Hello all, new here. I am a Catechuman in Orthodoxy who left Lutheranism

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Without any intention of questioning the OP’s experience, or his word, but just to clarify for those who might be reading.
Mary is just like any other woman. She just happened to give birth to Jesus, but she is not worthy of any special admiration or veneration. She was sinful and probably had a mess of other kids after Jesus. She was a good sport to agree to have the Christ Child, but otherwise she is nothing special.
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From the Book of Concord:
For this reason, then, the ancient teachers of the Church combined both words, koinwniva and e{nwsi", communio et unio, that is, communion and union, in the explanation of this mystery, and have explained the one by the other. Irenaeus, lib. 4, chap. 37; Athanasius, in the Letter to Epictetus; Hilary, Concerning the Trinity, Book 9; Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, in Theodoret; Damascenus, Book 3, chap. 19.

[23]](http://bookofconcord.org/sd-person.php#para23) On account of this personal union and communion of the divine and the human nature in Christ we believe, teach, and confess also, according to our simple Christian faith, what is said concerning the majesty of Christ according to His humanity, [by which He sits] at the right hand of the almighty power of God, and what is connected therewith [follows therefrom]; all of which would be naught and could not stand if this personal union and communion of the natures in the person of Christ did not exist realiter, that is, in deed and truth.

[24]](http://bookofconcord.org/sd-person.php#para24) On account of this personal union and communion of the natures, Mary, the most blessed Virgin, bore not a mere man, but, as the angel [Gabriel] testifies, such a man as is truly the Son of the most high God, who showed His divine majesty even in His mother’s womb, inasmuch as He was born of a virgin, with her virginity inviolate. Therefore she is truly the mother of God, and nevertheless remained a virgin.
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The confessions regularly refer to her as “most blessed”, and here it refers to her ever-virgin status. Mother of God, ever-virgin, most blessed virgin.
“ [She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ… She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough . Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures.”
-Luther
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The Saints are not even mentioned as Saints. There is no concept of a Saint in the Lutheran Church. Certainly, Paul and the apostles are venerated, but they are not considered above the rest of us in any “saintly” way.
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There are numerous references to the saints in the confessions, an acknowledgement that they pray for us always. . It is simply incorrect that Lutheranism does not have a concept of the saints, but Saint and saint.
I also was never taught that certain elements of Christianity were mysteries, such as the Catholic Mystery of the Trinity, or the Mystery of the Virgin Birth or the Resurrection of Jesus. While Lutheranism believed in these 3 mysteries, they were never called mysteries, which recognizes that they may be beyond the comprehension and understanding of mere mortals.
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Lutherans regularly refer to the Eucharist as a mystery. The confessions refer to mysteries, including the reference above regarding the person of Christ and the virgin birth. They are, indeed, mysteries.
And then there are the 7 sacraments which are reduced to only 2: Baptism and Holy Communion. Lutherans believe that none of the others are sacraments because they cannot find scriptural confirmation of this,…
No anointing of the sick. No Holy Orders. The remaining sacraments (Confirmation and Marriage) are practiced but not given the honor of being known as sacraments.
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Many Lutherans believe in three sacrament, including Holy Absolution. As for the other 4, that we can’t find them in scripture just isn’t so. Marriage is in Genesis and Mark 10, anointing, and even the sacred ministry and confirmation have their sources in scripture, and are considered Holy Rites within the Church, and are practiced.
The reason for the Lutheran understanding of sacraments is found, again, in the confessions.
Bear in mind that Lutherans only believe in the Bible, nothing else.
Lutherans threw out all Catholic scholarship and tradition and rely only on the Bible itself.
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This, too ,is factually false. If one is LCMS, one should recognize that a quia subscription to the confessions is that the confessions are a right reflection of scripture, that while the scriptures are the final norm, other norms not only exist but are necessary to the faith, including the creeds. One can find such an outline here.
There are countless references to the Church Fathers, and the Three Creeds are the first symbols in the Book of Concord, the Lutheran Confessions.
 
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I’m not sure why @Dylansdad ‘s posts are flagged. They do not well represent the Lutheran tradition, but nothing offensive.
 
Sorry to hear that. I’ve been a lurker here for awhile and always appreciate your insight on Lutheranism. I’m a fairly recent “convert” to lcms from epc Presbyterianism.

Anyways. Sorry to sidebar the thread from the OP.
 
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