Lutheran vs. Pentecostal
A side-by-side comparison of Lutheran and Pentecostal 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.
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism began in the early 1900s, notably at the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. It teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in Acts and 1 Corinthians, including tongues and healing, are active today. It is among the fastest-growing Christian movements.
At a glance
Where they differ: 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; How a person is saved; Can a saved person fall away?; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Lutheran | Pentecostal |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bible is the inspired and final authority. Believers also expect the Holy Spirit to guide them personally, always tested against 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. | Most Pentecostals, including the Assemblies of God, are Trinitarian. A smaller “Oneness” wing rejects the doctrine and teaches that Father, Son and Spirit are modes of one person. |
| 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 in Christ, usually with an emphasis on new birth and a personal experience of conversion. It is often followed by a distinct experience called baptism in the Holy Spirit. |
| 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. | Most classical Pentecostal bodies, such as the Assemblies of God, hold that a believer can forfeit salvation, though some Pentecostals teach eternal security. |
| 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. | Generally Arminian: Christ died for all, and each person can accept or refuse. A small number of Reformed Pentecostals hold to election. |
| BaptismDiffer | A means of grace in which God gives forgiveness and faith. Infants are baptized, and the mode is usually pouring or sprinkling. | Believer’s baptism by immersion, as an act of obedience and a public witness. Baptism is distinguished from baptism in the Holy Spirit. |
| 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. | An ordinance in memory of Christ’s death. It is often marked with a sense of God’s presence and healing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some Lutherans also count absolution (confession). | Two ordinances, water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some Pentecostal groups add 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. | Varies. The Assemblies of God combines congregational and presbyterian features, and the Church of God in Christ has bishops. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Varies. The ELCA ordains women and the LCMS does not. Pastors may marry. | Varies. The Assemblies of God ordains women, and some other Pentecostal bodies reserve pastoral office for men. |
| 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. Pentecostals do not pray to her or the 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. | Believers go directly into Christ’s presence at death. Pentecostals hold to a literal heaven and hell and expect the return of Christ. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | Usually liturgical, using a set order with hymns, readings, a sermon and communion. Many congregations also use contemporary services. | Expressive and Spirit-led, with lively music, spontaneous prayer, testimony and an openness to prophecy, tongues and healing. |
| 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. | All the gifts of the Spirit continue today. Most teach baptism in the Holy Spirit as a separate experience after conversion, and many teach speaking in tongues as the initial sign of it. |
| 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. | Speaking in tongues, healing, lively worship and rapid growth in Latin America, Africa and Asia. |
“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?
- 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
- 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?
- Sabbath
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Lutheran
Pentecostal
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- Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Pentecostal
- Pentecostal vs. Seventh-day Adventist
- Pentecostal vs. Church of Christ
- Pentecostal vs. Non-denominational