Lutheran vs Anglican
Lutheranism started in the early 1530’s when catholic priest Martin Luther announced to reform the church and split from the Catholic Church in protest. Anglicans also split from Catholicism at about the same time as the Lutherans, in 1534, but both of them had very different significant reasons to leave the church.
Lutherans left the church to protest against the remission of the punishment of sins, whereas Anglicans left the church when King Henry of England outlawed Catholicism, and declared the Anglican Church to be the official religion. Lutheranism was founded in Germany, whereas Anglicanism started in England with Henry’s Act of Supremacy.
The reformation roots of both denominations are different; Lutherans have German, whereas Anglicans have an English reformation.
There are around 66 million followers of Lutheranism worldwide, whereas Anglicanism has 70 million adherents in 161 countries. Lutheranism dominates Germany and Scandinavia, whereas dominated areas by Anglicanism are in England. Lutheran’s original language is German, and English is Anglican’s original language.
Anglicans follow the Book of Common Prayers and Lutherans’ worship guide is the Book of Concord. Anglicans have the Episcopalian church in the USA, which is one of the major churches, whereas Lutherans’ major churches in USA are called ELCA, which stands for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and LCMS, which stands for Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Both of the denominations have many similarities between the creeds and confession, sacred text, the trinity, nature of Christ, resurrection of God etc. Lutherans believe in angels, Satan and demons, but Anglicans have a different faith. They also have a difference in beliefs regarding Mary, the body and soul, original sin, free will and atonement. Lutherans and Anglicans both deny purgatory and affirm eternal hell. Lutheranism believes in salvation, whereas Anglicans believe in building good relations with other religions.
Lutherans believe in the Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, Formula of Concord, Augsburg Confession and the Athanasian Creed, whereas Anglicans believe in the Apostles’ Creed and The Nicene Creed. Anglicans’ doctrine is based upon the scriptures, the gospels and the church father, whereas Lutherans’ basis for doctrine is the Bible only. Anglicans are inspired by the Catechism, whereas LCMS Lutherans are inspired and inerrant, but ELCA Lutherans are inspired but not inerrant.
Summary:
1. Lutheranism and Anglicanism both started in the early 1500’s, from Germany and England respectively.
2. Lutheranism was founded by Martin Luther, and Anglicanism was founded by King Henry.
3. Anglicans and Lutherans both believe in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed, whereas Lutherans also believe in the Formula of Concord, Augsburg Confession and the Athanisian Creed.
4. Anglicans and Lutherans both believe and accept the Trinity, the resurrection of God and nature of Christ.
5. Lutherans’ doctrine is based upon the Bible, whereas Anglicans’ doctrine basis is the church father, the gospel and the scriptures.