Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of <a href="/facts/Protestantism/NXja4K3g">Protestantism</a> that emerged under the work of <a href="/facts/Martin_Luther/7nwEeL0L">Martin Luther</a>, the 16th-century German <a href="/facts/Friar/NA6kEJb6">friar</a> and <a href="/facts/Protestant_Reformers/Y25HB3Ey">reformer</a> whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a> launched the <a href="/facts/Reformation/9ClEbhnL">Reformation</a> in 1517. The Lutheran Churches adhere to the <a href="/facts/Bible/SqkRTKCh">Bible</a> and the <a href="/facts/Ecumenical_Creeds/t7wTufxw">Ecumenical Creeds</a>, with Lutheran doctrine being explicated in the <a href="/facts/Book_of_Concord/zE6TqkhT">Book of Concord</a>. Lutherans hold themselves to be in continuity with the apostolic church and affirm the writings of the <a href="/facts/Church_Fathers/U2aPanJQ">Church Fathers</a> and the first four <a href="/facts/Ecumenical_council/I9e3cFPL">ecumenical councils</a>.
The schism between Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, which was formalized in the <a href="/facts/Diet_of_Worms/50CV6h1r">Edict of Worms of 1521</a>, centered around two points: the proper source of authority in the church, often called the formal principle of the Reformation, and the doctrine of justification, the material principle of Lutheran theology. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by <a href="/facts/Grace_(Christianity)/V3PRcq9a">Grace</a> alone through <a href="/facts/Sola_fide/t5fzYaJ8">faith alone</a> on the basis of <a href="/facts/Bible/SqkRTKCh">Scripture</a> alone", the doctrine that <a href="/facts/Religious_text/H2HjQEYv">scripture</a> is the final authority on all matters of faith. This contrasts with the belief of the Roman Catholic Church, defined at the <a href="/facts/Council_of_Trent/vRPIBssJ">Council of Trent</a>, which contends that final authority comes from both Scripture and <a href="/facts/Sacred_tradition/vtW0aGNY">tradition</a>. In Lutheranism, tradition is subordinate to Scripture and is cherished for its role in the proclamation of the Gospel.
The Lutheran Churches retain many of the <a href="/facts/Christian_liturgy/Nwg571kJ">liturgical</a> practices and <a href="/facts/Sacrament/lsvsJW66">sacramental</a> teachings of the pre-Reformation Western Church, with a particular emphasis on the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, although <a href="/facts/Eastern_Lutheranism/Wnne4XzQ">Eastern Lutheranism</a> uses the <a href="/facts/Byzantine_Rite/A0TWNNfl">Byzantine Rite</a>. Though Lutherans are not dogmatic about the number of <a href="/facts/Sacraments/lsvsJW66">sacraments</a>, three Lutheran sacraments are generally recognized including <a href="/facts/Baptism/wEY6gtGA">baptism</a>, <a href="/facts/Absolution/SFsreKAc">confession</a> and the <a href="/facts/Eucharist/us3hB9zL">eucharist</a>. The Lutheran Churches teach <a href="/facts/Baptismal_regeneration/mL2zbjUI">baptismal regeneration</a>, that humans "are cleansed of our sins and born again and renewed in Holy Baptism by the Holy Ghost". Lutheranism teaches that <a href="/facts/Sanctification_in_Christianity/Dc6dY22x">sanctification</a> commences at the time of justification and that Christians, as a result of their living faith, ought to do good works, which are rewarded by God. The act of <a href="/facts/Mortal_sin/2YJGzz7d">mortal sin</a> forfeits salvation, unless individuals turn back to God through faith. In the Lutheran Churches, the <a href="/facts/Power_of_the_Keys/zmtA7j8V">Office of the Keys</a> exercised through <a href="/facts/Confession_(Lutheran_Church)/t4R7F1In">confession and absolution</a> is the "authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to <a href="/facts/Binding_and_loosing/d5gFl2U5">forgive the sins of the penitent sinners</a>, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent." The doctrine of the <a href="/facts/Real_presence_of_Christ_in_the_Eucharist/xTXxFk8t">real presence of Christ in the Eucharist</a> via a <a href="/facts/Sacramental_union/Q13abAbR">sacramental union</a> is central to the Lutheran faith, with the <a href="/facts/Mass_(liturgy)/UHjHxwlh">Mass</a> (also known as the <a href="/facts/Divine_Service_(Lutheran)/WNrmQ8Nd">Divine Service</a>) being celebrated regularly, especially on the <a href="/facts/Lord%2527s_Day/A7nl284w">Lord's Day</a>. 
Lutheranism became the <a href="/facts/Christian_state/jmAKHpTS">state church</a> of many parts of <a href="/facts/Northern_Europe/u77t0yJI">Northern Europe</a>, starting with <a href="/facts/Duchy_of_Prussia/Aop3q6Mh">Prussia</a> in 1525. In Scandinavia, the Roman Catholic bishops largely accepted the <a href="/facts/Reformation_in_Sweden/I9goCXNY">Lutheran reforms</a> and the Church there became Lutheran in belief; the threefold ministry of <a href="/facts/Bishop/n2QGsDWx">bishops</a>, <a href="/facts/Priest/fDMmV2wN">priests</a>, and <a href="/facts/Deacon/wcWsChHH">deacons</a> was continued. Lutheran divines who contributed to the development of Lutheran theology include Martin Luther, <a href="/facts/Martin_Chemnitz/at1JdoXT">Martin Chemnitz</a>, <a href="/facts/Philip_Melanchthon/hQtzHQjQ">Philip Melanchthon</a>, <a href="/facts/Joachim_Westphal_(of_Hamburg)/Y2nXkq9n">Joachim Westphal</a>, <a href="/facts/Laurentius_Petri/d8082hpQ">Laurentius Petri</a>, <a href="/facts/Olaus_Petri/m0EIBKyf">Olaus Petri</a>, and <a href="/facts/Laurentius_Andreae/BcEghaJW">Laurentius Andreae</a>. 
Lutheranism has contributed to <a href="/facts/Hymn/UUNRCvY7">Christian hymnody</a> and the <a href="/facts/Lutheran_art/kPbDr6dH">arts</a>, as well as the development of education. <a href="/facts/Christian_missions/xaxfBxWk">Christian missions</a> have been established by Lutherans in various regions. Lutheran Churches operate a number of <a href="/facts/Lutheran_school/43NGW2rz">Lutheran schools</a>, colleges and universities around the world, in addition to hospitals and orphanages. A number of Lutheran <a href="/facts/Religious_order/7wrWeaUt">religious orders</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Christian_monasticism/yWkNNrns">monasteries</a> and <a href="/facts/Convent/uTA7PAxy">convents</a>, live in community to <a href="/facts/Ora_et_labora/UJqgj4Ec">pray and work</a>. Lutherans are found across all continents of the globe, numbering 90 million.

Lutheranism open-in-new

Lutheranism