As Lutherans, we share some beliefs with all Christians, some beliefs with other Lutherans, and some beliefs are specific to our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are a church that has an individual identity, is part of a regional body--the Southwestern Texas Synod, and is part of the larger denomination as well as connected throughout the world.
GOD
We believe in a trinitarian God. This means we believe in God the Creator, God the Redeemer, and God the Spirit (sometimes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). This is one God expressed in three persons, not three Gods (Matthew 28:19-20).
HUMANS
We believe that humans are created in God's image (Genesis 1:26) and that God loves us deeply (John 3:16). We fully support people of all genders, sexual orientations, abilities, races, family structures, and ages. We give special attention to "the least of these" (Matthew 25:31-46).
JESUS
Jesus, the son of God, came to earth to live and dwell among us (John 1:14). He was executed at the hands of the state because of his message of love, inclusivity, and the reign of God. On the third day, he was raised from the dead, defeating the power of death for all people for all time. He ascended into heaven and will return. Jesus and his teachings are central to our faith.
SIN
We believe that sin separates us from God, but that God bridges that separation through God's acts of forgiveness, grace, and love. We believe that God is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing" (Joel 2:13). We cannot save ourselves from sin, but God's grace covers all.
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is God's inspired Word. It was written by many individual people across millennia; while we believe in the truth of the Bible, we know that it has been copied, edited, and translated for many more millennia. We approach the Bible with many lenses to do our best to understand God's message through it. We also konw that God speaks in many forms, not just through the Bible.