A Summary of Lutheran Social Teaching

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A Summary of Lutheran Social Teaching
Lutheran social teaching is rich and complex. It shares some important elements with the Catholic tradition, out of which it springs. But it differs in that it is not organized in a systematic way like the Catholic is. It is found in Luther's writings, but also in those of the generations of church teachers, writers, thinkers and pastors who have followed him. The following principles can be understood to be a fair summary of how Lutherans have thought about matters of social justice.

Dignity of the Human Person
"I believe that God has created me and all that exists," declared Luther in his explanation to the First Article of the Creed. For Lutherans the belief that all humanity is created in the image of God is what powers their mission. People do not lose dignity regardless of their color, disability, age, physical beauty, economic status, language, sex, or any other observable characteristic. For Lutherans, people are more important than things, being is more important than doing or having.

Community and the Common Good
Lutherans understand that we live in two realms: one that is of God and the other that is of the created world. We understand that our call is to seek to become more fully God's while at the same time we seek to enter more deeply into the world. "Common", "community", "communion" are all terms held in high value by Lutherans: "We are one body in Christ".

Rights and Responsibilities
Lutherans believe that each human person has a right to employment, food and shelter, health care, education and dignity. All people have a right to participate in the helping make the decisions that affect their lives. At the same time, we understand that we each have the responsibility to respect the rights of others and to work for the common good.

Option for the Poor
Lutherans are both motivated by gratitude for Christ's ministry to us and convicted by evidence of God's overwhelming option for the poor, the naked and unfed, the powerless and the imprisoned. Consequently, we have been highly active for five centuries in ministries of healing for the sick, safety and shelter for the homeless, provision of goods for the hungry and naked, and release for the imprisoned. We serve because Christ first served us.

Dignity of Work
All people have a right to decent and productive work, fair wages, private property and economic initiative. The economy exists to serve the people, not the other way around.

Solidarity
Lutherans view all of humanity as one, belonging to the Creator and Redeemer of
the world. Our vision of, our responsibility to, God's world and God's people crosses all lines of politics, race, creed, culture, economies, ideologies-all the barriers that people erect against each other. Lutherans believe that they are called to work globally for justice and peace.