Lutherans are NOT Calvinists

John Calvin

In the book "John Updike and Religion; The Sense of the Sacred and the Motions of Grace", Darrell Jodock, wrote a Chapter comparing and contrasting the two major branches of Protestantism -  Lutheranism and Calvinism. Jodock was the Drell and Adeline Bernhardson Distinguished Professor of Religion at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Below is an outline summary of  Jodock's comparison.

If you followed the debate in the ELCA over the ordination of gays, you will note that the arguments against ordaining gays were steeped in Calvinist thinking, not Lutheran principles.

Morality

LUTHERAN.

nNot moralistic.

nRight behavior does NOT determine value before god.

nRecognizes a profound sense of moral ambiguity.

CALVINIST

nMoralistic

nGodly behavior is expected of believers

nLittle attention is given to moral ambiguity

GOD – Human Relationship

LUTHERAN

nFaith = trust

nFaith is NOT the acceptance of a set of teachings

nConsequence of faith is service to neighbor

CALVINIST

nFaith is active choice

nFaith is aimed at pleasing God

nOther directed acts are transformed into self enhancing behavior looking over shoulder to see if God is pleased

Freedom

LUTHERAN

nGod’s radical adoption of a sinner by grace leads to a radical freedom.

nFreedom from coercive requirements

nFreedom to serve neighbor

CALVINIST

nIf there is no hell why would I choose not to steal, kill, etc?

nBelievers are expected to please God

nTo do this they need a set of rules

Sense of humor

LUTHERAN

nThe Bible is not literal – it is a collection of diverse voices that witness in various ways to the ONE GOD.

nSin boldly

CALVINIST

nDivine origin and divinely inspired unity of the Bible

nFosters serious self examination