Our Lutheran
Heritage
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Lutherans
Around the World |
The term Lutheran was
deplored by Luther and was initiated by his detractors as an insult.
The church originally called itself the Evangelical Church of the
Augsburg Confession or simply the Evangelical Church. The church
grew rapidly in Germany and into the Scandinavian countries.
As a result of
the missionary movements of the 18th and 19th centuries, Lutheranism
has become a worldwide communion of Christians and the
largest Protestant denomination
in the world, with about 63 million members.
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Many northern
European countries are heavily Lutheran. What may also surprise you
is that there are almost as many Lutherans in Africa as there are
in the United
States. All of this growth is due to the missionary work which is
still very important to the Lutheran Church. There are sizeable Lutheran
communities in many other countries including: Australia, Brazil,
Canada, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania,
and the United States. Lutheran missions have also been established
in many African countries like Sierra Leona. |
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Lutherans
in Georgia |
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Lutherans in Georgia
have a rich historical heritage which dates back to the earliest days when
we were still a colony of England in the early 1700's. Georgia was
actually named for a Lutheran, King George II of Britain. Although the King
of England, he was a German speaking Lutheran who had great sympathy for
persecuted Lutherans in Austria near Salzburg. As a result, these religious
refugees, called Salzburgers, became some of the first settlers of the new
English colony. They built a settlement and church in what is today
Effingham County, just north of Savannah - Jerusalem Lutheran
Church. This active congregation
is the oldest continuously operating
church building in the State of Georgia. |
In the political
area, early Lutherans made quite a contribution in Georgia as well. The
first governor of Georgia after winning independence from England was John
Adam Treutlen. He was a Lutheran of Salzburger heritage. Treutlen County is
named for him.
Lutherans came to
Atlanta in the late 1800s. There are over 80 Lutheran churches in Metro
Atlanta. Our presence is growing in numbers and in outreach. We invite you
to come grow together with us in God's grace.
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The
Singing Church |
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Lutherans are noted for their rich musical heritage and often have
been referred to as
“The Singing Church.”
Luther himself loved music
and was responsible for writing many hymns which are still being
sung today. His most famous hymn is “A Mighty
Fortress is Our God,” for which he wrote both text and music.
Lutherans are probably
responsible for bringing four part harmony to Georgia in the form of hymns that were sung in parts.
Many hymns were created from common folk tunes, to which spiritual
text was added.
Luther firmly believed that the people should participate in worship
and this was accomplished through singing of hymns and liturgy. |
Famous early Lutheran
musicians include:
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Johann S. Bach |
George
F. Handel |
Felix
Mendelssohn |
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Worship |
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The
Lutheran church defines itself as “the assembly of believers among which the
Gospel is preached and the Holy Sacraments are administered according to the
Gospel” (Augsburg Confession, VII). From the beginning, therefore, the Bible
was central to Lutheran worship, and the sacraments were reduced from the
traditional seven to Baptism and the Lord's Supper. According to the
Lutheran reading of the Scriptures, only these two were instituted by
Christ. Worship was conducted in the language of the people (not in Latin as
had been the Roman Catholic tradition), and preaching was stressed.
Lutheranism did not radically change the structure of the medieval
mass, but
its use of vernacular language enhanced the importance of the sermons, which
were based on the daily Scriptures, and encouraged congregational
participation in worship, especially through the singing of the
liturgy and of hymns. |
Though many
Lutheran churches today offer contemporary worship services, there is still
always the thread of liturgy that runs through their structure. This is the
heritage treasured by Lutherans.
In the Lutheran
celebration of the Eucharist, the elements of bread and wine are given to
all communicants, whereas Roman Catholics had allowed the wine only to
priests. In contrast to other Protestants, Lutherans affirm the real bodily
presence of Christ “in, with, and under” the elements of bread and wine at
the Lord's Supper. Christ is sacramentally present for the communicant in
the bread and the wine because of the promise he gave at the institution of
Holy Communion, when he said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood”
(Matthew 26:26-28). |
© 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
"Lutheranism," Microsoft® Encarta®
Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation
other parts supplied by Bob Gibeling and Linda Worman. |
