We're Lutheran

Above all, the Christian Lutheran faith desires to be faithfully centered in Jesus Christ and strives to let the Gospel of His life, teachings, death, and resurrection from the dead be the center of all we profess and do. The name “Lutheran” indicates a confession within the one holy, Christian church, rather than a denomination. However, the name Lutheran is also used in the title of many denominations across the globe (e.g. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod).

We believe in JESUS CHRIST. The Sacred Scriptures, in which we fully believe, teach that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. On Good Friday (in or about the year A.D. 33), Jesus died on the cross for us to atone for our sins and make peace between God and all humanity. Jesus also physically rose from the dead to show God's victory over death and give us real hope for eternal life. He grants everyone who hears and believes the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. According to the Scriptures, Jesus is God's way (the only way) for anyone enter and be certain of heaven. Want to know more? Contact us or come to one of our events and join the ongoing discussion of God's Holy Word.

We believe in the ONE HOLY CHRISTIAN AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH which consists of all those who hear the Gospel of Jesus and so have been called to believe and confess Him as Lord by the Spirit who works true faith through the Word and the Sacraments. It is this church that we have been baptized. It is this church that is built on the foundation that is Jesus Christ.

Who is MARTIN LUTHER? First, it should be noted that Lutherans do not worship Luther. We worship none other than the Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have access to the Father by the Spirit. Christ alone saves us and is worthy of our adoration and praise.

Luther is someone God set apart as sort of our "patron saint" of Christ-centered, cross-focused theology (study of God). He's an interesting fellow if you'd ever give him a chance to speak to you through his writings. We believe God used him in his day to help reform the Western church, that is, to help restore the church's teachings and practices to orthodoxy (agreement with the Scriptures—God's Word, rather than the wavering and or faulty opinions of councils or individuals).

Dr. Luther lived from AD 1483 to 1546. He was a pastor and professor in Wittenberg, Germany, a former monk of the Augustinian order, a hero in the eyes of many German people of his day because of his teachings and convictions, and an enemy and heretic to those who took offense at the things Luther said and did.

Luther wrote many things we love (only 35 volumes have been translated into English), including but not limited to: The Small Catechism, The Large Catechism, The Freedom of a Christian, and his Galatians Commentary. His work and influence also appears in the documents written to defend the faith Lutherans boldly believe, teach, and confess. These writings are contained in The Book of Concord of 1580.

He also wrote some things that he regretted, as do we. Luther was but a man, not God—a man who readily admitted fallibility and was sure of his great need of Christ Jesus and the forgiveness He brings. But when Luther spoke the things of God, the truth rings loud and clear—the sheep hear Jesus' voice. Praise God for raising up men like Luther to declare boldly and give out the mysteries of God according to His Word. We continue to love the best from Luther, to promote His Christ-centered and cross-focused teachings, and to reject the things he and the reformers rejected for the sake of the one Christian faith.

Lutheran Campus Ministry at University of Tennessee is part of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.