Difference Between Lutheran Church and Catholic Church
Both the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church propagate the Christian faith. Both the churches believe in their God as the ultimate salvation of humanity. Again, both the Lutheran and Catholic churches believe in the Bible and observe all the Christian sacraments. However, there are certain differences between them because of which the Catholic and Lutheran churches are never reconciled.
The Lutheran Church:
Martin Luther, also known as the ‘Father of Reform, founded the Lutheran church. Lutheran beliefs have taught that true salvation can be attained only by the grace of God and faith in Christ alone and nothing more. The Lutheran church accepts the Apostles and the Nicene and Athanasian principles as true statements of faith. It recognizes the Holy Trinity, believes that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and that the Gospel is the Word of God. Lutherans have two holy sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion in which they practice infant and adult baptisms.
The Catholic Church:
The Catholic Church has some beliefs in common with the Lutherans. Lutherans were once part of Roman Catholicism; therefore, some of their principles and doctrines are similar, except those that they specifically reformed or changed. One of them is in contrast to what the Catholics believe that salvation can be attained through complete faith in God and through kind deeds to others. Another difference is that Catholic Lutherans do not accept the Pope as the highest authority, but consider him acting in the temporal capacity as Vicar of Christ.
The difference between Lutheran and Catholic churches:
The Lutheran Christians do not believe in transubstantiation in the Eucharist as Catholics do. Nor do they believe in Mary and the intercession of holy persons as the Catholics do. Those of the Catholic faith believe in purgatory, but the Lutherans do not. Another difference is that the Lutherans can ordain women as pastors or priests, which the Catholic Church cannot do. While Lutherans have two holy sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion, the Catholics have seven sacraments. These are Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Order and the Sacrament of the Sick.
Though both the churches belong to Christianity and follow the same religion, they cannot be reconciled. Over the years, all attempts to unite them in harmony have failed. However, each has to respect what the other believes in, to exist in harmony and peace.