Skip to content
Christ for Us
  • Home
  • About
  • Contributors
    • Rev. Rolf Preus
      • Sermons by Rolf Preus
      • Papers by Rev. Rolf Preus
    • Rev. James Preus
      • Sermons by James Preus
      • Bible Study Podcast
      • Papers by James Preus
  • Latest Sermons
  • Papers
  • Bible Study Podcast
  • Contact
  • Latest Bible Study Podcast
  • Search Icon
Lutherans in America: A Brief Comparison

Lutherans in America: A Brief Comparison

November 4, 2008 Rolf Preus

Pastor Rolf Preus

November 4 & 5, 2008

The Lutheran Church has been in America for over 350 years.  The largest concentrations of Lutherans are in Pennsylvania and the Midwest.  We will consider four groups of Lutherans: The ELCA (A); The LCMS (B); the W/ELS (C); the AFLC and Lutheran Brethren (D).  This is over 99% of Lutherans in America.

The Bible (2 Samuel 23:2; Mark 12:24; John 10:35)

  1. The Bible is the written Word of God and is therefore free from any error of any kind (BCD)
  2. The Bible contains God’s Word but also contains errors in matter of science, history, geography, etc. (A) 

The Lutheran Confessions (“. . . for our agreement is based on the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures . . . we are minded by the grace of the Holy Spirit to abide and remain unanimously in this confession of faith and to regulate all religious controversies and their explanations according to it.” Preface to the Book of Concord)

  1. We accept the Lutheran Confessions because they agree with the Bible (BC)
  2. We accept the Small Catechism and the Augsburg Confession because they agree with the Bible (D)
  3. We accept the Lutheran Confessions insofar as they agree with the Bible (A)

Pure Doctrine (John 8:31-32; 1 Corinthians 11:23)

  1. We can know the correct doctrine and be certain that we have it (BC)
  2. It is sinful pride to insist on having the pure doctrine (AD)

Universalism (John 14:6)

  1. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and all those who die without faith in him are lost (BCD)
  2. We cannot insist that only Christians will go to heaven (A)

Church Fellowship (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 10:16-17)

  1. We should worship and commune only at congregations that teach the pure doctrine (B)
  2. We may worship and commune at churches that teach different doctrines and we may invite to Communion those who belong to such churches (AD)
  3. We should worship and commune only at churches that teach the pure doctrine and we should pray privately only with members of such churches (C)

Church and Ministry (Acts 20:28)

  1. God established the local congregation and the pastoral office (BD)
  2. God did not establish any particular form of church or ministry (C)

Women in the Church (1 Timothy 2:12)

  1. Women may not be preachers in the Church (exercise the authority of the pastoral office) (B)
  2. A woman may do anything a man may do (A)
  3. Women may not preach or vote in the Church (exercise any authority over men) (CD)

Lodges and Boy Scouts (John 5:23)

  1. The Masons and some other lodges teach a false religion and should be avoided (BD)
  2. Christians may belong to the Masons and other such lodges (A)
  3. The Masons, some other lodges, and the Boy Scouts teach a false religion and should be avoided (C)

Millennialism (John 18:36)

  1. It is contrary to God’s word and the Lutheran Confessions to teach that Christ will return to set up a thousand year kingdom on this earth (BC)
  2. It is an open question whether or not Christ will set up a thousand year kingdom on this earth (A AFLC)
  3. Christ will return to set up a thousand year kingdom on this earth (Lutheran Brethren)


Papers, Papers by Rev. Rolf Preus
2008, Confessional Lutheran Identity, papers, Papers by Rolf Preus

Post navigation

PREVIOUS
The Service of Women in and for the Church
NEXT
Making a Clear Confession in Muddy Waters
Comments are closed.

Recent Posts

  • Good Shepherd Sunday Sermon
  • Justification: Am I Good Enough for God (Audio Book) written and read by Rev. Rolf Preus
  • The Power of the Church and the Necessity of Faith
  • Celebrating the Festival of Christ’s Passover
  • Episode 36: The Pope Died: A Lutheran Response

Listen to Christ for Us on Sundays

8:45 AM
KXPO 1340 AM
Grafton, ND

9:05 AM
KKCQ 96.7 FM
Fosston, MN

10:30 AM
KRJB 106.5 FM
Ada, MN

11:00 AM
1310 AM KNOX
Grand Forks, ND

7:30 AM
730 CKDM
Dauphin, Manitoba (Sponsored by Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Bethany, Manitoba)

9:45 AM
GX94 940 AM
Yorkton, Saskatchewan (Sponsored by Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Bethany, Manitoba)

1:00 PM
KBIZ 1240 AM and 102.7 FM
Ottumwa, IA

Search Papers and Sermons by Author and Lectionary

Steadfast Lutherans

Find devotions, sermons, articles, and news concerning the Lutheran Church and its theology.

Visit Steadfast Lutherans

Lutheran Confessions

Learn more about the Lutheran Church by reading the Lutheran Confessions.

Read the Lutheran Confessions

Search Papers and Sermons by Author, Sunday, and Biblical Text

Advent 1 Advent 2 Advent 3 Ascension Easter 4 Easter 5 Easter 6 Epiphany 2 Good Shepherd Sunday James Preus John 3 John 16 John 20 Justification Lent 1 Lent 2 Lent 3 luke 2 Luke 11 Mark 16 Matthew 5 Matthew 6 Matthew 21 Matthew 22 Matthew 25 papers papers by Robert Preus Papers by Rolf Preus Pastor James Preus Pentecost Quasimodogeniti Reformation Day Rev. James Preus Robert D. Preus Rolf Preus Septuagesima Sexagesima Transfiguration Trinity 1 Trinity 2 Trinity 3 Trinity 5 Trinity 15 Trinity 18 Trinity Sunday

Sunday Service

Year Round
Saturday Evening Divine Service: 6:00 PM
Sunday Morning Divine Service: 9:00 AM
Bible Study: 10:30 AM
September through May
Sunday School: 10:30 AM
Wednesday School: 6:00 PM
Wednesday Vespers Service: 7:15 PM

Find a Church

Contact

Rev James Preus
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
295 Shaul Ave
Ottumwa, IA 52501

(641)684-7279
jamespreus@gmail.com

Pages

  • Papers
  • Papers by James Preus
  • Home
  • About
  • Contributors
  • Contact
  • Bible Study Podcast
© 2025   All Rights Reserved.