As both Lutherans and Catholics believe that Jesus is the son of God born of the Virgin Mary, there is one striking difference. Lutherans and Catholics consider the importance of Mary at different levels. Catholics take time to honor and devote the Catholic Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. There is not a single month in the year without several feasts in her honor. Furthermore, Catholics will pray to Mary often in the prayer called “Hail Mary” in honor of her. However, Lutherans do not take time to honor Mary like Catholics do. In fact, they don’t even pray to her because they only pray to God through Jesus. This honor and devotion to Mary is one of the many things rejected by Lutherans. Lutherans claim that the Catholic Church’s devotion to Mary is not based on Sacred Scripture, and it is an offense to Christ because no one should pray to Mary because you should only pray to God alone.
This leads me on to another difference between Catholics and Lutherans. Much of what Lutherans believe is scripture related. Lutherans believe that scripture alone has the power to determine doctrine. Catholics also follow the scripture as their source of guidance; however, there is one slight difference. They also give this authority to the pope, the church, and certain traditions of the church. For example, as Catholics believe the pope is the mediator between God and mankind, the bible says that Jesus is the mediator between God and mankind. Due to the factor Lutherans believe that the bible is the only true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged, they do not give authority to anything or anyone else.
It is often believed among Catholics that only a certain group of people, called priests, have the power and authority to forgive sins. In this sense, in order for God to grant forgiveness for your sins, Catholics must confess them in front of a priest. On the other hand, Lutherans follow the bible in saying that Jesus only has the power to forgive sins. Lutherans do not need to go in front of the priest in order to be granted forgiveness of their sins. They can ask God for forgiveness at any time of the day, and they will be forgiven. Moreover, Catholics believe sin causes spiritual penalties and not all the penalties will be removed even if the sin of guilt has been forgiven. Catholics believe the remaining penalties can be removed by doing penance or good works, and any remaining penalties will be paid by suffering in a place called purgatory at the time of death. Lutherans, however, do not believe in penance and purgatory. Just as the bible says, they believe forgiveness is a free gift from God given to them by turning away from wrong acts. Nothing is said about purgatory in the bible, which is a reason why Lutherans do not believe in it.
Differences remain about both the number and nature of the sacraments. Catholics accept seven sacraments while Lutherans only accept two sacraments as visible acts of God’s love. The two sacraments Lutherans accept are Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism by Lutherans is interpreted in much of the same way as Catholics. Through Baptism, Catholics and Lutherans both believe that God freely offers his grace and lovingly establishes a new community. It is in Baptism that people become members of Christ's Body on earth, the Church. However, in the sacrament of Holy Communion, Lutherans and Catholics have different beliefs. Catholics believe in transubstantiation, which is when the bread and wine are permanently changed into the body and blood of Christ. Lutherans do not believe in transubstantiation; however, they do believe that Christ's body and blood are truly present in the Lord's Supper. Also, one other difference in receiving the Eucharist is that Catholics line up in lines waiting for the priest or Sacristan to administer the Host. Catholics all drink wine out of the same chalice, but Lutherans receive their own individual cups when groups of people kneel at a communion rail in front of the alter where they will receive the body and blood of Christ.
One of the last differences is contained in marriage. Catholic beliefs do not allow priests to marry because they are leaders in the church. However, in the bible we read Christian leaders were married. A good example is Apostle Peter. Due to the fact that the bible does not forbid marriage to Christian leaders, the Lutheran faith allows priests to be married. In fact, they also allow women to be priests unlike Catholics who only allow men as priests.
Learning about other religions and what people believe is important in learning to accept people for who they are. Understanding the way people grew up and what they were taught helps us learn new things which can help us in life. There are many differences between the Catholic and Lutheran faith, and I believe that religion is based on interpretation. All different faiths are interpreted in different ways, and it is up to the individual’s faith on how they want to interpret it.