"Lutherans" Why the name?

[dronald]

We are a continuation of it because we confess the creeds. All those extra developed doctrines are not mentioned in the creeds.

This is my point. You have the most correct interpretation of Catholicism according to your Church, and yet your Church won’t call its self “Catholic Church” but has adopted the insult of “Lutheran.”

Being that Lutherans represent the purest form of Catholicism, if indeed Catholics are wrong about a great many things and Lutherans are correct; then their signs should read the likes of, “St John’s Catholic Church.” Or even throw Evangelical in there, but not Lutheran.

 

[dronald]

We confess the one holy catholic and apostolic church every Sunday. But for clarity we call ourselves Lutheran on the building so you know what your getting. Also, this seems like a darned if you do, darned if you don’t type of thing. If Lutherans started putting “Catholic” on the side of the building, would you be thanking us or cheering us? I somehow doubt we would get manny attaboys from the Catholic apologists.

Lots of Catholics deem themselves " evangelical" but I have never seen the word on the side of the building. That’s because it would be deliberately obfuscating. That would be wrong.

No, I don’t think Catholics would like it at all. But again; if your Church is Christianity at its highest form it should not worry what a lesser form of Christianity thinks.

 

[House_Harkonnen]

No, I don’t think Catholics would like it at all. But again; if your Church is Christianity at its highest form it should not worry what a lesser form of Christianity thinks.

LOL, because triumphalism is as odious coming from a Protestant as it is coming form a Catholic.

 

[House_Harkonnen]

This is my point. You have the most correct interpretation of Catholicism according to your Church, and yet your Church won’t call its self “Catholic Church” but has adopted the insult of “Lutheran.”

Being that Lutherans represent the purest form of Catholicism, if indeed Catholics are wrong about a great many things and Lutherans are correct; then their signs should read the likes of, “St John’s Catholic Church.” Or even throw Evangelical in there, but not Lutheran.

That’s a weird way of looking at the situation.

 

[dronald]

That’s a weird way of looking at the situation.

Even though Luther really didn’t want you to call yourself Lutheran?

 

[Jon_S_1]

I remember I once brought up that I would have immense trouble becoming a Lutheran because I don’t like naming myself after a man. The One True Church with the fullness of Truth I felt likely could not be found in one named specifically after Luther. “Lutheran Church” and the members calling themselves “Lutheran.”

However, it was immediately brought to my attention that Martin Luther did not want anyone to ever call himself “Lutheran” in fact he wrote explicitly against it.

Great response; but a simple Google search of “Lutheran Church” brings multiple websites of Church’s in my area that call themselves Lutheran. Then, almost all of the Lutherans here define themselves as Lutheran. So whether or not Luther taught one thing, you’re certainly not acting it out by naming your Church’s and it’s members such. Why?

Finally, Lutherans confess One Catholic, etc. Why do Lutherans not call themselves simply “Catholic” if they are certain that they have the right interpretation of the Catholic faith. I do recognize that Lutherans do consider themselves Catholic, but why not specifically Catholic? That is to say, when I drive by a Lutheran Church why does the sign not read “St Mark’s Catholic Church.”

Thank you. This has been itching at me for a while.

These questions came to mine in the discussion we’ve been having on my thread so I am going to watch and hopefully learn!

 

[Jon_S_1]

But wouldn’t God be on your side seeing as that you really are a part of the Catholic Church with the proper interpretation?

Whose interpretation???

I think that question could be answered “yes” by any religion but it is totally arbitrary to do so.

 

[House_Harkonnen]

Even though Luther really didn’t want you to call yourself Lutheran?

Yes. I wish we lived in a world where we didn’t have to use sometimes glib labels, but we do.

 

[dronald]

Whose interpretation???

I think that question could be answered “yes” by any religion but it is totally arbitrary to do so.

I’m trying to approach it from how a Lutheran could think. These were certainly my thoughts when I contemplated the Religion.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Any thoughts why Lutherans did not do as Luther instructed and reject the Roman Catholic label? Early Lutherans did not want to leave the Church of Rome. This is where the Holy Roman Empire comes in, right?

 

[SAVINGRACE]

Very entertaining.

 

[po18guy]

From my jaundiced-eye viewpoint, I see even Evangelicals as taking the name given to Saint John the Evangelist. On the other hand, since so many FundEvangel “Romans Roaders” rely almost exclusively upon Paul, why not simply “Paulists”? All seem to denigrate Petrine primacy while practicing Pauline primacy. Hmmmmm…:ehh:

Paul, of course, condemned all such factionalism long ago.

Sadly, “Roman” Catholic must be used to differentiate itself from all of those who have split off and split off again from the split-offs, all preferring to call themselves “Catholic” in some regard.

If it’s that important to have the name “Catholic”, why not just humble oneself and become Catholic? If I can find a way to do that (sarcastically calling the local parish priest “the Pope” as a youth), anyone here can.

 

[Per_Crucem]

This is my point. You have the most correct interpretation of Catholicism according to your Church, and yet your Church won’t call its self “Catholic Church” but has adopted the insult of “Lutheran.”

Being that Lutherans represent the purest form of Catholicism, if indeed Catholics are wrong about a great many things and Lutherans are correct; then their signs should read the likes of, “St John’s Catholic Church.” Or even throw Evangelical in there, but not Lutheran.

Part of the problem is that the discussion assumes that the title “Catholic” is better than any other potential title to sum up one’s faith. Frankly, the term Lutheran as an original derogatory is not much different than how Christian started as a derogatory and then became a badge of honor. Evangelical, come to think of it, is just as accurate as Catholic. I’m not sure, ultimately, what difference it makes.

 

[McCartney]

Any thoughts why Lutherans did not do as Luther instructed and reject the Roman Catholic label? Early Lutherans did not want to leave the Church of Rome. This is where the Holy Roman Empire comes in, right?

So why not return to the Catholic faith?

 

[trevorhall]

Former Lutheran here. Use of the term also

 

[EvangelCatholic]

So why not return to the Catholic faith?

Yes and many of Lutheran’s best theologians are now Catholic priests

 

[ltwin]

From my jaundiced-eye viewpoint, I see even Evangelicals as taking the name given to Saint John the Evangelist. On the other hand, since so many FundEvangel “Romans Roaders” rely almost exclusively upon Paul, why not simply “Paulists”? All seem to denigrate Petrine primacy while practicing Pauline primacy. Hmmmmm…:ehh:

Paul, of course, condemned all such factionalism long ago.

Your post is based off of faulty assumptions. No one calls themselves “evangelical” in imitation of John the Evangelist.

The English word “Evangelical” comes from the Greek word for “gospel” or “good news”: ευανγελιον (evangelion), from eu- “good” and angelion “message”. Therefore to be an “evangelical” would literally mean to be a believer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, anyone who calls themselves “evangelical” (whether in the “evangelical Catholic” sense or the American-styled megachurch variety) is identifying themselves with Jesus’ message.

 

[marywarfield]

I have wondered about the new Lutheran push to call themselves
Catholic. Believe me that was the last thing the Lutherans
around here wanted in the 50’s. Haha!
Just goes to show everyone secretly wants to be
Roman Catholic. It must be the hot new fad!
Considering the Church had record numbers of
newly confirmed this year it would seem that
instead of just changing the signs as suggested by
the OP people just converted altogether. Haha.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I have wondered about the new Lutheran push to call themselves
Catholic. Believe me that was the last thing the Lutherans
around here wanted in the 50’s. Haha!
Just goes to show everyone secretly wants to be
Roman Catholic. It must be the hot new fad!
Considering the Church had record numbers of
newly confirmed this year it would seem that
instead of just changing the signs as suggested by
the OP people just converted altogether. Haha.

Almost 2000 in my diocese at Easter…a record! Grateful to be one of them.

 

[po18guy]

Your post is based off of faulty assumptions. No one calls themselves “evangelical” in imitation of John the Evangelist.

Faulty? Jaundiced, rather. I gave fair warning.

The English word “Evangelical” comes from the Greek word for “gospel” or “good news”: ευανγελιον (evangelion), from eu- “good” and angelion “message”. Therefore to be an “evangelical” would literally mean to be a believer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Greek 101. Hey! Lighten up a little, will ya? I clearly identified my opinion as resulting from a jaundiced eye. What did you expect, total agreement?

So, anyone who calls themselves “evangelical” (whether in the “evangelical Catholic” sense or the American-styled megachurch variety) is identifying themselves with Jesus’ message.

This is utterly confusing to atheists.