Differences between Lutherans and evangelicals

[trifecta]

Dan, I thought I should come to your house.


Can you tell me the differences between Lutherans and evangelicals?

Thanks.

[extranos]

Tri,
Welcome in.  :-)
There are many differences.  I'll try to list the ones that come to mind quickly:

• Lutherans believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, while at the same time believing that it is still bread and wine.  We have no idea how it happens, only that it does happen - because Christ says it happens
• We baptize infants because 1) we believe infants can have faith and 2) because the Apostles taught us to do it
• We reject the so-called age of accountability
• We honor Mary and the saints, although not to the extent that the RCC and EO do
• While it is not fully the case among us, serious Lutherans detest praise bands

[zoonance]

Curious on why the destestation of praise bands amongst serious Lutherans? 

[extranos]

Curious on why the destestation of praise bands amongst serious Lutherans?

OK, maybe I exaggerated a bit on that one when I said "serious", but their presence has caused a lot of controversy within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
The basic reason is that praise bands are used in conjunction with "contemporary" services.  These services feature lame 70's-era folk Christian music that, too often, is preoccupied with what we Christians are doing for God instead of focusing on what God has done for us.  We have a liturgy book that is rich in Biblical language and contains elements of worship that have been a part of the praise of God going all the way back to the Old Testament era.  The idea that Scripture or ancient and substantive hymns are less attractive than the bad theology of most CCM is, to me, appalling. 

I'm thinking specifically of the Willow Creek and Saddleback models when I talk about the "Evangelicals".  From what I have seen, most non-denom (Southern Baptists without the sign) churches follow one of those two models.  Their bad ideas are creeping into Lutheran practice, and in the worst cases, one cannot tell the difference between the Willow Creek-style megachurch and the Lutheran wannabe church.

[mike]

I guess every group has their own type of worship wars.   

[ex cathedra]

Curious on why the destestation of praise bands amongst serious Lutherans? 

Because True Lutheran worship has always been focused on what God does for us.

His forgivness won for us on the cross


we celebrate what Jsus has done in both word and the word in the sacraments.

[zoonance]

I see.  It seems to be about the content and the purpose.  I have heard praise songs (by definition?) praise Him in contemporary style and language.

[extranos]

One more difference......the cornerstone of the Evangelical movement is the notion that you must "make a decision for Christ".  However, Scripture never talks to us this way, instead using the idea of being called  to faith.
John 1:12,13 specifically say that we do not become children of God through a human decision, so why do Evangelicals insist on teaching something so unbiblical?  Who knows why they do some of the ridiculous things they do. 

[Jimmy]

One more difference......the cornerstone of the Evangelical movement is the notion that you must "make a decision for Christ".  However, Scripture never talks to us this way, instead using the idea of being called  to faith.
John 1:12,13 specifically say that we do not become children of God through a human decision, so why do Evangelicals insist on teaching something so unbiblical?  Who knows why they do some of the ridiculous things they do. 

John 1,

11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This speaks of those who received (believed in His name) Him and those who did not.  That is the condition for being given the right to become children of God.

That to me sounds very much like it is dependent upon our human decision.

[ex cathedra]

Take a look at the verse you gave especialy verse  13.

it realy is saying no different than this passage.



1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.



And if we  keep reading a  little further after John 3:16

we come to this.


John 6:44
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.





Gods  blessings

[DJK]

Jimmy,

That to me sounds very much like it is dependent upon our human decision.

Read it again:

John 1,

11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Therefore, we are justified by grace alone (not of ourselves- Ephesians 2:8,9), through faith alone (not of ourselves- Hebrews 12:2), for Christ's sake alone (not of ourselves- I Peter 1:3); to God alone be the glory (Ephesians 1:3-6).



In Christ,
DJK

[FABS]

I've read all the comments about the differences....
first able have any of you been evangelical before?, well what i think is that
no one can go to the "Father" but thru his son Jesus right?.... but we as men/women
have to make the decision of following him... all the verses are correct but we have to understand them, not to our convenience
but  for what they really means, i know for sure that evangelical teach that is not by our self that we can go to the father or God or jesus how ever you want to put it but for Him. 

[zoonance]

Jimmy,

That to me sounds very much like it is dependent upon our human decision.

Read it again:

John 1,

11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Therefore, we are justified by grace alone (not of ourselves- Ephesians 2:8,9), through faith alone (not of ourselves- Hebrews 12:2), for Christ's sake alone (not of ourselves- I Peter 1:3); to God alone be the glory (Ephesians 1:3-6).



In Christ,
DJK

I read not born of blood (by being of Israel by birth)
not born of the will of the flesh (Jesus talked of being born again to adults who were already "born" but he was encouraging the flesh to want or seek to be born again - not born again by will.)
one can not be born again by shear will no matter how much they want to be.  It is only by God that one can be born again.

Human decision was what Jesus was looking for.  He rewarded faithful people.  One can misquote all day long but human decision is clearly biblical.   Human effort won't save anybody but it will drive the person to the one who can.

[Jimmy]

Jimmy,

That to me sounds very much like it is dependent upon our human decision.

Read it again:

John 1,

11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Therefore, we are justified by grace alone (not of ourselves- Ephesians 2:8,9), through faith alone (not of ourselves- Hebrews 12:2), for Christ's sake alone (not of ourselves- I Peter 1:3); to God alone be the glory (Ephesians 1:3-6).



In Christ,
DJK

I reread it.  It is still a function of the individual's decision.  It is clearly conditional upon receiving Him.

BTW, why do you feel the need to insert the word "alone" when you see the word "grace" or "faith"?  The Holy Spirit didn't put it there, perhaps because He didn't want it there.

[FABS]

I agree is our decision