Lutheran vs. Church of Christ
A side-by-side comparison of Lutheran and Church of Christ 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.
Church of Christ
The Churches of Christ come from the American Restoration Movement of the early 1800s, which sought to return to the pattern of the New Testament church. Congregations are independent, and they are known for weekly communion and unaccompanied singing.
At a glance
Where they differ: How a person is saved; Predestination and free will; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Style of worship; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
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; Can a saved person fall away?; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Lutheran | Church of Christ |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The New Testament is the pattern for worship and church life. Practices are expected to be supported by a command, an example or a necessary inference from Scripture. |
| 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. Churches of Christ have no written creed and rest the belief directly on Scripture. |
| How a person is savedDiffer | 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, received through faith that includes repentance, confession of Christ and baptism. Baptism is taught as the point at which sins are forgiven, and faith is understood as active obedience. |
| 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. | Yes. A Christian who lives in sin without repenting can fall away, and Churches of Christ point to warnings such as Hebrews 6 and 10. |
| 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. | Rejects Calvinist predestination. God offers salvation to all and each person must choose to obey the gospel. |
| BaptismDiffer | A means of grace in which God gives forgiveness and faith. Infants are baptized, and the mode is usually pouring or sprinkling. | Immersion of a believer for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is taught as necessary for salvation, and infant baptism is rejected. |
| 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 observed every Sunday, since Acts 20:7 is taken to show the pattern of the early church. The elements are symbols. |
| 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. |
| 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. | Each congregation is fully autonomous and is led by a group of elders (also called shepherds or overseers). There is no denominational headquarters. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Varies. The ELCA ordains women and the LCMS does not. Pastors may marry. | Elders, preachers and public worship leaders are men. Women teach children and other women and take part in many other roles. |
| 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 honored as the mother of Jesus. There is no prayer to saints, and no role for saints in worship. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Purgatory is rejected. Believers who die are with Christ and await the resurrection, and unbelievers face eternal separation from God. | The dead await judgment in Hades, in comfort or in torment. After the resurrection the righteous enter heaven and the wicked face eternal punishment. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | Usually liturgical, using a set order with hymns, readings, a sermon and communion. Many congregations also use contemporary services. | A simple service of singing, prayer, preaching, communion and giving. Most congregations sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsDiffer | The Spirit works through Word and sacrament. Gifts are honored, but ecstatic gifts are not emphasized, and a charismatic movement exists within Lutheranism. | Generally teaches that miraculous gifts, such as tongues and healing, ended with the apostolic age. The Spirit is understood to work through the written Word. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). |
| Best known for | Justification by faith, the Small Catechism, congregational hymn singing and Luther’s translation of the Bible into German. | Weekly communion, unaccompanied singing, believer’s baptism for forgiveness and a determination to follow the New Testament pattern. |
“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
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Grace
- Justification
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- Baptism
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Gifts?
- 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
- 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?
- Sabbath
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