In May of 2021, Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrates 70 years of ministry in the Vancouver Heights Neighborhood. Founded as a mission start to military families in the 50’s, the congregation served the neighbors for many years. As members moved away, the congregation has committed to re-rooting in the community through our after-school program, winter shelter partnerships, hosting community groups, and interfaith partnerships. Immanuel is part of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), the largest Lutheran denomination in the USA which is guided by the motto “God’s Work, Our Hands.”
People often ask, “what do Lutherans believe about … (fill in the blank)?”
While Lutherans have core theological principles that form the foundation of our faith and action, we do not proscribe adherence to rigid doctrines on topics such as heaven, hell, satan, etc. This is because Lutherans take the Bible seriously but not literally, as it is a collection of stories of people who walked with God in a particular historical context. For Lutheran Christians God is revealed in Scripture which is the written Word of God, Jesus Christ who is the incarnate Word of God, and the Living Word of God proclaimed daily in word and deed. All of this means that there is room in the Lutheran Church for a variety of perspectives and above all we thrive on asking questions of scripture and one another.
There are, however, a few foundational theological principles Lutherans build their faith and action upon.
Saved By Grace Through Faith
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NRSV)
Key Question: What makes you valuable to yourself?
For Lutheran Christians, Jesus Christ is the clearest revelation of God’s unlimited grace offered to all creation. This grace cannot be earned but is received as a free gift through faith. Rather than being cheap grace, this is a costly grace which has the power to transform hearts and call us to serve God by caring for our neighbor and addressing the suffering of the world.
Law & Gospel
For “no human being will be justified in God’s sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:19-24 (NRSV)
Key Question: How do you know you even need God’s grace?
Martin Luther taught about the two uses of the Law: political and theological. The first – political – use of the Law maintains order within society by compelling people to good works such as speed limits and stop signs. The second – theological – use of the Law is that which reveals that we cannot earn salvation and right relationship with God through our works. As a result, we are driven to the gospel which reveals God’s unconditional grace poured out for us through Jesus Christ who offers forgiveness which puts us in right relationship with God.
Simultaneously Saint & Sinner (simul justus et peccator)
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched one that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Romans 7:21-25
Key Question: Whose are you?
Though we are created good we don’t have to look long to realize that brokenness and sin grafts itself onto us causing us to do and be that which we don’t agree with. Luther urged us that when we wash our face in the morning we can make the sign of the cross, remembering our baptism. For it is in our baptism that we are washed clean, freed from bondage to sin, and pronounced that which we have always been, “God’s beloved children.” We are not just freed from sin but are freed for living into this identity.
Vocation
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of people.”
Mark 1:14-17
Key Question: How are you called to live your faith daily?
Lutherans teach that each member of the body of Christ is called into the “priesthood of all believers.” Regardless of occupation, we are each called to our unique vocation or way of bringing about the kingdom, reign, beloved community of God. This community of God embodies abundant life for all experienced through justice, love, and peace.