Why do lutherans call themselves evangelical catholics?

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Judaism is really hard to use for analogy. Catholics believe they are the church that Jesus founded and that he gave the keys to Peter - the rock upon which to build his church.

Moses descended with the 10 commandments and the Torah and the temple were (name removed by moderator)ortant to early Jews. I believe the jewish people will becelebrating the jewish new year of 5775 in september and in those many years there are less than 10 branches of judaism.
Correct me if I am wrong.
However in christianity there are more than
30, 000 denominations in a little more than 2000 years.
I agree it is not analogous because of the many Christian denominations. But I was asked by the poster how I would feel if a Christian called himself a “fulfilled covenant Jew,” and my response is I would not mind or try to second guess his religious identity or faith.
 
Sure thing! And thank you for asking so charitably. I don’t expect you to share our views, but hopefully I can help explain why we hold them. I’ll reference Lutheran documents so you know I’m not imposing my own views.

We are one with other Christians in a visible means through the Preaching of the Word and the Administration of the Sacraments - namely, that we are all made part of the one, true church through Baptism. (Article VII, Confessio Augustana)

All Lutherans practice ordination of their pastors with the laying on of hands by the surrounding ordained pastors, and in this way, preserve Apostolic teaching. For Lutherans, it’s more than just “who tagged whom;” it’s also about maintaining the right teaching. No Lutheran has ever woken up and said, “Gee, I’m going to go be a pastor.” It doesn’t work that way. While Roman Catholics may view our ordinations to be invalid due to intent (and/or form), we know that our pastors are validly ordained. And that’s good enough for us. (Articles XIV and XXVIII, Confessio Augustana)
Ok, that’s interesting. I tried to make what I said as nice as possible. Sometimes I have been accused of attacking people beliefs when I question them. I don’t know why.
 
So how many sacraments do lutherans have?
Concretely, 2, baptism and communion. Many would say absolution is a sacrament. Things like confirmation, marriage, etc. we do see as distinctly Christian rites, but do not call them sacraments, according to how we define a sacrament.
My mother was confirmed in the lutheran church in the 1930’s and in her confirmation booklet it says one, holy and christian.
That is because in Germany at the time of the Reformation, the Church used Christlische in the creed. Since Luther used that in the Small Catechism, it was translated Christian in the English and has since stayed. Not every Lutheran church uses it though. I know of many that say catholic when the creed is said at liturgy.
 
To be part of the CC one accepts all the teachings of the CC not just some. We have 7 Sacraments while I believe Lutheran’s only believe in two Baptism and the Eucharist if I understand that correctly as valid. If Lutheran’s I think want to be one with the One, Holy catholic and Apostolic Church then they need to conform to all that the CC teaches and not just some.
 
Concretely, 2, baptism and communion. Many would say absolution is a sacrament. Things like confirmation, marriage, etc. we do see as distinctly Christian rites, but do not call them sacraments, according to how we define a sacrament.

That is because in Germany at the time of the Reformation, the Church used Christlische in the creed. Since Luther used that in the Small Catechism, it was translated Christian in the English and has since stayed. Not every Lutheran church uses it though. I know of many that say catholic when the creed is said at liturgy.
How would you define a sacrament?
 
I agree it is not analogous because of the many Christian denominations. But I was asked by the poster how I would feel if a Christian called himself a “fulfilled covenant Jew,” and my response is I would not mind or try to second guess his religious identity or faith.
Which I admit surprises me. I’d think that if one ascribes to a set of beliefs that are commonly referred to by a name for convenience, that people would be bothered when others with different and contrary ideas attempt to appropriate that name. In some cases, it has a smell of an illegitimate attempt to legitimize one’s own ideas by riding the reputation of other ideas.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think that’s what certain Lutherans are actually doing when they call themselves “Evangelical Catholics,” but there can be a tendency to react that way initially. Again as I said before, they have their own reasons by which they believe they hold rights to use the name (even if some here don’t like how I articulated those reasons).
 
Thank all of you who answered my post that are lutherans.

The episcopal church and anglican communion have 5 sacraments and I thought the anglican communion was the second largest body of christians after the catholic church and maybe the orthodox but perhaps those statistics are no longer valid.
 
How would you define a sacrament?
Something instituted by Christ during His earthly ministry, specifically for use by and only by the Church as part of her apostolic mission.
Something which conveys the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
And which uses a material element to convey grace (wine and bread for the Eucharist, water for baptism, for example).
 
I agree it is not analogous because of the many Christian denominations. But I was asked by the poster how I would feel if a Christian called himself a “fulfilled covenant Jew,” and my response is I would not mind or try to second guess his religious identity or faith.
What if they defined themselves as ultaorthodox (reformed).
Wouldn’t you be a little confused? Lol! Just trying to think of an example. 🤷 😊
 
Thank all of you who answered my post that are lutherans.

The episcopal church and anglican communion have 5 sacraments and I thought the anglican communion was the second largest body of christians after the catholic church and maybe the orthodox but perhaps those statistics are no longer valid.
If memory serves me, after Catholics and Orthodox, Lutherans are the largest body. If Anglicans are 4th, it’d be a pretty close 4th.
 
Thank all of you who answered my post that are lutherans.

The episcopal church and anglican communion have 5 sacraments and I thought the anglican communion was the second largest body of christians after the catholic church and maybe the orthodox but perhaps those statistics are no longer valid.
Or, 7 sacraments, depending on which Anglican you ask. Or maybe another number.

I’d out the Orthodox ahead of the Anglicans, total number-wise.

GKC
 
Or, 7 sacraments, depending on which Anglican you ask. Or maybe another number.

I’d out the Orthodox ahead of the Anglicans, total number-wise.

GKC
Yes you are right about the sacraments. The anglo catholics would say 7?
 
If memory serves me, after Catholics and Orthodox, Lutherans are the largest body. If Anglicans are 4th, it’d be a pretty close 4th.
Yes the anglican communion is still the 3rd largest body after the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.
 
I have noticed some posters at CAF who put Evangelical Catholic as their religion but then in parentheses they clarify themselves as lutheran. So why not just identify as a lutheran? Why do you call yourself an evangelical catholic?
That’s what Lutherans originally called themselves, and Luther’s preferred term. Lutheran is a name originally called by opponents. But like Mormons and Moonies and Methodists, the name stuck.
 
Which I admit surprises me. I’d think that if one ascribes to a set of beliefs that are commonly referred to by a name for convenience, that people would be bothered when others with different and contrary ideas attempt to appropriate that name. In some cases, it has a smell of an illegitimate attempt to legitimize one’s own ideas by riding the reputation of other ideas.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think that’s what certain Lutherans are actually doing when they call themselves “Evangelical Catholics,” but there can be a tendency to react that way initially. Again as I said before, they have their own reasons by which they believe they hold rights to use the name (even if some here don’t like how I articulated those reasons).
Reform Jews tend to be more inclusive although I am expressing my own views on the issue rather than those of any stream of Judaism.
 
So how many sacraments do lutherans have?

My mother was confirmed in the lutheran church in the 1930’s and in her confirmation booklet it says one, holy and christian.
The term sacrament is used by some within Lutheran circles more broadly, so the “count” would be three. Others use it more narrowly, counting two (considering Absolution as an extension of Baptism). It isn’t a point of dispute, as all Lutherans consider confession/Absolution as a means of grace.

The “Christian” instead of Catholic is primarily an American thing. However, the meaning is the same.

Jon
 
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