Grounded in Tradition, Open to Questioning
At Redbud Lutheran Church, we believe that faith is not a static set of rules to be memorized, but a dynamic and life-giving relationship with a God who is still speaking. Martin Luther, the 16th-century reformer who started our tradition, described faith as “a living, busy, active, mighty thing”. It’s a journey, not a destination. This page offers a glimpse into the core convictions that ground our journey together. This approach is intentional. While doctrine and theology are important, they are meant to serve the proclamation of God’s love, not to be a barrier to it. By framing our beliefs within a context of dynamism and intellectual curiosity, we hope to create a space where ancient truths can inform and enrich a modern, justice-seeking life, subverting the expectation of rigid dogma.
We Are Lutheran
To be Lutheran is to be part of a reforming movement within the wider Christian church. We are a church that is, as we like to say, “deeply rooted and always being made new”. Our roots are in the core principles of the Protestant Reformation.
Grace Alone
sola gratia
We believe that we are reconciled to God not by our own goodness or accomplishments, but by God’s boundless love and mercy, a free gift we call grace. This is the heart of our faith.
Faith Alone
sola fide
Our response to this gift of grace is faith, which we understand as a “confident trust in God”. Faith itself is a gift, created in us by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Alone
sola scriptura
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged. It is the primary and authoritative source for our faith and life, telling the story of God’s saving love for all creation.
We Are Christian
As part of the global Christian family, we share core beliefs with Christians across centuries and around the world.
The Triune God
We believe in one God, who is revealed to us as three persons: God the Father, creator of all that is; God the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior; and God the Holy Spirit, who calls, gathers, and enlightens the whole church. We confess this faith using the ancient ecumenical creeds: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed
Jesus Christ
We proclaim Jesus Christ as the Son of God, sent to become human. In his life, his teachings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, God has reconciled the world to Godself.
The Bible
We hold the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the story of God’s relationship with humanity, culminating in the life and ministry of Jesus. We approach the Bible with intellectual honesty, recognizing that Lutherans engage its texts using a variety of interpretive tools, from historical-grammatical methods to higher criticism, always seeking to hear God’s living Word for us today.