Lutheran Heresies
Sept 11, 2018 19:16:07 GMT -5
Post by Berean on Sept 11, 2018 19:16:07 GMT -5
Lutheran Heresies
What's wrong with the Lutheran religion?
by David J. Stewart
To get right to the point, the Lutheran "religion" came out of the Catholic religion (often falsely so called a "church"). However, the Catholic religion did not come out of the Lutheran religion. By the end of this article, you will also see that Martin Luther himself was a heretic. The Lutheran religion is a child of the parent Catholic monstrosity (the "MOTHER OF HARLOTS"--Revelation 17:5). The Catholic church is in no way a church. It is a false religion! For those of you who don't know, a church is not the same as a religion. A "church" is simply the assembling of two or more born-again believers in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20). We foolishly tend to believe that to be in a "church" that one must be in some type of building.
This is simply NOT true. You can meet with other believers in an open field or in someone's home and still be just as much a local church. The persecuted Christians during the brutal days of Rome met underground in the catacombs. "Religion" is all of man's traditions, lies, ceremonies, rituals and superstitions that imposters use in God's name as a crutch to take advantage of the masses (and they sure do). Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this dark and sinful world. You see friend, you need God, not religion. Religion is a sure road to hell and destruction (Matthew 7:13-15). You need the Lord Jesus Christ, not sacraments and rituals (Titus 3:5). Apart from simple faith in the loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, there can be no salvation (John 14:6).
The Lutheran religion is just that--religion! It is more religion than God, more ritualistic tradition than truth. Every false religion on the planet is cloaked with some degree of truth. Too many sincere people have churchianity without Christianity. I definitely include the Lutheran religion here. The average person today is utterly confused concerning what the truth really is. Baptism is a prime example. The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is NOT a sacrament (i.e., necessary for one's salvation). John 4:2 informs us that Jesus did not baptize, the disciples did. 1st Corinthians 1:17 clearly teaches that Paul did NOT come to baptize anybody, but he did come to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm now going to share with you a few teachings from the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther" featured on many Lutheran church websites. Of course, these writings are authored by Martin Luther himself. I had always heard that Martin Luther became a believer after reading that "the just shall live by faith;" however, I simply have to question the genuine salvation of any man who believed and taught baptismal regeneration.
"Q. What does Baptism give? What good is it?
A. It gives the forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the Devil, gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, just as God's words and promises declare."
—Martin Luther
This is heresy! The thief on the cross was never baptized, yet Jesus promised him paradise that day. Nobody in the Old Testament was ever baptized, but we read that Abraham "believed God" and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). You get your sins forgiven by placing your personal trust (faith) upon the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, NOT by getting wet through baptism. If you are a Lutheran who has been trusting in your baptism as the experience which forgive your sins, then you need to ask Jesus to forgive you immediately because you are not saved. As best you know how, simply ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart as your personal Saviour. If you rely upon baptism as a DOOR to salvation, then you are going to end up in hell when you die.
The Catholic church teaches in their Vatican II doctrines that baptism is "the door" into the Catholic church (and they teach the heresy that the Catholic church is Christ in the world). So according to the Vatican, only those who are baptized into the Catholic church will ever go to Heaven. That's a bunch of lies and damnable heresies! You do NOT need to belong to any church to be saved. You do NOT need to go to church to be saved. You do NOT have to be baptized, pasteurized or homogenized to go to Heaven...you just need God (Jesus Christ, Who came into this wicked world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind). Won't you trust Jesus Christ as your own Saviour right now before it's too late?
As I mentioned, the Lutheran religion came out of Catholicism, but Catholicism did NOT come out of the Lutheran movement. Proof of what I am saying is that Lutherans still practice infant baptism and the sacraments, just as the hellish Catholic religion does.
As a side note, I'm going to jump on all churches here. Anybody can buy a building and hang a church sign in front. Does this make the building a church? Of course not! What makes a building a church? Nothing! A building can NEVER be a church. A true local church is when born-again believers congregate together in Jesus' name (building or no building). So if a bunch of unsaved people get together, they are just playing church.
If a so-called "church" has deteriorated to the place where all that matters is the offering plate being passed, it is no longer a church but a den of thieves (I speak of ALL churches and denominations here). All too common these days, the congregation goes through the motions, sings a few old hymns, the pastor tells a joke or two, announcements are read, etc, etc...like clock work...then the money collection! Though the church prides itself that it is not a "dead church" like others, it is in denial of its own dying and backslidden condition (if not dead itself). It seems that MONEY is the biggest concern in our Christian colleges and churches these days. Money, money, money...give us more money. I have grown to the point where I greatly detest nearly all of what we call churches and religion today. It's at the point nowadays where one needs to actually leave church to grow in the Lord.
Believers are so carnal that money has become the big issue. Listen carefully! Anyone who claims to be of God and speaks about money more than other things, get away from him! It's a shame then so many sinister ministers use God as a crutch to put food in their belly, a roof over their head and clothes on their back. Get a real job and stop abusing the ministry! This thing of tithing is sickening, why do churches need so much money? Come to think of it, why do they need any money? The church in the book of Acts raised money for ONE thing, to help the poor.
Getting back to the Lutheran religion, the following is another quote from the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther."
"Q. What is confession?
A. Confession has two parts:
First, a person admits his or her sin
Second, a person receives absolution or forgiveness from the confessor, as if from God Godself, without doubting it, but believing firmly that his or her sins are forgiven by God in Heaven through it."
—Martin Luther
What a lie! This is heresy! No one can forgive your sins except Jesus Christ, God Almighty! It is the height of arrogance for any priest or pastor to claim the ability to absolve sins, this is totally unscriptural. We are advised to confess our "faults" one to another in James 5:16, but NEVER in the Bible are we told to confess our sins to anyone other than God alone. It is no one's business what sins you have committed. Who is your pastor or priest going to confess to? God? Then why can't you do the same. Read the following Scripture...
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" —1st Timothy 2:5
There is to be no one between you and God the Father other than the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son of God). This is 100% Bible, so NEVER confess your sins to any pastor (or any other human being for that matter). Only Jesus has the nail-scarred hands and feet, ONLY Jesus can forgive. Your minister or elder didn't die for your sins, he cannot (I repeat CANNOT) absolve your sins or anybody else's. Catholics and Lutherans will readily admit that don't consider Mary a "mediator" yet then why do they pray to her? Their words contradict their actions. They pray to Mary and say their "Hail Marys" and yet have the audacity to say that they worship God only.
No Lutheran would ever exalt Mary to the level of deity as the Catholic do, yet the Lutherans idolize Mary in their prayers and commit a more subtle form of idolatry. The bottom line is that what they are doing is totally unbiblical and it originated in the heathen Catholic religion. They are a confused bunch! In addition, the whole doctrine and practice of last rites is Satanic (the belief that a minister can forgive your sins on your death bed). If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour to forgive your sins, then all the priests and pastors in the world cannot keep your soul out of the fires of hell. It's turn or burn, it's Jesus or hell friend. Which will it be?
Q. What good does this eating and drinking do?
A. These words tell us: ``Given for you'' and ``Shed for you to forgive sins.'' Namely, that the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given to us through these words in the Sacrament. Because, where sins are forgiven, there is life and salvation as well.
—Martin Luther
Again, more lies of the devil. There are NO words of any Sacrament that can forgive sin. This is the ritualistic mumbo-jumbo that God hates. Do you really think that by reading certain words audibly that you can get your sins forgiven? I understand that the Lutherans stress the importance of believing these words in your heart, but where in the Bible does it teach that we MUST recite ANY words at all? It does not! Martin Luther was very ignorant of theology. If you call upon the name of the Lord in your sincerest attempt, you will be saved (Romans 10:13). According to Martin Luther's "Large Catechism," a person MUST practice the Sacrament of Baptism and Holy Communion in order to become a Christian. Remember, the Lutherans (as do the Catholics) believe that the Lord's Supper is a Sacrament (i.e., essential to one's salvation).
This is poppycock foolishness, not founded upon the Word of God. The Lutheran church prefers to call it the "Sacrament of the Alter" (holy communion) and the Catholics refer to it as the "Mass" or "Holy Eucharist." The Bible simply refers to it as the Lord's supper. So what is the Lord's supper? Scripturally, it is simply a time for us to stop everything and to reflect upon Christ's sacrifice of Himself upon the cross for our sins. It is a time of remembrance. To represent the body and shed blood of our Saviour, ONLY unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice should ever be used for the Lord's supper. Leaven and fermentation are decaying processing and certainly are not appropriate to represent the perfect sinless Lamb of God, Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
As with many false prophets, the writer of the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther" makes a deliberate effort to avoid taking any firm positions. Of course, the writer is Martin Luther himself. He "beats around the bush" (so-to-speak) without making any concrete points to argue. However, for the Bible-believing Christian who is skilled in the Word of God, the subtly of the author cannot hide his true intent. Martin Luther taught that water baptism and the Sacrament of the alter (Holy Communion) are necessary to salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
—Romans 11:6
You can't have it both ways. it's either by grace or by works! Either you are trying to work your way into heaven (which is a sure road to hell), or else you are trusting upon God's grace by placing your faith in the crucified Lord Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther was a Mary worshipper. Luther's many writings more than clearly reveal his Catholic allegiance to Mary. Listen folks, Mary was a SINNER! Mary was not born of a virgin, nor were any of her other children besides Jesus. The only human being to ever be born into this world by a virgin birth was Jesus Christ, the ONLY begotten Son of God. Listen to the unscriptural ramblings of Luther...
"Our prayer should include the Mother of God…What the Hail Mary says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!" You see that these words are not concerned with prayer but purely with giving praise and honor… We can use the Hail Mary as a meditation in which we recite what grace God has given her. Second, we should add a wish that everyone may know and respect her… He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary." (Personal Prayer Book, 1522).
—Martin Luther
This is Satanic heresy, plain and simple! I've never said a "hail Mary" in my life and don't plan to start either. How silly and foolish for anyone to believe and practice such idolatry. I have nothing against the lady named Mary in heaven which gave birth to our earthly Saviour. I do have a problem with praising, adoring or even mentioning her in our prayers. Why? Because the first of the ten commandments forbids us to worship anyone other than God.
For a Catholic or Lutheran to claim to worship God only THROUGH Mary is heresy, a lie of the devil. We are clearly warned in 1st Timothy 2:5 that there is only ONE Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary CANNOT mediate for you! And by the way, neither can the pope or your pastor. I speak the truth, you must decide for yourself. Most people make light of the truth and could care less about God or His TRUTH. Is your doctrine of God? Is it grounded firmly in the Bible? Can you back up what you believe with God's Word? Show me ONE, just one verse in the entire Bible that even remotely indicates that we should recognize Mary in ANY way. You cannot! On the contrary, Mary magnified Christ.
"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." —John 2:5
Mary was a godly woman, no more...no less. It is wicked idolatry to say "hail Mary." It is a horrible, horrible sin to bow to Mary in any manner (statue or no statue). The Lutherans are committing sin if they "hail Mary." Even if the sincere intention is to indirectly worship God THROUGH Mary, it is wicked and wrong to do such a thing--it is idolatry. Mary worship is a sin.
I am proud to say I am NOT a Lutheran or a Catholic. I am a Christian, plain and simple. I do not pride myself in being part of any denomination or religious camp. I am a Christian! Why do nearly all religious people have a dyer need to wear a label of some sort? Are we afraid to stand alone? I have faith in God, end of statement. I have no allegiance for any man-made organization or religious authority. I serve the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone will I answer to. I've seen too many believers become saint worshippers. Meaning, they follow a man (or men) instead of God.
Of course they know it's wrong to do so, so they live in denial of what they are doing. This is why you'll often see religious people following a man who is going down spiritually. When Jesse Jackson was exposed in the news for his extra-marital affairs and child out of wedlock, his religious followers stood strong by his side. Though I admire their willingness to forgive their leader, where does holiness and being a true man of God come into place? It appears that anything goes nowadays. Do those folks care about what God thinks? I'll let you answer for yourself, I condemn no one.
Who are you following? Who are you giving your offering money to? What is your church doing with that money? All I am saying is that you had better learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF. Start asking questions. Crooked ministers live high on the hog because of dumb religious people. It's sad but true. Why do you give them your money? To ease your religious guilt? To make you feel better? To stay on good terms with the leadership at your church? To impress others? You do not need to go to church to be spiritual, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. I am not criticizing going to church, not at all. I am simply saying that it's about time that people start caring more about THE TRUTH and what God wants from us, instead of trying to figure out what our church wants from us (money mostly). God wants your heart, most churches want your pocketbook.
In conclusion, the Lutheran religion is BAD NEWS! It is a hybrid of Catholicism and Christian doctrine. The Catholic religion itself is a hybrid of all kinds of false religions, Vatican traditions and Christian teachings. This of course is tragic! Untold billions of people have gone to hell because of the damnable heresies of the Catholic religion. The Lutheran teachings of baptismal regeneration (teaching baptism as a Sacrament), the Sacrament of holy communion and Mary worship (though they won't admit it) are more than enough to define them as a false religion in light of the Word of God. Though many profess to be saved Christians, we are clearly warned in the Scriptures that adding anything to simple faith in Christ is no faith at all. I've witnesses to Jehovah Witnesses who declared their acceptance of Christ as Saviour (the wrong Saviour of course because they deny the deity of Christ).
Just as the Jehovah Witnesses are false prophets, so are the Lutherans who teach that one is "normally" saved through a Sacrament of baptism. In addition, to teach the the Sacrament of Alter (the holy communion) can forgive sin by reciting a bunch of ceremonial and ritualistic prayers is bogus. What's with the "Hail Mary, full of grace...?" This is a wicked practice and should NEVER be practiced by anyone who truly loves the Lord Jesus Christ.
The bottom line is that the Lutherans are still very much Catholic in their beliefs and practices. Don't be deceived. Even the Catholics will claim that salvation is by faith, and works. They believe BOTH are essential to salvation. Of course, Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 blow that lie right out of the water. No one can be saved through works, it is absolutely impossible. Only though child-like faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ (His death, burial and resurrection) can we be saved. This is a one-time happening. Once we accept Jesus into our heart, He comes in to stay forever and ever. We must be born-again. For the Lutheran religion to even try to mimic the Catholic religion is a shame and is leading multitudes into hell. The Seventh-day Adventist cult is very subtle as well.
They claim to be Christians who have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. They even believe in the deity of Christ. However, they clearly teach that faith alone in Christ is NOT enough to be saved. They believe that the life they live will be evaluated by Jesus after they die (what they call Christ's work of "Investigative judgment." If Jesus determines them to be worthy, they go to heaven; If not, they go to hell). Nothing could be further from the truth. No one is "worthy" of salvation and heaven, we all deserve to go to hell. Accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour is all that God requires of you to be saved, nothing more. I only brought this point up to stress my concerns that the Lutherans are doing the same thing, but in a different way. To add anything to salvation is "legalism" or "works salvation."
To add the holy communion or baptism as "Sacraments" is to nullify any professed faith in Christ. Why cannot the Lutherans simply place their faith in Christ? What's with the Sacraments? Why the religion? I hope you see the grave danger of what they are doing. I sincerely doubt the salvation of most Lutheran people. I say "most" because I believe that some of them do understand the difference between faith and works. However, in such a subtle and confusing religion, I fear that MANY people will fall into the Catholic path and end up burning in hell someday. You couldn't do anything to convince me to become a Lutheran, that's simply way too much religious phony baloney for me. Just give me the Bible and simple faith in God, that's all I need.
Kindest regards,
David J. Stewart
The Lutheran Church Exposed!
Official Website - www.elca.org (Evangelical Lutheran); www.lcms.org (Missouri Synod); www.alc.org (American Lutheran Church)
Stats - 8 million USA 60 million Worldwide
Background and Formation
In 1517 on October 31, Martin Luther nailed a thesis of 95 reasons he believed the Roman Catholic Church was in error on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany, and because of this the Pope excommunicated Luther in 1520 and the Lutheran Church had its beginning. Other “Protestant” churches would follow. The REFORMATION was off and running.
Beliefs and Practices
The way of Life Encyclopedia and Christianity notes (pg 84)
While Luther rejected many Roman Catholic dogmas, such as the pope and sacramental salvation and Mariolatry, and while he proclaimed that salvation is solely by grace through faith without works and that the Bible is the sole authority for the church and Christian life, he did not return to the simple N.T. faith.
Lutherans have historically believed in the God of the Bible and in the trinity. They believe the Bible is God's inspired Word. They feel free to use and promote all of the newer bible versions and do not promote the KJV as the most accurate Bible version. They believe Jesus is Deity, God in the flesh, who died for our sins. As we will see below, Lutherans believe Baptism is necessary for salvation and according to Mayer's THE RELIGIOUS BODIES OF AMERICA (p157)...
"The confessions reject in unmistakable terms the theory of 'once in grace, always in grace".
Therefore, it seems Lutherans reject Eternal Security and thus Lutherans must reject Assurance of Salvation so that the Lutheran can not say he knows he is going to heaven because he can fail and turn his back on Christ during this life.
Here are some particular beliefs of the Lutheran Church:
1. Lutherans practice INFANT BAPTISM and “baptized persons are believed to receive the gift of regeneration from the Holy Ghost”. (Mead’s Handbook of Denominations, 11th Ed. pg 177)
While baptizing an infant or an adult, the Lutheran minister makes this statement: “Almighty God....Who hath begotten thee again of water and the Holy Ghost, and hath forgiven thee all thy sin, strengthen thee with His grace unto life everlasting.” In his prayer to God during the baptism of an infant, the Lutheran minister says: “Almighty and Most Merciful God...we thank Thee...that Thou has granted to this child the new birth in Holy Baptism, and received him as Thy child and heir to Thy kingdom.” This doctrine of baptismal regeneration has caused multitudes to trust a ritual rather than Christ, to be confused as to what a true Christian is, and to die with a false hope of salvation.
The International Dictionary of the Christian Church (pg. 613) states:
“Baptism is regarded as the water of REGENERATION, a means by which the new birth is effected, especially in infants.” Lutheran pg. 2
2. Lutherans have retained a Roman Catholic - like MASS.
Mead says (pg. 77) "The two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s supper, are not merely signs or memorials, but channels through which God bestows forgiving and empowering grace upon humankind." The body and blood of Christ are believed to be present “in, with and under” the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper and are received sacramentally and supernaturally. The Lord’s supper is not a mere memorial meal, but was instituted by Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF SINS...in the bread and wine of the Holy Supper the body and blood of Christ Himself are PRESENT.” (ibid pg 613).
3. Lutheran Church services tend to be RITUALISTIC often retaining much of the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Along with the formal, liturgical style of worship with prayer books, special robed clergy, the mass-type communion is translated from the Latin into the language of the people. Congregational singing of hymns is stressed and the preaching of sermons based upon the exposition of Scripture is placed in the center of the worship. (Theological students who plan to become ministers are required to learn Hebrew and Greek.)
4. The Lutheran Churches ordain WOMEN as clergy and ministers. As of 1993, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) branch of Lutheranism had 1,358 ordained women clergy.
5. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran group in America, is a member of the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches and is very ECUMENICAL in its approach to cooperation with other religious faiths.
(The LCMS...Missouri Synod and the WELS...Wisconsin are NOT members of the NCC and WCC).
Recall the NCC states that different faiths can go to heaven whether they go thru Jesus Christ or not...and at the recent WCC conference prayer was led to the goddess Sophia...Mother God. The dues of these member churches goes to the NCC and WCC to support these things.
A survey published in 1970 revealed that 51% of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (one of the more conservative Lutheran groups) denominational leaders and professors believed the Bible is the Word of God.
6. Regarding Predestination, Lutheranism teaches that God has ELECTED certain men for salvation in Christ Jesus before the beginning of the world, but Lutheranism does not teach a REPROBATION to HELL.
7. The Confessions and Creeds of historic Lutheranism ‘reject in unmistakable terms the theory of ‘ONCE IN GRACE, ALWAYS IN GRACE’ (The Religious Bodies of America pg. 157).
8. The Lutheran Churches promote the use of the newer Bible versions and reject KJV Onlyism.
9. The Lutheran Church historically has not been charismatic and has not taught speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit is for today. However, as we speak, the Charismatic Movement is making great inroads in many of the denominations, and it may be in the Lutheran Church by now.
10. The Lutheran church does not oppose Abortion and does not oppose Homosexuality. In 1970 the ELCA stated "a woman or couple may decide to seek an abortion." They also stated regarding homosexuality, "Homosexuality is viewed as a departure from the heterosexual structure of God's Creation, but homosexuals are entitled to 'understanding and Justice' in church and community. (Italics mine)
END
Access the following at the link
False Religions
Lutheran Lies
Lutheranism Exposed!
Infant Baptism Exposed
Damnable Lutheran Doctrines
The Truth About Martin Luther
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Martin Luther was a Mary Worshipper
What's Wrong With The Lutheran Religion?
Who Can Forgive Sins? (by Dr. Max D. Younce, Th.D)
Martin Luther — Master Of Deceit
(An excellent 277 page online book by Dr. Max D. Younce, Th.D.)
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AUDIO SERMONS BY PASTOR MAX D. YOUNCE
Infant Baptism -part 1 | MP3
Infant Baptism -part 2 | MP3
Martin Luther -Master of Deceit -part 1 | MP3
Martin Luther -Master of Deceit -part 2 | MP3
Martin Luther and the 10 Commandments | MP3
Martin Luther's Unbiblical Philosophies:
Part One | MP3
Part Two | MP3
Part Three | MP3
Ye Must Be Born Again!
What's wrong with the Lutheran religion?
by David J. Stewart
To get right to the point, the Lutheran "religion" came out of the Catholic religion (often falsely so called a "church"). However, the Catholic religion did not come out of the Lutheran religion. By the end of this article, you will also see that Martin Luther himself was a heretic. The Lutheran religion is a child of the parent Catholic monstrosity (the "MOTHER OF HARLOTS"--Revelation 17:5). The Catholic church is in no way a church. It is a false religion! For those of you who don't know, a church is not the same as a religion. A "church" is simply the assembling of two or more born-again believers in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20). We foolishly tend to believe that to be in a "church" that one must be in some type of building.
This is simply NOT true. You can meet with other believers in an open field or in someone's home and still be just as much a local church. The persecuted Christians during the brutal days of Rome met underground in the catacombs. "Religion" is all of man's traditions, lies, ceremonies, rituals and superstitions that imposters use in God's name as a crutch to take advantage of the masses (and they sure do). Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this dark and sinful world. You see friend, you need God, not religion. Religion is a sure road to hell and destruction (Matthew 7:13-15). You need the Lord Jesus Christ, not sacraments and rituals (Titus 3:5). Apart from simple faith in the loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, there can be no salvation (John 14:6).
The Lutheran religion is just that--religion! It is more religion than God, more ritualistic tradition than truth. Every false religion on the planet is cloaked with some degree of truth. Too many sincere people have churchianity without Christianity. I definitely include the Lutheran religion here. The average person today is utterly confused concerning what the truth really is. Baptism is a prime example. The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is NOT a sacrament (i.e., necessary for one's salvation). John 4:2 informs us that Jesus did not baptize, the disciples did. 1st Corinthians 1:17 clearly teaches that Paul did NOT come to baptize anybody, but he did come to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm now going to share with you a few teachings from the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther" featured on many Lutheran church websites. Of course, these writings are authored by Martin Luther himself. I had always heard that Martin Luther became a believer after reading that "the just shall live by faith;" however, I simply have to question the genuine salvation of any man who believed and taught baptismal regeneration.
"Q. What does Baptism give? What good is it?
A. It gives the forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the Devil, gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, just as God's words and promises declare."
—Martin Luther
This is heresy! The thief on the cross was never baptized, yet Jesus promised him paradise that day. Nobody in the Old Testament was ever baptized, but we read that Abraham "believed God" and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). You get your sins forgiven by placing your personal trust (faith) upon the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, NOT by getting wet through baptism. If you are a Lutheran who has been trusting in your baptism as the experience which forgive your sins, then you need to ask Jesus to forgive you immediately because you are not saved. As best you know how, simply ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart as your personal Saviour. If you rely upon baptism as a DOOR to salvation, then you are going to end up in hell when you die.
The Catholic church teaches in their Vatican II doctrines that baptism is "the door" into the Catholic church (and they teach the heresy that the Catholic church is Christ in the world). So according to the Vatican, only those who are baptized into the Catholic church will ever go to Heaven. That's a bunch of lies and damnable heresies! You do NOT need to belong to any church to be saved. You do NOT need to go to church to be saved. You do NOT have to be baptized, pasteurized or homogenized to go to Heaven...you just need God (Jesus Christ, Who came into this wicked world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind). Won't you trust Jesus Christ as your own Saviour right now before it's too late?
As I mentioned, the Lutheran religion came out of Catholicism, but Catholicism did NOT come out of the Lutheran movement. Proof of what I am saying is that Lutherans still practice infant baptism and the sacraments, just as the hellish Catholic religion does.
As a side note, I'm going to jump on all churches here. Anybody can buy a building and hang a church sign in front. Does this make the building a church? Of course not! What makes a building a church? Nothing! A building can NEVER be a church. A true local church is when born-again believers congregate together in Jesus' name (building or no building). So if a bunch of unsaved people get together, they are just playing church.
If a so-called "church" has deteriorated to the place where all that matters is the offering plate being passed, it is no longer a church but a den of thieves (I speak of ALL churches and denominations here). All too common these days, the congregation goes through the motions, sings a few old hymns, the pastor tells a joke or two, announcements are read, etc, etc...like clock work...then the money collection! Though the church prides itself that it is not a "dead church" like others, it is in denial of its own dying and backslidden condition (if not dead itself). It seems that MONEY is the biggest concern in our Christian colleges and churches these days. Money, money, money...give us more money. I have grown to the point where I greatly detest nearly all of what we call churches and religion today. It's at the point nowadays where one needs to actually leave church to grow in the Lord.
Believers are so carnal that money has become the big issue. Listen carefully! Anyone who claims to be of God and speaks about money more than other things, get away from him! It's a shame then so many sinister ministers use God as a crutch to put food in their belly, a roof over their head and clothes on their back. Get a real job and stop abusing the ministry! This thing of tithing is sickening, why do churches need so much money? Come to think of it, why do they need any money? The church in the book of Acts raised money for ONE thing, to help the poor.
Getting back to the Lutheran religion, the following is another quote from the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther."
"Q. What is confession?
A. Confession has two parts:
First, a person admits his or her sin
Second, a person receives absolution or forgiveness from the confessor, as if from God Godself, without doubting it, but believing firmly that his or her sins are forgiven by God in Heaven through it."
—Martin Luther
What a lie! This is heresy! No one can forgive your sins except Jesus Christ, God Almighty! It is the height of arrogance for any priest or pastor to claim the ability to absolve sins, this is totally unscriptural. We are advised to confess our "faults" one to another in James 5:16, but NEVER in the Bible are we told to confess our sins to anyone other than God alone. It is no one's business what sins you have committed. Who is your pastor or priest going to confess to? God? Then why can't you do the same. Read the following Scripture...
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" —1st Timothy 2:5
There is to be no one between you and God the Father other than the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son of God). This is 100% Bible, so NEVER confess your sins to any pastor (or any other human being for that matter). Only Jesus has the nail-scarred hands and feet, ONLY Jesus can forgive. Your minister or elder didn't die for your sins, he cannot (I repeat CANNOT) absolve your sins or anybody else's. Catholics and Lutherans will readily admit that don't consider Mary a "mediator" yet then why do they pray to her? Their words contradict their actions. They pray to Mary and say their "Hail Marys" and yet have the audacity to say that they worship God only.
No Lutheran would ever exalt Mary to the level of deity as the Catholic do, yet the Lutherans idolize Mary in their prayers and commit a more subtle form of idolatry. The bottom line is that what they are doing is totally unbiblical and it originated in the heathen Catholic religion. They are a confused bunch! In addition, the whole doctrine and practice of last rites is Satanic (the belief that a minister can forgive your sins on your death bed). If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour to forgive your sins, then all the priests and pastors in the world cannot keep your soul out of the fires of hell. It's turn or burn, it's Jesus or hell friend. Which will it be?
Q. What good does this eating and drinking do?
A. These words tell us: ``Given for you'' and ``Shed for you to forgive sins.'' Namely, that the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given to us through these words in the Sacrament. Because, where sins are forgiven, there is life and salvation as well.
—Martin Luther
Again, more lies of the devil. There are NO words of any Sacrament that can forgive sin. This is the ritualistic mumbo-jumbo that God hates. Do you really think that by reading certain words audibly that you can get your sins forgiven? I understand that the Lutherans stress the importance of believing these words in your heart, but where in the Bible does it teach that we MUST recite ANY words at all? It does not! Martin Luther was very ignorant of theology. If you call upon the name of the Lord in your sincerest attempt, you will be saved (Romans 10:13). According to Martin Luther's "Large Catechism," a person MUST practice the Sacrament of Baptism and Holy Communion in order to become a Christian. Remember, the Lutherans (as do the Catholics) believe that the Lord's Supper is a Sacrament (i.e., essential to one's salvation).
This is poppycock foolishness, not founded upon the Word of God. The Lutheran church prefers to call it the "Sacrament of the Alter" (holy communion) and the Catholics refer to it as the "Mass" or "Holy Eucharist." The Bible simply refers to it as the Lord's supper. So what is the Lord's supper? Scripturally, it is simply a time for us to stop everything and to reflect upon Christ's sacrifice of Himself upon the cross for our sins. It is a time of remembrance. To represent the body and shed blood of our Saviour, ONLY unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice should ever be used for the Lord's supper. Leaven and fermentation are decaying processing and certainly are not appropriate to represent the perfect sinless Lamb of God, Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
As with many false prophets, the writer of the "Small Catechism of Martin Luther" makes a deliberate effort to avoid taking any firm positions. Of course, the writer is Martin Luther himself. He "beats around the bush" (so-to-speak) without making any concrete points to argue. However, for the Bible-believing Christian who is skilled in the Word of God, the subtly of the author cannot hide his true intent. Martin Luther taught that water baptism and the Sacrament of the alter (Holy Communion) are necessary to salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
—Romans 11:6
You can't have it both ways. it's either by grace or by works! Either you are trying to work your way into heaven (which is a sure road to hell), or else you are trusting upon God's grace by placing your faith in the crucified Lord Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther was a Mary worshipper. Luther's many writings more than clearly reveal his Catholic allegiance to Mary. Listen folks, Mary was a SINNER! Mary was not born of a virgin, nor were any of her other children besides Jesus. The only human being to ever be born into this world by a virgin birth was Jesus Christ, the ONLY begotten Son of God. Listen to the unscriptural ramblings of Luther...
"Our prayer should include the Mother of God…What the Hail Mary says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!" You see that these words are not concerned with prayer but purely with giving praise and honor… We can use the Hail Mary as a meditation in which we recite what grace God has given her. Second, we should add a wish that everyone may know and respect her… He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary." (Personal Prayer Book, 1522).
—Martin Luther
This is Satanic heresy, plain and simple! I've never said a "hail Mary" in my life and don't plan to start either. How silly and foolish for anyone to believe and practice such idolatry. I have nothing against the lady named Mary in heaven which gave birth to our earthly Saviour. I do have a problem with praising, adoring or even mentioning her in our prayers. Why? Because the first of the ten commandments forbids us to worship anyone other than God.
For a Catholic or Lutheran to claim to worship God only THROUGH Mary is heresy, a lie of the devil. We are clearly warned in 1st Timothy 2:5 that there is only ONE Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary CANNOT mediate for you! And by the way, neither can the pope or your pastor. I speak the truth, you must decide for yourself. Most people make light of the truth and could care less about God or His TRUTH. Is your doctrine of God? Is it grounded firmly in the Bible? Can you back up what you believe with God's Word? Show me ONE, just one verse in the entire Bible that even remotely indicates that we should recognize Mary in ANY way. You cannot! On the contrary, Mary magnified Christ.
"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." —John 2:5
Mary was a godly woman, no more...no less. It is wicked idolatry to say "hail Mary." It is a horrible, horrible sin to bow to Mary in any manner (statue or no statue). The Lutherans are committing sin if they "hail Mary." Even if the sincere intention is to indirectly worship God THROUGH Mary, it is wicked and wrong to do such a thing--it is idolatry. Mary worship is a sin.
I am proud to say I am NOT a Lutheran or a Catholic. I am a Christian, plain and simple. I do not pride myself in being part of any denomination or religious camp. I am a Christian! Why do nearly all religious people have a dyer need to wear a label of some sort? Are we afraid to stand alone? I have faith in God, end of statement. I have no allegiance for any man-made organization or religious authority. I serve the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone will I answer to. I've seen too many believers become saint worshippers. Meaning, they follow a man (or men) instead of God.
Of course they know it's wrong to do so, so they live in denial of what they are doing. This is why you'll often see religious people following a man who is going down spiritually. When Jesse Jackson was exposed in the news for his extra-marital affairs and child out of wedlock, his religious followers stood strong by his side. Though I admire their willingness to forgive their leader, where does holiness and being a true man of God come into place? It appears that anything goes nowadays. Do those folks care about what God thinks? I'll let you answer for yourself, I condemn no one.
Who are you following? Who are you giving your offering money to? What is your church doing with that money? All I am saying is that you had better learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF. Start asking questions. Crooked ministers live high on the hog because of dumb religious people. It's sad but true. Why do you give them your money? To ease your religious guilt? To make you feel better? To stay on good terms with the leadership at your church? To impress others? You do not need to go to church to be spiritual, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. I am not criticizing going to church, not at all. I am simply saying that it's about time that people start caring more about THE TRUTH and what God wants from us, instead of trying to figure out what our church wants from us (money mostly). God wants your heart, most churches want your pocketbook.
In conclusion, the Lutheran religion is BAD NEWS! It is a hybrid of Catholicism and Christian doctrine. The Catholic religion itself is a hybrid of all kinds of false religions, Vatican traditions and Christian teachings. This of course is tragic! Untold billions of people have gone to hell because of the damnable heresies of the Catholic religion. The Lutheran teachings of baptismal regeneration (teaching baptism as a Sacrament), the Sacrament of holy communion and Mary worship (though they won't admit it) are more than enough to define them as a false religion in light of the Word of God. Though many profess to be saved Christians, we are clearly warned in the Scriptures that adding anything to simple faith in Christ is no faith at all. I've witnesses to Jehovah Witnesses who declared their acceptance of Christ as Saviour (the wrong Saviour of course because they deny the deity of Christ).
Just as the Jehovah Witnesses are false prophets, so are the Lutherans who teach that one is "normally" saved through a Sacrament of baptism. In addition, to teach the the Sacrament of Alter (the holy communion) can forgive sin by reciting a bunch of ceremonial and ritualistic prayers is bogus. What's with the "Hail Mary, full of grace...?" This is a wicked practice and should NEVER be practiced by anyone who truly loves the Lord Jesus Christ.
The bottom line is that the Lutherans are still very much Catholic in their beliefs and practices. Don't be deceived. Even the Catholics will claim that salvation is by faith, and works. They believe BOTH are essential to salvation. Of course, Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 blow that lie right out of the water. No one can be saved through works, it is absolutely impossible. Only though child-like faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ (His death, burial and resurrection) can we be saved. This is a one-time happening. Once we accept Jesus into our heart, He comes in to stay forever and ever. We must be born-again. For the Lutheran religion to even try to mimic the Catholic religion is a shame and is leading multitudes into hell. The Seventh-day Adventist cult is very subtle as well.
They claim to be Christians who have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. They even believe in the deity of Christ. However, they clearly teach that faith alone in Christ is NOT enough to be saved. They believe that the life they live will be evaluated by Jesus after they die (what they call Christ's work of "Investigative judgment." If Jesus determines them to be worthy, they go to heaven; If not, they go to hell). Nothing could be further from the truth. No one is "worthy" of salvation and heaven, we all deserve to go to hell. Accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour is all that God requires of you to be saved, nothing more. I only brought this point up to stress my concerns that the Lutherans are doing the same thing, but in a different way. To add anything to salvation is "legalism" or "works salvation."
To add the holy communion or baptism as "Sacraments" is to nullify any professed faith in Christ. Why cannot the Lutherans simply place their faith in Christ? What's with the Sacraments? Why the religion? I hope you see the grave danger of what they are doing. I sincerely doubt the salvation of most Lutheran people. I say "most" because I believe that some of them do understand the difference between faith and works. However, in such a subtle and confusing religion, I fear that MANY people will fall into the Catholic path and end up burning in hell someday. You couldn't do anything to convince me to become a Lutheran, that's simply way too much religious phony baloney for me. Just give me the Bible and simple faith in God, that's all I need.
Kindest regards,
David J. Stewart
The Lutheran Church Exposed!
Official Website - www.elca.org (Evangelical Lutheran); www.lcms.org (Missouri Synod); www.alc.org (American Lutheran Church)
Stats - 8 million USA 60 million Worldwide
Background and Formation
In 1517 on October 31, Martin Luther nailed a thesis of 95 reasons he believed the Roman Catholic Church was in error on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany, and because of this the Pope excommunicated Luther in 1520 and the Lutheran Church had its beginning. Other “Protestant” churches would follow. The REFORMATION was off and running.
Beliefs and Practices
The way of Life Encyclopedia and Christianity notes (pg 84)
While Luther rejected many Roman Catholic dogmas, such as the pope and sacramental salvation and Mariolatry, and while he proclaimed that salvation is solely by grace through faith without works and that the Bible is the sole authority for the church and Christian life, he did not return to the simple N.T. faith.
Lutherans have historically believed in the God of the Bible and in the trinity. They believe the Bible is God's inspired Word. They feel free to use and promote all of the newer bible versions and do not promote the KJV as the most accurate Bible version. They believe Jesus is Deity, God in the flesh, who died for our sins. As we will see below, Lutherans believe Baptism is necessary for salvation and according to Mayer's THE RELIGIOUS BODIES OF AMERICA (p157)...
"The confessions reject in unmistakable terms the theory of 'once in grace, always in grace".
Therefore, it seems Lutherans reject Eternal Security and thus Lutherans must reject Assurance of Salvation so that the Lutheran can not say he knows he is going to heaven because he can fail and turn his back on Christ during this life.
Here are some particular beliefs of the Lutheran Church:
1. Lutherans practice INFANT BAPTISM and “baptized persons are believed to receive the gift of regeneration from the Holy Ghost”. (Mead’s Handbook of Denominations, 11th Ed. pg 177)
While baptizing an infant or an adult, the Lutheran minister makes this statement: “Almighty God....Who hath begotten thee again of water and the Holy Ghost, and hath forgiven thee all thy sin, strengthen thee with His grace unto life everlasting.” In his prayer to God during the baptism of an infant, the Lutheran minister says: “Almighty and Most Merciful God...we thank Thee...that Thou has granted to this child the new birth in Holy Baptism, and received him as Thy child and heir to Thy kingdom.” This doctrine of baptismal regeneration has caused multitudes to trust a ritual rather than Christ, to be confused as to what a true Christian is, and to die with a false hope of salvation.
The International Dictionary of the Christian Church (pg. 613) states:
“Baptism is regarded as the water of REGENERATION, a means by which the new birth is effected, especially in infants.” Lutheran pg. 2
2. Lutherans have retained a Roman Catholic - like MASS.
Mead says (pg. 77) "The two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s supper, are not merely signs or memorials, but channels through which God bestows forgiving and empowering grace upon humankind." The body and blood of Christ are believed to be present “in, with and under” the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper and are received sacramentally and supernaturally. The Lord’s supper is not a mere memorial meal, but was instituted by Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF SINS...in the bread and wine of the Holy Supper the body and blood of Christ Himself are PRESENT.” (ibid pg 613).
3. Lutheran Church services tend to be RITUALISTIC often retaining much of the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Along with the formal, liturgical style of worship with prayer books, special robed clergy, the mass-type communion is translated from the Latin into the language of the people. Congregational singing of hymns is stressed and the preaching of sermons based upon the exposition of Scripture is placed in the center of the worship. (Theological students who plan to become ministers are required to learn Hebrew and Greek.)
4. The Lutheran Churches ordain WOMEN as clergy and ministers. As of 1993, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) branch of Lutheranism had 1,358 ordained women clergy.
5. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran group in America, is a member of the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches and is very ECUMENICAL in its approach to cooperation with other religious faiths.
(The LCMS...Missouri Synod and the WELS...Wisconsin are NOT members of the NCC and WCC).
Recall the NCC states that different faiths can go to heaven whether they go thru Jesus Christ or not...and at the recent WCC conference prayer was led to the goddess Sophia...Mother God. The dues of these member churches goes to the NCC and WCC to support these things.
A survey published in 1970 revealed that 51% of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (one of the more conservative Lutheran groups) denominational leaders and professors believed the Bible is the Word of God.
6. Regarding Predestination, Lutheranism teaches that God has ELECTED certain men for salvation in Christ Jesus before the beginning of the world, but Lutheranism does not teach a REPROBATION to HELL.
7. The Confessions and Creeds of historic Lutheranism ‘reject in unmistakable terms the theory of ‘ONCE IN GRACE, ALWAYS IN GRACE’ (The Religious Bodies of America pg. 157).
8. The Lutheran Churches promote the use of the newer Bible versions and reject KJV Onlyism.
9. The Lutheran Church historically has not been charismatic and has not taught speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit is for today. However, as we speak, the Charismatic Movement is making great inroads in many of the denominations, and it may be in the Lutheran Church by now.
10. The Lutheran church does not oppose Abortion and does not oppose Homosexuality. In 1970 the ELCA stated "a woman or couple may decide to seek an abortion." They also stated regarding homosexuality, "Homosexuality is viewed as a departure from the heterosexual structure of God's Creation, but homosexuals are entitled to 'understanding and Justice' in church and community. (Italics mine)
END
Access the following at the link
False Religions
Lutheran Lies
Lutheranism Exposed!
Infant Baptism Exposed
Damnable Lutheran Doctrines
The Truth About Martin Luther
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Martin Luther was a Mary Worshipper
What's Wrong With The Lutheran Religion?
Who Can Forgive Sins? (by Dr. Max D. Younce, Th.D)
Martin Luther — Master Of Deceit
(An excellent 277 page online book by Dr. Max D. Younce, Th.D.)
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AUDIO SERMONS BY PASTOR MAX D. YOUNCE
Infant Baptism -part 1 | MP3
Infant Baptism -part 2 | MP3
Martin Luther -Master of Deceit -part 1 | MP3
Martin Luther -Master of Deceit -part 2 | MP3
Martin Luther and the 10 Commandments | MP3
Martin Luther's Unbiblical Philosophies:
Part One | MP3
Part Two | MP3
Part Three | MP3
Ye Must Be Born Again!
