Lutheran Tenets & History
Lutheranism & the Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church (Schlosskirche) in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. This act is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation, as it challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and sparked widespread debate and reform across Europe.
Looking back on history, the Protestant Reformation has had many significant impacts on society spanning facets such as classical music to science, the formation of governments and other social development. It can be argued that the Reformation broke down political tyrannies and freed people to think, ending centuries of the Dark Ages and marking the dawn of reason, critical thinking, exploration and innovation. These societal advances have done much to serve humanity and evolve our social structures in order to advance the human experience continually throughout the generations.
However, while such secular ramifications are noteworthy and significant, we must always remember the theological foundations of the Reformation which served to free mankind on a higher spiritual plane, the kind of freedom taught by Jesus Christ which had been lost throughout the ages. The 95 theses of Martin Luther challenged the authority structures at the time, challenges which put the lives of Luther and other reformers at risk as they were labeled heretics and urged to recant their professions.
Martin Luther stated that he couldn't recant unless persuaded by biblical scripture or good reason during his speech at the Diet of Worms in 1521. This speech is a pivotal moment in the history of the Protestant Reformation, where Luther stood firm against the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church and its hierarchy. His declaration,
"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, my conscience is captive to the Word of God,"
is a testament to his unwavering faith and commitment to the truth of the Scriptures. Together with the advent of the printing press, circumstances such as these gave ample opportunity for the reformers to establish and disseminate the confessions and tenets of their movement.
The Book of Concord is an anthology of the confesions, professions, precepts and tenets of the Reformation. Below, we introduce some of the hallmark fruits of the Reformation which we at Tierrasanta Lutheran Church (and Lutherans in general) adhere to (some of which are also adhered to by other branches of Christianity).
The Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confssion is a confession of Faith which was submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg in the year 1530 by certain princes and cities.
The Three Ecumenical Creeds
Most branches and denominations of Christianity formally confess their faith in three universal creeds
The Apostles’ Creed developed gradually from early Christian baptismal interrogations used in Rome around 200 AD, later taking shape from the Old Roman Symbol and reaching its final form in southwestern France in the late 6th–early 7th century. Though medieval tradition claimed the Twelve Apostles composed it, modern scholarship shows it emerged organically as bishops articulated core Trinitarian and Christological beliefs for catechumens preparing for baptism. It became the standard Western baptismal creed and was widely adopted across Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed traditions as a concise summary of Christian faith.
TIERRASANTA LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sharing Christ’s Love,
Serving God’s Children,
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11240 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92124
Tel: (858) 560-8688
Email: info@tierrasantalutheran.org