accept the beliefs first proposed by John Calvin and his follower, John Knox, emphasize God's sovereignity and a doctrine called predestination--namely, God has predestined or fore-ordained certain sinners for either salvation or damnation, but the "elect" (that is the chosen) will be saved by His grace (or unmerited pardon) alone.

The doctrine of predestination can easily be summarized by using the anagram, TULIP:

Total Depravity: Sinners cannot be saved except through God's unmerited grace.

Unconditional Elect: Jesus saves whom He chooses to save.

Limited (or Definite) Atonement: Jesus cannot atone for those who don't come to Him.

Irrestible Grace (a somewhat redundant point): Those whom He has chosen will come to Him.

Perserverance of the Saints: Those who have fallen away from grace were never saved anyway.

In contrast, Lutherans (and Baptists) believe that Jesus atoned for all sinners for all time--in other words, "once saved, always saved". They also believe that no one is predestined for salvation.

Finally, both Lutherans and Baptists find their source of authority in scripture alone ("Solus scripture") while Presbyterians believe that human reason also comes into play. By way of contrast, Episcopalians and Roman Catholics follow both scripture and tradition (as seen in the church hierarchy). Of course, not every Presbyterian and every Lutheran will have these exact identical ideas as stated above about their church's view of grace and salvation, but these are the "textbook" beliefs.

In other words, choose the church that works for you and your family, although the only funeral I have attended where the minister publically doubted whether the "dearly departed" was saved was at a Presbyterian Church, and the only church where I was challenged about my beliefs was at a Baptist church (something about evolution).