What we believe
“What is a Lutheran? A Lutheran is a Christian who clings tightly to the letter of the Word" (C.F.W. Walther).
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church = Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
We're called "Lutheran" because we accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The doctrinal statements of the Lutheran Church are contained in The Book of Concord of 1580. This book contains a number of documents set forth what Lutherans believe, teach and confess. These documents include the Augsburg Confession, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, The Large and Small Catechism of Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles, The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope and The Formula of Concord.
The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases
Grace Alone: God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and ungodly.
Scripture Alone: The Bible is God's inspired, inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
Faith Alone: By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
Curious and want to learn more about confessional Lutheranism and the LCMS? Here are some more resources:
