What are the differences between Catholics and Lutherans?
5 Major issues: 1. The authority of Scripture. Lutherans believe that Scripture alone has authority to determine doctrine; the Roman Catholic Church gives this authority also to the pope, the church, and certain traditions of the church. 2. The doctrine of justification. Lutherans believe that a person is saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The Roman Catholic Church, while at times using similar language, still officially holds that faith, in order to save, must be accompanied by some “work” active within a Christian. 3. The authority of the pope. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, Lutherans do not believe that the office of the papacy as such has any divine authority. 4. Differences remain about both the number and the nature of the sacraments. 2 for Lutheran vs. 7 for Catholics Lutherans believe that Christ’s body and blood are truly present in the Lord’s Supper, but they do not believe, with Catholics, that the bread and wine, are “changed into” Christ’s b
