Lutheran/ Orthodox Origins
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Lutheranism
Origins
· Lutheranism grew out of the Roman Catholic tradition. Its roots run through the history of the Church to the Apostles.
· Martin Luther’s opposition to the false teachings of Rome led to the posting of the 95 Theses in 1517, his excommunication from the Roman church in 1520, and ultimately the Book of Concord in 1580 as a summary of true catholic teaching.
· Martin Stephan, a Lutheran bishop, led a group of Saxons from Germany to Perry County, Missouri. After a fallout with Bishop Stephan (sexual immorality charges,) C.F.W. Walther became the first President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in 1848.
Today there are 2.6 million Missouri Synod Lutherans.
Eastern Orthodoxy
Origins
· Eastern Orthodoxy is a Federation of Church Bodies. They are not unified under one head, as is Rome. Majority of the division of bodies is due to ethnicity. (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox etc.)
· Eastern Orthodoxy grew out of the “one undivided Church” early in the Church’s history. Christianity spread across all of the Roman Empire. Soon there were five major Bishoprics: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, and Constantinople. Over time, Rome became the center of Western Christendom and Constantinople the center of Eastern Christendom. The other three were eventually overrun by the Muslims.
· Throughout the years tension began to grow between the East and the West. The East especially took offense to an addition to the Nicene Creed. This addition called the “filioque” (and the Son) caused a deep division between the two.
· In 1054 AD the separation between the two became final. Pope Nicolas I excommunicated the whole Eastern Church. Constantinople returned the favor by excommunicating the Western Church.
· From 1204-1261 Crusaders from the West attempted to force a reunion on the Eastern Church by attacking and enslaving Constantinople. Christians were slaughtering Christians in the Name of God.
· In 1453 Constantinople fell to the Muslims and the Patriarch moved to Moscow.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 908 W. Main Middleville, MI 49333 +269-795-2391+ goodshepherdlcms@gmail.com