Great question. Lutherans conform entirely to the fathers’ understanding of a visible church. It is made visible wherever the Word is rightly
But the word according to whose interpretation?
preached and the Sacraments rightly administered.
But you Lutherans only recognize two, sometimes 3…so should it all be 7 sacraments or only two or three (depending on which lutheran) rightly administered?
That is where the Lutheran measures catholicity; by a church body’s adherence to the historical Christian faith as expressed in Scripture and the Three Great Ecumenical Creeds, and in its use of the Sacraments for the reception of Grace and forgiveness of sins.
But those who used the word catholic before did not refer to the pope as the anti-christ…how can you use the word catholic to describe yourself…yet confess the pope is where the anti-christ resides?
To us, it is the teaching of the Apostles that grants true succession, not a game of tag (though we do retain the Rite of Ordination with the laying on of hands – we just understand each pastor to essentially be a bishop).
How can you even believe in apostolic succession…when Lutherans do not even recognize the sacrament of holy orders? Moreover…how can pastors ordain bishosp? The ecumenical councils decreed that only a bishop can confer bishops and priests?