Hello everyone!
American Lutheranism Reflections: I thought, it would be a good idea to make a brief blog post about the diversity of American Lutheranism, since there are so many Lutheran church bodies in The United States of America.
First let me introduce Martin Luther to those of you, who don't know our founder. Luther lived from November 10, 1483 to February 18, 1546 and Eisleben, Germany was both Luther’s city of birth and city of death. He was an Augustinian monk and priest under Father Johann Staupitz. He earned his MA and Doctorate of Divinity, after he earned his BA. On October 31, 1517, Dr. Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. On April 1521, Luther refused to recant his theology at the Diet of Worms defying both Pope Leo X and Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. On June 13, 1525, Luther married Katherine von Bora. In 1527, Luther’s most famous hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God was composed. In 1535, Luther’s Translation of The Holy Bible in German was published.
What do Lutherans basically believe? We believe in the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is the Christian Godhead. The Members of the Holy Trinity are God the Father Yahweh, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe in the "real presence" of Jesus the Messiah in Holy Communion and that Jesus Christ is truly “installed” in Holy Communion. We believe in Infant Grace Baptism, but we also baptize adults. Water Baptism is Holy Baptism and a Sacrament. Holy Baptism saves people from death, Hell, Satan, demonic possession, Satan's demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and our own personal sins. We believe, that Athanasian, Nicene, and Apostles’ Creeds are true and accurate summaries of The Holy Bible and the Christian Religion. We believe in praying The Lord’s Prayer aka Our Father at every Mass. We believe, that the Mass with Luther's reforms is the best form of Christian worship. We believe in The Three Main Solas, but most Lutherans also acknowledge all Five Solas. The Solas are Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, and Sola Deo Gloria. Sola Gratia is Latin for Grace Alone. Sola Fide is Latin for Faith Alone. Sola Scriptura is Latin for Scripture Alone. Solus Christus is Latin for Christ Alone. Sola Deo Gloria is Latin for To God Alone be the Glory. Reformed Christians aka Calvinists borrowed the Solas from us Lutherans.
Music in Lutheranism is diverse like our church bodies. Our Liturgical Hymns and Chants include, but are not limited to the Gloria, Kyrie, Agnus Dei, The Great Thanksgiving, and Sanctus. Our Traditional Hymns include, but are not limited to Circa 20 hymns composed by Martin Luther "himself," Catholic Latin Hymns, Lutheran and Mennonite German Hymns, Lutheran English Hymns, Methodist English Hymns, Lutheran and Catholic Spanish Hymns, Anglican English Hymns, and American Hymns from a variety of Christian Traditions. Many Lutheran congregation have a contemporary service along with the Mass, unless they no longer use the Mass. There are Contemporary Hymns and Praise and Worship Songs used at both the Mass and at contemporary worship services.
There are several Lutheran church bodies in The United States of America today. The largest, most liberal and least Lutheran church body is The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the head of The ELCA is Arch-Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. Elizabeth Eaton is a fake Lutheran, a fake bishop, and a fake Christian. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) is one of the most conservative Lutheran church bodies in the USA and the Reverend Dr. Matthew Harrison is our current President. I hope and pray, that he'll be re-elected President of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. I love being a member of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) in an ELCA break-off church without gay clergy and gay marriage and they don't pay for abortion, like The ELCA does with offering dollars in their clergy and church workers' healthcare plans. Bishop John F. Bradosky is the top pastor in The NALC. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is a very conservative church bodies like The LCMS, but they are a little too strict, and Reverend Mark Schroeder is their President. I might include other Lutheran church bodies in this spot later.
Some famous and important Lutherans in world history, church history, and politics include, but are not limited to the following people, Congresswomen Michele Bachmann (R), German Chancellor Angelika Merkel (DCU), German President Joachim Gauck (I), but sadly Gauck has Socialist Leanings, Reverend Dietrich Bonhöffer, who was a German Lutheran pastor murdered by the Nazis during World War II, Former Ohio Senate President and Current Ohio Auditor or State Keith Faber (R), Jim Buchy (R) Mercer County Representative to the Ohio State House, and me, James W. O'Flannery and I'm the Second Most Successful Local Author in Lima, Ohio. Former Speaker of the US House Newt Gingrich is a former Lutheran and former Baptist, but now he is Catholic.
My Books: My published books are Christian romance novels and a Greek and Roman Mythology book, but I also have history books in the works. The Adventures of Richard McMurphy is my first book. The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 1 is my second book. A Survey of Classical Mythology is my third book. The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 2 is my fourth book. My fifth book will be called The Rising of The Moon Book 2: Faith, Hope, and Love and it should be published and available sometime this summer or fall. My first history book, which will be my sixth book, will come out sometime in the future after Moon Book 2 and this history book shall be called Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays.
Stores: My books are available at the following stores; Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Lima Hallmark Stores on Elm Street and out at Eastgate Plaza, Jen's Furniture and Collectibles on High Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) in St. Marys, Ohio, Wagner's IGA, and the Shop page of this website.
James W. O'Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)