St. John's Lutheran Church - What We Believe

In 2004, St. John's spent time in a process of refining the specific objectives God desires of us to complete in his world today. In part, the result was a mission statement that reflects our heritage, our faith and our purpose:

St. John's Lutheran Church is a Christian family, whose mission is to glorify God, as we worship, teach God's word, nurture spiritual growth, embrace one another, and proclaim the news of God's Salvation.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s son, sent by God to become human like us. In his life and being, he broke through the prison of sinfulness and thus restored the relationship of love and trust that God intended to exist between himself and his children. Though he is eternal, with God at the beginning of time, he was born on earth of a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe him to be the Messiah chosen by God to show his love for the world. For the sake of a sinful world, Jesus was condemned to death on the cross.

But death could not contain him. On the third day after his execution, the day Christians observe as Easter, Jesus appeared among his followers as the risen, living Lord. By this great victory God has declared the Good News of reconciliation. The gap between all that separates us from our Creator has been bridged. Thus, Christ lives today wherever there are people who faithfully believe in him and wherever the Good News of reconciliation is preached and the Sacraments are administered.

What is a Lutheran Church?

Martin Luther, who died in 1546, is known as the Father of the Protestantism. He had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the church. On October 31, 1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenburg University to debate 95 theological issues. Luther’s hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible. “Lutheran” was the name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a badge of honor by them instead.

Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther, such as:

We are saved by the grace of God alone – not by anything we do.
Our salvation is through faith alone – we only need to believe that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who died to redeem us.
The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life – the only true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.

Another of Luther’s principles was that Scriptures and worship need to be in the language of the people. Luther’s Small Catechism, which contains teachings on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, Holy Communion and Morning and Evening Prayers, is still used to introduce people to the Lutheran faith, as is the Augsburg Confession.

What Must a Person Do To Become A Christian and a Lutheran?

Jesus said, “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

To become a Lutheran, only Baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it will be necessary only to attend a membership class. Active members of other Lutheran congregations usually need only to transfer their membership.

For more information about the Lutheran denomination, click here.