Tell Me About Lutherans | Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Tell me about what Lutherans believe.

Lutherans are a branch of the Christian family tree. We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who saves us through grace by faith. We take the bible seriously because we believe that God speaks through it. We believe God is at work in the world and calls us to join his work of love and wholeness.

Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, composed in AD 325, nicely sums up the basics of our faith.

We believe in one God,
     the Father, the Almighty,
     maker of heaven and earth,
     of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
     the only Son of God,
     eternally begotten of the Father,
     God from God, Light from Light,
     true God from true God,
     begotten, not made,
     of one Being with the Father;
     through him all things were made.
     For us and for our salvation
          he came down from heaven,
          was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
          and became truly human.
          For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
          he suffered death and was buried.
          On the third day he rose again
          in accordance with the scriptures;
          he ascended into heaven
          and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
          He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
          and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
     who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
     who has spoken through the prophets.
     We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
     We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
     We look for the resurrection of the dead,
          and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Lutheran Specifics

God - We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Nicene Creed). God's goal from the beginning has always been to share life with us forever. God is at work in the world bringing wholeness and forgiveness, and God invites us to join his work.

Baptism - Baptism is God's gift to us, where God names us "child of God", where God forgives our sins, where God fills us with the Holy Spirit, where God joins us to Jesus' death and resurrection forever, and so much more. We baptize people of all ages, children and adults. We baptize people only once because we believe that God is faithful and will not go back on his original action or promises to those who are baptized. This life is open to you and you are encouraged to speak with the pastor about being baptized.

Holy Communion - Holy Communion is God's gift to the baptized where God feeds us to nurture us for our lives of ministry, and to nurture our life with God. In communion Jesus is really present, as we say, in, with, and under the bread and the wine. In communion you will hear and taste God's love that is for you.

Bible - The Bible is the written Word of God through which Jesus speaks to us his Word of challenge and grace. The Bible consists of the sixty-six canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. We take the Bible very seriously because Jesus speaks through it yet we are not obliged to read it literally. The overarching story of the Bible is God's always and forever love for you and me which is made known most fully in Jesus. Go here to learn more about the bible: www.enterthebible.org

Vocation - All people are called to glorify God through their work and through their lives. No one job is more holy than another. All are called to use the gifts which God gives to care for the neighbor and to aid the common good. Ranching, driving trash trucks, raising children, and managing bank accounts are all holy vocations in which Christians are to glorify God and care for the common good.

Women in Ministry - God calls and gifts women and men for all types of ministry. In our church women serve as Bishops, Pastors, Church Council Presidents, acolytes, lectors, missionaries, and so much more. Women are fully welcome in church leadership in our church. Remember it was women who were the first sent from the empty tomb to tell the good news of Jesus' resurrection!

Partner Churches - We are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and share relationships with other churches in whom we recognize the church and with whom we share sacraments and exchange clergy. We are in fully communion agreements with the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, the Reformed Church, and the Moravian Church. Learn more here.