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| Bethlehem/St. John Evangelical Lutheran Churches W1145 Huckleberry Sreet Edgar, Wisconsin 54226 USA e-mail: go to Ask the Pastor (715) 352-2888 |
| An overview of: "What We Believe . . ." |
| Curious? continue below to find out a lot more about what Lutherans believe . . . ABOUT GOD Lutherans believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Lutherans believe in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ABOUT THE CHURCH Lutherans are a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church confessed in the Creeds. Lutherans understand the church to consist of all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. ABOUT SIN Lutherans believe that human beings sinned in the beginning of human time and that this sin resulted in a destruction of the relationships between God and his people; between human beings; and between the world in which we live. Therefore, everyone born into this broken world begins life in a sinful existence. ABOUT SALVATION Lutherans believe that God, and only God, through grace is capable of restoring human beings to a relationship with himself. This grace takes place at the initiative of God through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, which fully and completely restored the relationship between God and his people. Lutherans trust in this graceful activity of God in faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not an activity on the part of human beings, but rather the acceptance of what God has done. ABOUT SCRIPTURE We believe that God has revealed this message of hope through the Bible. The Holy Scriptures are truly God's Word (that is, inspired, inerrant, and infallible). And by containing the Good News of Jesus, the Bible contains all we need for our salvation. The Bible thus constitutes the norm of all faith and practice within the church. We accept the three ecumenical creeds as faithful summaries of the Bible's teaching. The Apostles' Creed (the ancient Baptismal creed, confessed at Messiah on non-communion Sundays) The Nicene Creed (formulated at Nicea in 325 A.D., we confess this at Messiah on Communion Sundays) The Athanasian Creed (a somewhat later creed used to highlight the Trinitarian nature of God, used on special occasions) As Lutherans, we also accept a number of 16th century documents incorporated in the "Book of Concord." They are not used in place of the Holy Scriptures, they are viewed as faithful interpretations of Scripture and are wholly in accord with God's Word. One of these documents, Martin Luther's Small Catechism is used as the basic textbook of Christian doctrine to those who are new to the faith. If you like, you can read the complete texts of the Book of Concord documents here. ABOUT THE SACRAMENTS: BAPTISM & HOLY COMMUNION Baptism- Baptism is an act of God in which he makes a person his own. Since the action is on the part of God and since Lutherans believe that all, including infants, are a part of this sinful world, there is no restriction on the age of baptism. In emergency situations an infant may be baptized at birth. A person is baptized into the Christian Faith, not into a particular denomination. Therefore, the we accept as the baptism of any denomination as valid, provided it's done with water and in the Name of the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We find no Scriptural restrictions on the way in which the water is applied and therefore use and accept baptism by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. Communion- Lutherans believe that Holy Communion (also known as the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, the Sacrament of the Altar) is the true body and blood of the Lord given and shed on the cross for the remission of sins. As Jesus himself said, "This is my body given for you.... This is my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins...." Participation in Holy Communion is direct contact with Jesus Himself, who comes among us to forgive our sins and to help us to live lives in the service of God. RESPONSE TO GOD'S GRACE Lutherans believe that God's people respond to his love in worship and service. Many Lutherans continue to use the historic forms of worship in their Sunday worship, and, at the same time, have made provision for informal and more contemporary formats for worship. Lutherans believe that service to God is always in response to the love and grace that God has shown us and begins with the employment of the skills, abilities, and talents which he has given us. Lutherans express their service to God in their work, at home, and in leisure activities. Part of their service takes place in assisting the church to carry out its responsibilities, and part in participating in charitable and community activities. |
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| Along with the universal Christian Church, we at Bethlehem/St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church teach and respond to the love of the Triune God: - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who is the Father? The creator of all that exists; Who is the Son? Jesus Christ, who became human to die for our sins and rescue us. Who is the Holy Spirit? The "counselor" who creates faith in our hearts. These three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God. One time-tested way of describing what we teach is embodied in a 3-part phrase, used often by the 16th Century Lutheran reformers: "Grace alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone." Grace alone God loves all people, even though we are sinful, rebel against him and don't deserve his love. He sent Jesus, his Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly. Scripture alone The Bible is God's very own Word. In the Bible he reveals his Law and his Gospel (Gospel is simply the Greek work for "the Good News") of salvation in Jesus Christ. 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 us. 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. |
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| For more information on what we teach and confess: |
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