What's a Lutheran?

In the sixteenth century a priest in Germany, Martin Luther, felt the church needed to be reformed.  The church had dismissed many of the teachings of the Bible and had replaced them with man-made rules.  Luther felt that the departure from the Bible took glory away from the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that it led people away from the one and only way to eternal life - God's grace in Christ Jesus.

Lutherans believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God and the only source of teaching.  This is what the WELS teaches and believes, contrary to many churches today which abandon the Bible in favor of popular opinion.

Tow teachings are primary in the Lutheran Church:

• That we are saved entirely by God's free grace to us in Christ Jesus, and
• That we receive salvation simply by faith in Christ and not by anything we might do.  Lutherans know for sure that, when they die, they will be in heaven, because our salvation depends entirely on what Jesus did for us.

The Lutheran Church is a Christ-centered, gospel preahcing church.  The good news of the forgiveness of our sins through the redeeming work of our Savior, Jesus Christ permeates our worship, ministry, and life.