WHAT IS A LUTHERAN?
 

Lutherans subscribe to the authority of the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions and the three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed). These confessional writings and creeds are recorded in the volume, The Book of Concord, the very purpose of which was and still is to seek "harmony" ("Concord") among those who call themselves "Lutheran."

According to the Confessions, Lutherans believe, teach and confess that the Bible is the Word of God and that it is the "sole rule and norm of all doctrine." Along with this understanding of Scripture, it is uniquely Lutheran to believe, teach and confess that all of Scripture is divided into either Law or Gospel. Along with the Scriptures, Lutherans subscribe to the Confessions as normative for faith and life because they are an interpretation of the Word of God.  And this confession is made by both people and pastors who call themselves "Lutheran."

General Lutherans are free to view the of Concord from either the "quia" or the "quatenus" perspective. Those who hold to the "quia" perspective believe the Book of Concord is a faithful exposition of Scripture. Those who hold to the "quatenus" perspective subscribe to the Book of Concord insofar as the Book of Concord is faithful to the Scriptures. 

Lutherans are "evangelicals" meaning what Lutherans believe, teach and confess as part of their public witness to the world for the sake of the Gospel of our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That witness sends Lutherans into the world as they respond to the Scriptural dictate to "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20).
 

 

The Holy Scriptures

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We believe the Bible is God’s written revelation to man, and thus the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1 Cor 2:7-14; 2 Pet 1:20-21).

We believe the Word of God is an objective, propositional revelation (1 Thess 2:13; 1 Cor 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 Tim 3:16), absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed.

We believe the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (Matt 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Cor 2:13; 2 Tim 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:20-21). We believe God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man (2 Pet 1:20-21) without error in the whole or in the part (Matt 5:18; 2 Tim 3:16).

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About Luther and anti–Semitism

WHEREAS, Anti–Semitism and other forms of racism are a continuing problem in our world; and
WHEREAS, Some of Luther's intemperate remarks about the Jews are often cited in this connection; and
WHEREAS, It is widely but falsely assumed that Luther's personal writings and opinions have some official status among us (thus, sometimes implying the responsibility of contemporary Lutheranism for those statements, if not complicity in them); but also
WHEREAS, It is plain from Scripture that the Gospel must be proclaimed to all people — that is, to Jews also, no more and no less than to others (Matt. 28:18–20); and
WHEREAS, This Scriptural mandate is sometimes confused with anti–Semitism; therefore be it
Resolved, That we condemn any and all discrimination against others on account of race or religion or any coercion on that account and pledge ourselves to work and witness against such sins; and be it further
Resolved, That we reaffirm that the bases of our doctrine and practice are the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and not Luther, as such; and be it further
Resolved, That while, on the one hand, we are deeply indebted to Luther for his rediscovery and enunciation of the Gospel, on the other hand, we deplore and disassociate ourselves from Luther's negative statements about the Jewish people, and, by the same token, we deplore the use today of such sentiments by Luther to incite anti–Christian and/or anti–Lutheran sentiment; and be it further
Resolved, That in our teaching and preaching we take care not to confuse the religion of the Old Testament (often labeled "Yahwism") with the subsequent Judaism, nor misleadingly speak about "Jews" in the Old Testament ("Israelites" or "Hebrews" being much more accurate terms), lest we obscure the basic claim of the New Testament and of the Gospel to being in substantial continuity with the Old Testament and that the fulfillment of the ancient promises came in Jesus Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That we avoid the recurring pitfall of recrimination (as illustrated by the remarks of Luther and many of the early church fathers) against those who do not respond positively to our evangelistic efforts; and be it finally
Resolved, That, in that light, we personally and individually adopt Luther's final attitude toward the Jewish people, as evidenced in his last sermon: "We want to treat them with Christian love and to pray for them, so that they might become converted and would receive the Lord" (Weimar edition, Vol. 51, p. 195).