Lutheran vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite
A side-by-side comparison of Lutheran and Anabaptist / Mennonite teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Lutheran
Lutheranism grew from Martin Luther’s reforming work in Germany from 1517. It is built on justification by grace through faith and the authority of Scripture, while keeping a liturgical form of worship and a strong view of the sacraments.
Anabaptist / Mennonite
The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.
At a glance
Where they differ: Predestination and free will; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Style of worship.
Varies within one or both: Church government; Clergy and women in ministry.
Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Can a saved person fall away?; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Lutheran | Anabaptist / Mennonite |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree | Scripture alone is the final norm for doctrine. The Book of Concord (the Lutheran confessions) is held as a faithful statement of what Scripture teaches. | Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount. |
| Books of the BibleAgree | 66 books. The Apocrypha is not part of the canon, though Luther held that it is useful and good to read. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | Holds the Nicene, Apostles’ and Athanasian Creeds. One God in three persons. | One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian. |
| How a person is savedAgree | Justification by grace alone through faith alone. God declares the sinner righteous for Christ’s sake, and good works follow as the fruit of faith rather than a condition of it. | Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Agree | Yes. Lutherans teach that a believer can fall from faith by rejecting it, while holding that God is faithful and works to keep his people in the faith. | Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return. |
| Predestination and free willDiffer | God elects believers in Christ by grace alone, but Lutherans do not teach that he predestines anyone to damnation. Why some believe and others do not is left as a mystery. | Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start. |
| BaptismDiffer | A means of grace in which God gives forgiveness and faith. Infants are baptized, and the mode is usually pouring or sprinkling. | Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.” |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ | Christ’s body and blood are truly present “in, with and under” the bread and wine (sacramental union). The elements stay bread and wine. | A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some Lutherans also count absolution (confession). | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing. |
| Church governmentVaries | Varies. Some Lutheran bodies have bishops, including the Church of Sweden and the ELCA, which has a presiding bishop and synod bishops. Others do not, and the LCMS is led by a president and district presidents. | Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Varies. The ELCA ordains women and the LCMS does not. Pastors may marry. | Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women. |
| Mary and the saintsAgree | Mary is honored as the mother of the Lord and the saints as examples of faith. Lutherans do not pray to them, since Christ is the only mediator. | Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Purgatory is rejected. Believers who die are with Christ and await the resurrection, and unbelievers face eternal separation from God. | Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | Usually liturgical, using a set order with hymns, readings, a sermon and communion. Many congregations also use contemporary services. | Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsAgree | The Spirit works through Word and sacrament. Gifts are honored, but ecstatic gifts are not emphasized, and a charismatic movement exists within Lutheranism. | The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday. |
| Best known for | Justification by faith, the Small Catechism, congregational hymn singing and Luther’s translation of the Bible into German. | Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- Baptism
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Grace
- Justification
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Gifts?
- Sabbath
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