"I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans,
but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I
been crucified for anyone. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1, would not allow
Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christians. How then
should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of
Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us
abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him whose doctrine
we have.”
The aforementioned quote was made by Martin Luther, the reformer who fought for change in the Catholic church. He began the Protestant movement, and in turn founded what has become known as the Lutheran church. This man beseeched those who followed him not to call themselves by his name. He simply encouraged them to call themselves by what every true follower of Christ should be called—Christians. This plea cannot be ignored. The Bible says in Acts 11:26, “and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Today, multitudes of professed “Christians” follow this man’s doctrines and call themselves by His name — Lutherans!
Why not simply follow the doctrine of Christ and call ourselves by His Holy
name?
— Jonathan Perz