Lutheranism as an Influential Christian Movement

Varied histories and discussions have referred to Lutheranism as a movement. Viewing Lutheranism as a movement is from popular religious perspectives, especially in the U.S, where people tend to view  Christian groups in terms of denominations or other ecclesiastical organizations. However, the impact of Lutheranism is broader than particular organizations that bear the name Lutheran.

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, Lutheranism has often 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. Even some people who do not call themselves Lutheran are still heavily influenced by the Lutheran movement.

Of course, Lutheranism as a movement within the broader Christian context (such as within Anglicanism) can have weaknesses. There have been and still are weak or inconsistent theologies, and there are practical organizational inefficiencies. Yet, there can also be 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.

 

The understanding of Epiphany is one case where a subtle Lutheran influence can be detected. Lutherans have emphasized that Epiphany highlights the Gospel mission to the peoples. And that mission involves the proclamation of saving faith in Christ. So whatever our ecclesiastical affiliation, as we proclaim the biblical message of justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we participate in the ongoing evangelical mission emphasized by Luther and his followers.