Key Takeaways
- Lutherans are followers of Martin Luther and are considered the first of the Protestants, seeking to reform the Roman Catholic Church.
- Evangelicals are a group of denominations that believe in the good news brought to sinners by Jesus and emphasize the importance of the Bible.
- While Lutheran is a denomination within Christianity, Evangelical is not a denomination but a collection of denominations with shared beliefs.
To an outsider, Christianity might seem like a monolithic religion, but there are numerous churches and denominations within its fold. Lutherans, for example, are followers of Martin Luther and are considered the first of the Protestants who sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church. On the other hand, there is another church called Evangelical, which is made up of various Christian movements. There are even Lutheran Evangelicals, which can further confuse people. Despite many similarities, there are differences between Lutherans and Evangelicals that will be discussed in this article.
What is Lutheran?
Lutheran, as the name implies, is the Church or denomination within the fold of Christianity that upholds the teachings of Martin Luther, a 16th-century European reformist. Luther was concerned about the ills in the practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church that he found inconsistent with the scriptures, specifically the Holy Bible. He introduced reforms in the form of The 95 Theses, which were rejected by the clergy in his time that indulged in the practice of indulgence. Luther wanted to remain within the Roman Catholic Church, but his followers were driven out of the Church and had to create a new denomination within Christianity that came to be known as Lutheranism.
Today, the Lutheran Church is one of the most significant denominations among the reformist Protestants worldwide. In fact, Lutherans are believed to be the first of the Protestants. There are over 66 million Lutherans across the globe today. Martin Luther believed that salvation came with belief and faith in God, and certain practices in the Roman Catholic Church were corrupt and, in fact, stumbling blocks to salvation.
What is Evangelical?
The term evangelical comes from the Greek euangelion, which roughly equates with gospel or good news. Evangelicalism is not a faith or denomination but a collection of denominations that believe in the good news brought to sinners by Jesus. Evangelicalism is a movement within Protestant reformists that began in the 17th century and continued in later centuries to spread to all parts of the world.
Evangelicalism is one denomination that appeals to believers and non-believers alike and has been the most important one to draw faithful within the fold of Christianity. There are several characteristics that bind evangelicals throughout the world. Among these are the supremacy of the Bible, emphasis on the sacrifice of Jesus for the salvation of humanity, and the demonstration of faith through missionary work and social reform. The Bible is the sole authority for all evangelicals, and it governs their lives and actions.
What is the difference between Lutheran and Evangelical?
Definitions of Lutheran and Evangelical:
Lutheran:Â Lutheran is the Church or denomination within the fold of Christianity that stands for the teachings of Martin Luther, a reformist from 16th-century Europe.
Evangelical:Â Evangelical is not a faith or denomination but a collection of denominations that believe in good news brought to sinners by Jesus.
Characteristics of Lutheran and Evangelical:
Denomination:
Lutheran:Â Lutheran is a denomination.
Evangelical:Â Evangelical is not a denomination.
Specialty:
Lutheran: Lutherans are the oldest of the Protestants and form an important denomination within the fold of Christianity even today.
Evangelical:Â Evangelicals are characterized by their belief in the good news of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus.
