Christian or Lutheran?

[Christian Baalsen]

This arises from my history class. We have been studying all the different beliefs within Christianity in class and it led me to wonder if I identify myself more with being "Christian" or being "Lutheran." It's an interesting question. So I'll ask it to you guys.

If someone asked you to identify yourself with a particular faith, which would you choose: Christian or Lutheran?

[Rachel]

When asked what faith or religion I identify with I reply "Christian."

As a college student I am continually exploring how I wish to identify myself, and learning more and more about myself and the identities that I choose. I grew up Catholic, and love my church community back home. I have friends that I took Faith Formation classes with for years, and I know younger members of the community because I helped out with younger Faith Formation classes as well as provided childcare on Sundays. I love going home and going to mass on Sundays and feeling welcomed by everyone there, even though they may have not seen me for weeks. St. Bernard's Parish has provided me the security and support that I need to develop my faith, learn about my faith and the religious institution of the church, as well as a place to worship and community to worship with.

When I am away from home I attend services at and ELCA campus ministry, as well as two Lutheran churches on campus. There are plenty of religious institutions available to students on campus, including a Catholic campus ministry and a Catholic church, all with their own communities of faith. After some exploring with new friends, I found a wonderful Christian community at the ELCA campus ministry. There I have become a part of a community of students who support each other through all different aspects of our crazy lives, and help each other to develop our faith.

It upsets me that so many lines and rules must be drawn that make Christians focus on their differences with others. I hope that all the different factions of Christianity recognize that all Christians are trying in our imperfect, human way to follow the light of Christ and support and learn from each other in on our journeys.

Christian - I'm not sure if this ended up completely relating to the discussion question you posed, but thank you for the opportunity to share my feelings about the Christian vs. Catholic vs. Lutheran :)

[Katie Emery]

Hard question. I think my problem with answering this question is the connotations that go along with both groupings. I am a follower of Christ (or I try to be). If that characterizes me as a Christian, then that is what I would choose. But Lutheranism is the denomination that I'm getting ordained in. And I was raised in the Lutheran church, so I guess I could identify with that as well. hmmmm....yup. I'm a disciple of Christ.

[Jay]

I am so proud of my Lutheran heritage. Through our teachings we are proclaiming a faith that is based on the grace of God and not at all by the merit of our own works. We teach a radical beautiful description of a God who frees us from the law that we may live boldly for Christ. I am Lutheran not because the teachings belong to a particular denomination but because I think they are true for everyone, not just my tribe. I am not Lutheran because of Lutheran-ness but because I feel we teach the very basis of our hope in a way that is more clear than other denominations. All the Luther teaches is not about being Lutheran but about being Christian. It is not about identity as a denomination but embracing what we are taught for the whole church. I love our graceful ambiguity, our generous orthodoxy, our ability to speak plainly using God as the subject of active verbs, and our ability to welcome the other.

I bang this drum loudly, perhaps too loudly, but I am truly through of the cultural heritage we place on ourselves as Lutherans that we mistake for Orthodoxy. Isn't being Lutheran more than a particular style of worship? Doesn't creating labels only continue to divide? Isn't worship just worship? Isn't being Lutheran also about living for Jesus everyday and less about living into a cheap grace? Isn't Lutheran really about being radically FREE Christians, free from being confined by labels and laws but free to follow Jesus with a whole heart? Lutheran-ness is, to me, a way of understanding Jesus and less a way of understanding myself as German or Scandinavan Christian.

So of course I understand myself as Christian, one that has learned from a great and wide variety of theologians over 2000 years of teaching and history, one in particular named Martin Luther, taught me about my relationship with God in a beautiful and unique way. I believe what he taught is true of Jesus and thus everyone. This makes me nothing less than Christian and if I am to label myself "Lutheran" over Christian, I would fear what it is I am following if not Christ...

[Nate Porter]

I think Luther would have us call ourselves Christians over Lutheran if we have to choose. So if I get one word, I'm a Christian. If I get two, I'm a Lutheran Christian, because that identifies the perspective I come from and how I go about thinking of things. If I get three, I'm an American Lutheran Christian, because my context shapes everything else too. But always Christian.

[Jenna]

Nate's thoughts on American Lutheran Christian make a lot of sense to me. Luther wanted to reform Christianity and bring it back to its roots, not create a new denomination.

That being said...I was raised Lutheran and was very proud of that. And then I left the church for 10 years, and now I'm back. So I'm not sure yet that I can call myself Lutheran or Christian with any conviction. The one thing that I never lost faith in was that there was an Ultimate. So I guess I would leave it as "Child of God".

[Karl Stuen]

Definitely "Christian". Even though I grew up as a Lutheran and continue to actively participate in the Lutheran church and with the Lutheran family, I feel like using a denominational term to identify myself is limiting. I think we need redefine our denominational boundaries to reflect the fact that there is a much larger segment of the Christian family that has similar or identical beliefs to those of ELCA Lutherans. In my opinion, we need to move beyond historical barriers without losing the richness of our theology.

[Nichole Nash]

I would say Christian. I am Lutheran and go to a Lutheran church, but thats insignificant in comparison to the fact that I am a Christian, or Christ-follower.

[Pat Murack]

When Asked I reply Lutheran...and usually specify ELCA Lutheran if there is any amount of prodding.

However the truth is I am a Christian. We all have little nuances or parts of our faith that do not line up doctrinally correct with a denomination. Therefore my faith most resembles that which the Lutheran community professes however it has influences from other denominations as well.

[Ray J Gentry IV]

My faith/religion is Christian. My understanding of how God relates to me is Lutheran. If I'm amongst people of other denominations, I just use Lutheran. It summarizes (sometimes accurately) my take on the Bible, God, faith, salvation and the works. But more often than not, I just say I'm Lutheran. Unless someone doesn't think Lutherans are Christian, it summarizes my religion and flavor in one word.