I think that there are quite a few similarities with the Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church but there are also some differences. In the sense of institution, I believe that there is a big difference. I do not see the influence of government in the role of the Lutheran Church. I see this more in the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Church has a positive view of government and social institutions. They also have commitment to order and orderliness. They draw members from more educated groups that have had a certain access to power. This struck me, because up until the readings and presentation I always believed Catholicism did that. This might just be me, but I see Catholic’s as well educated and well off in life. That is just my stereotype I guess. One other thing that was mentioned in the area of institution is that even though they came from more educated groups and had access to power, they are also concerned with defending the rights of the poor. They also believe that God alone is the Lord of the conscience.
The Presbyterian Church says that people are saved through faith not works and that works are a manifestation of faith. The Lutheran Church would agree with this. Another thing that the Lutheran Church would agree with, as well as the other denominations, is the idea of human dignity and protecting the poor. This has been a common theme throughout our discussions.
One thing that I believed was different was the government within the church. The government in the Presbyterian Church had sessions compromised of pastors and elders. A presbytery is a basic unit of government within their church. They have meeting that consist if equal amounts of ministers and elders. I do not know who is in attendance at the synod meetings in the Lutheran Church but Pastor Jay said nothing about people from the church being present. The government in the Presbyterian Church is more similar to Catholicism than Lutheranism. One thing that is opposite of what Catholics believe is that everyone has an individual conscience which has a supreme authority over popular thinking.
The Presbyterian Church has a similar stance on social issues in general with the Lutheran Church. Contrary to Catholicism, social issues are not so spelled out on what the response by the church should be. When it comes to the issue of abortion, the Presbyterian Church believes that the issue is personal and that people are empowered to make a moral decision on whether or not to end a pregnancy. They believe that the decision must be based on scripture, faith and Christian ethics. They also believe that in any choice that we make, we are accountable to God but he offers forgiveness. This seems to be a contradiction. I believe that both are true but it kind of seems like they are getting around the issue, but again, that is my personal belief. The Lutheran church believes that the issue is complex and that the mother’s life is more important. The Lutheran Church seems to spell out specific instances rather than general beliefs.
Another similarity that the Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church have is that I believe that they are more realistic than Catholicism. On page 35 of the first article that we read it says “At the same time, there is the “realistic” awareness that no human institutions or authorities may claim absolute authority. Because of human sinfulness power may become corrupted…” This agrees with what Lutherans believe. They have clauses to account for the fact that we live in a fallen world and they accept that. This is very different from the Catholic Church.
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In terms of Catholics being well off, I think that is more the American Catholics, at least our perspective on them. I am reminded of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and the part on the Irish Catholics. I agree there seem to be many contradictions in the morality set forth by the church, but I think that similar contradictions in other faiths (though Presbyterianism is certainly loaded with, and in some ways based off of contradictions - faith/works, individual/institution, laypeople/clergy, etc.). Also the questioning of human institutions is another good point that connects them with Lutherans and other protestant faiths, though their weakness may be that they are still deeply rooted in such an institution with the hierarchy of government.
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