4 Beliefs That Set Lutherans Apart From Other Protestant Christians

Lutheranism traces its history all the way back to Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation. The beliefs of Lutheran Protestants stem from Martin Luther's rejection of central teaching of the Catholic Church.

Over time, differences between Protestant denominations have grown, too, so Lutheran Christians hold some fundamentally unique beliefs.

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Here are four beliefs that set Lutherans apart from other Protestant Christians:

1. The Elect: Whereas many Protestant denominations focus on the believer's decision to accept salvation from Jesus, Lutherans turn that around and focus on God choosing the believer. They believe that no person, of his own accord, is capable of choosing God, of choosing good over evil. It requires a deliberate act of grace from God. However, Lutherans don't believe that anyone is predestined for hell. They believe that God intends salvation for all but that men can choose damnation.

2. The Role of Good Works: While Lutherans steadfastly believe that salvation can never be earned, they also believe that God nonetheless expects us to love our neighbors. A common Lutheran saying states, "God doesn’t need your good works, but your neighbor does." That emphasizes the Lutheran conviction that, just because God alone is capable of our salvation, that doesn't mean people can sit by idly and do nothing.

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3. Paradoxes: Some people claim that Lutheranism is a religion of  "ands." For instance, Lutherans believe that people are both bound by sin and death and, because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, freed from sin and its consequences. Another belief balances justice with mercy: That people are both subject to the condemnation of the law and redeemed from that condemnation through the mercy of God.

4. Worship: Unlike most Protestant religions, Lutheranism retains many of the outward symbols and liturgical structure of Catholicism. For instance, most Lutheran churches have altars, and their clergy wear vestments similar to those worn by Catholic priests. However, Lutheran churches aren't bound by a central authority to follow any particular format, so you can often find differences between one church and another.

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