Lutheranism as a Christian Movement

Varied histories and discussions have referred to Lutheranism as a movement. One notable book even uses that description of Lutheranism in its title [Gritsch and Jenson's Lutheranism: The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings (1976)]. Viewing Lutheranism as a movement is somewhat different from popular religious perspectives, especially in the U.S. Most people tend to view Christian groups in terms of denominations or other ecclesiastical organizations, but the impact of Lutheranism is broader than particular organizations.

Beginning with Luther himself, Evangelical Lutheranism has remained a movement, sometimes expressed through organized bodies, and sometimes expressed despite them. Although distinguishing a movement from particular organizations can have weaknesses, sometimes Lutheranism has existed within other church organizations. The key to being Lutheran is not organization but loyalty to core Biblical and Reformation ideas. These ideas are found in Luther's biblical and theological writings, the Reformation solas, and the Lutheran confessional documents, especially the Augsburg Confession. 

In a broad sense, the label "Lutheran" has been applied to other Reformation figures, especially in England, such as Tyndale, the early Cranmer, Thomas Cromwell, and even Queen Elizabeth I.  "Lutheran" has been applied to or claimed by many other individuals over the centuries. In our time, many, including many Anglicans, are still influenced by the Lutheran movement. On the one hand, even some who do not call themselves Lutheran are still heavily influenced by the Lutheran movement, while on the other hand, there are differing degrees of loyalty to the insights of the Lutheran Reformation within professedly Lutheran groups.

Of course, there can be drawbacks to Lutheranism as a movement within a broad Christian context. There have been and still are weak theologies, arguments, uncharitable judgments, and practical organizational inefficiencies. Yet, there can also be great strength because Lutheranism as a movement within universal Christianity is not inextricably linked to any one time, culture, language, or ecclesiastical organization. Human organizations rise and fall, develop and wither, but the basic understanding of the Christian Gospel rediscovered by Luther survives. Epiphany highlights the Gospel mission to the peoples, which is at the heart of Lutheranism. So whatever our ecclesiastical affiliation, as we proclaim the biblical message of justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we continue the ongoing evangelical mission of reforming the church.