question from a Catholic to a Lutheran

[chriswilliam]

I have two questions for you. Do Lutherans believe that they are the true church like the Catholics do? I was told that Lutheran don’t honor the eucharist like Catholic do because they don’t have communion every Sunday or at their weddings or funeral. Then I was told the reason was that you hold the eucharist so holy that no one is worthy of it That is why it is not done at every service and every Sunday I’m a very free thinking Catholic in fact I don’t blong to a Roman Catholic church I belong to another Catholic rite. To me it doesn’t matter what church you choose to worship in just so you go and worship.

 

[UBERROGO]

Generally every denomination (RC included) believes they are the true Church and that they believe they are carring on the true Traditions of the Church. Its hard to get them to admit that they actually have Tradition sometimes

 

[Lorrie]

My boyfriend is Lutheran and he says they have communion every Sunday. Whether or not its valid is something him and I discuss quite often, me being a Catholic explains my stance on the subject.

He says that the hosts and wine (and grape juice) are validly consecrated - I always beg to differ.

He’s never mentioned they believe they’re the one true church. He has actually stated on numerous occassions that he believes there isn’t just one. Once again, I always beg to differ.

 

[UBERROGO]

Its all how they we all want to define ‘One True Church’. lol

 

[jesusluv]

RCC can’t be a denomination since it was first. Everything that has split from it is a denomination.

 

[JimO]

chriswilliam:

I have two questions for you. Do Lutherans believe that they are the true church like the Catholics do? I was told that Lutheran don’t honor the eucharist like Catholic do because they don’t have communion every Sunday or at their weddings or funeral. Then I was told the reason was that you hold the eucharist so holy that no one is worthy of it That is why it is not done at every service and every Sunday I’m a very free thinking Catholic in fact I don’t blong to a Roman Catholic church I belong to another Catholic rite. To me it doesn’t matter what church you choose to worship in just so you go and worship.

I’m not Lutheran and will certainly defer to the Lutherans on the forums who wish to respond, but it is my understanding that Lutherans believe that they have valid apostolic succession and, thus, can consecrate the bread and wine. They do have a different understanding of Christ’s presence. The Catholic term Transubstantiation refers to the change in the substance of bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Christ and Real Presence distinguishes His Presence in the Eucharist (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) from Christ’s presence elsewhere, such as where two or more are gathered, etc. Lutherans refer to Christ’s presence in the bread and wine as Consubstantiation where the substance of bread and wine remain and Christ is simply present in the bread and wine. How they distinguish this from His presence elsewhere I do not know. That is the limit of my understanding and if I have misstated the Lutheran position, I am happy to be corrected. Hope this helps.

 

[Angainor]

JimO:

I’m not Lutheran and will certainly defer to the Lutherans on the forums who wish to respond, but it is my understanding that Lutherans believe that they have valid apostolic succession…

I’ll stop you right there. No, Lutherans do not believe we have a “valid apostolic succession” (whatever that is).

 

[Angainor]

chriswilliam:

I have two questions for you. Do Lutherans believe that they are the true church like the Catholics do? I was told that Lutheran don’t honor the eucharist like Catholic do because they don’t have communion every Sunday or at their weddings or funeral. Then I was told the reason was that you hold the eucharist so holy that no one is worthy of it That is why it is not done at every service and every Sunday I’m a very free thinking Catholic in fact I don’t blong to a Roman Catholic church I belong to another Catholic rite. To me it doesn’t matter what church you choose to worship in just so you go and worship.

No, Lutherans do not believe that what is known as the “Lutheran Church” is The Church. The Church is the whole Christian Church on Earth made up of all true believers.

What was your second question?

 

[Lorrie]

Angainor:

No, Lutherans do not believe that what is known as the “Lutheran Church” is The Church. The Church is the whole Christian Church on Earth made up of all true believers.

What was your second question?

#1: Do Lutherans believe that they are the true church like the Catholics do?

** #2**: I was told that Lutheran don’t honor the eucharist like Catholic do because they don’t have communion every Sunday or at their weddings or funeral. Then I was told the reason was that you hold the eucharist so holy that no one is worthy of it That is why it is not done at every service and every Sunday I’m a very free thinking Catholic in fact I don’t blong to a Roman Catholic church I belong to another Catholic rite. To me it doesn’t matter what church you choose to worship in just so you go and worship.

Even though there was no “?” I’m assuming my #2 was the second question. My interpretation of it is he/she is searching for an answer regarding Lutherans and the Eucharist. I could be wrong.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Lutherans don’t claim to be the one true church. They regard all those who are in Christ and born again to be the true church. No matter what denomination they are.

Lutherans take communion as the Lord instructs us to in Matthew 26. They just don’t use the word ‘Eucharist’ when doing so. Most Protestants never even heard the word ‘Eucharist’ before and don’t know what it means. Lutherans, I believe, love God just as much as Catholics do and want to serve him too.

 

[catsrus]

My boyfriend is Lutheran and he says they have communion every Sunday.

I don’t know what sect of lutheranism your boyfriend is but I was catachized in an evangelical lutheran church and we had communion only once per month. Further, the communion was taught to us as a symbol only.
Learning Christ’s true meaning of the Eucharistic meal was a main catalyst for me becoming Catholic.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I’ve never had anyone tell me that communion was only symbolic. I’m thinking that certain protestant churches have taken libertys with doctrine.

 

[mercygate]

Chris LaRock:

Most Protestants never even heard the word ‘Eucharist’ before and don’t know what it means.

They know the word if they read the New Testament in Greek! Lutherans – at least the clergy – certainly do read Greek.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I mean non-clergy.

 

[JimO]

Angainor:

I’ll stop you right there. No, Lutherans do not believe we have a “valid apostolic succession” (whatever that is).

If that is so, and I’ll take your word for it, then where do Lutheran ministers get the power to consecrate the bread and wine? Apostolic succession is retaining the authority of the Apostles from one generation to the next, and it is through their successors (in the case of the Catholic Church - the bishops) that the power to say Mass and consecrate the Eucharist is conveyed, again through the laying on of hands.

 

[allhers]

catsrus:

I don’t know what sect of lutheranism your boyfriend is but I was catachized in an evangelical lutheran church and we had communion only once per month. Further, the communion was taught to us as a symbol only.
Learning Christ’s true meaning of the Eucharistic meal was a main catalyst for me becoming Catholic.

Even if they thought that it was not symbolic, without the Priest, there is no Eucharist. This is the one thing that seperates us Catholics from others, over and over. Glad you are here catsrus

 

[Angainor]

JimO:

If that is so, and I’ll take your word for it, then where do Lutheran ministers get the power to consecrate the bread and wine?

The “power” to consecrate lies with the word of God. The “power” does not lie with humans.

 

[JimO]

Angainor:

The “power” to consecrate lies with the word of God. The “power” does not lie with humans.

True, the source of the “power” is God acting through a human, such as in the case of any other “power”. However, I’m asking a question because you pointed out where I was wrong in my understanding and asked me what apostolic succession was. I’m not trying to get into an argument, I simply told you what the Catholic understanding of apostolic succession is and whether you agree with that understanding or not is your choice. I then asked a question regarding how Lutherans understand that their ministers have the ability, power, whatever you choose to call it, to consubstantiate the bread and wine. Can any member of the Lutheran Church do this or is it reserved to the clergy? If so, then what gives the clergy that special gift? These are not rhetorical questions meant to challenge. I want to understand correctly so as not to misrepresent Lutheran teaching in the future.

 

[Angainor]

JimO:

I then asked a question regarding how Lutherans understand that their ministers have the ability, power, whatever you choose to call it, to consubstantiate the bread and wine. Can any member of the Lutheran Church do this or is it reserved to the clergy? If so, then what gives the clergy that special gift? These are not rhetorical questions meant to challenge. I want to understand correctly so as not to misrepresent Lutheran teaching in the future.

Not only can any member of the Lutheran Church administer the sacrament, but any member of the human race can. The power lies with the word of God.

The Lutheran Church only allows ministers to administer the sacrament. It does this because it is very important not to disrespect the sacrament so it leaves the task to trained professionals.

 

[JimO]

Angainor:

Not only can any member of the Lutheran Church administer the sacrament, but any member of the human race can. The power lies with the word of God.

The Lutheran Church only allows ministers to administer the sacrament. It does this because it is very important not to disrespect the sacrament so it leaves the task to trained professionals.

Thanks for the clarification.