We Are Lutherans

What does it mean to be Lutheran?

Jesus Christ is at the center of all that we do.

Not every Lutheran Christian holds exactly the same beliefs – and, among the membership of Zion Lutheran Church, there are a host of different perspectives. Ultimately, the nature and ways of God are beyond our understanding, so we consider ourselves people of faith on a journey of understanding. Of course, there are some central beliefs that hold us together as followers of Jesus.

God

We believe in one God revealed in three persons - the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Holy Trinity is central to our understanding of God’s nature and God’s relationship with humanity.

We believe in a Living God, meaning that God is active in our lives and in the life of the church. Being a Christian involves looking for God's action in the world. We truly believe that God is at work here at Zion Lutheran Church, just as God is active in the world around us. 

The Bible

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source for our faith and life. Through scripture, we encounter God. We interpret the Bible using Jesus Christ as our lens in order to understand God's radcial message of love, peace, grace, and mercy. The heart of the Bible is a person- Jesus Christ. As we read through the Bible, week by week, year by year, we grow in our relationship with Christ and encounter grace.

Grace Alone

As Lutherans, we are all about God's grace which gives us faith to believe in Jesus Christ. Through faith, we are given the gift of salvation and enter into a lifelong relationship with God.  We believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. This grace is a free gift, not earned by our works, but given to us out of God’s love.

Sacraments

We celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (also known as the Lord's Supper or eucharist). Through these sacred acts, we receive God’s grace and are strengthened in our faith. Baptism initiates us into the Christian community, while Holy Communion nourishes our spiritual journey. We believe that God is truly, fully present in both of them. These sacraments have been part of the Christian Church since the beginning.

Discipleship

We believe in the call to be disciples of Jesus. This involves lifelong learning, prayer, and engagement with our faith. We encourage our members to grow spiritually and to share their faith with others.

Community and Service

We are called to live out our faith in community. We believe in serving others and caring for creation as an expression of our love for God and neighbor. All that we do reflects our commitment to justice, peace, and reconciliation.

Ecumenism

We believe in working with other Christian churches, even if we share theological disagreements. Jesus prayed that His Church may be one (John 17:21) and so we seek to follow the will of our Lord.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has entered into "full communion" agreements with six church bodies meaning that these denominations share a common confession of the Christian faith and that our differences are not church dividing. You can find more information here.

Other Information

If you are looking for more details concerning what we believe as Lutherans, feel free to look at the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Chruch in America. You can find more details about our beliefs here.