The Wittenberg Trail

Your Path to the Authentic, Historic & Catholic Faith

Martin Luther

"In His death He is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in the resurrection, a conqueror; in the ascension, a king; in the intercession, a high priest."

Word & Sacrament Network

Wittenberg Trail Bookstore

Evangelical Liturgical Lutheran Congregations

The Book of Concord - The Lutheran Confessions

Lutheran Online - Law & Gospel for the Internet Generation

Follow the Wittenberg Trail


Are you looking for authentic and historic Christianity?

Are you trying to find the Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox and Apostolic faith?

Do you wonder why there are so many denominations and churches?

Have you been confused when considering the various claims made by all the different churches and/or denominations?

This website has been created to help Christians "find their way home".

If you are new to Christianity and would like to learn more about Jesus, please visit these two links:

Introduction to Jesus

The Law & Gospel Encounter



Today, many Christians who are members of evangelical and non-denominational churches are leaving to join Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Orthodox bodies.

The ahistorical, non-creedal, shallow and commercial trends in many of today's evangelical and non-denominational churches are causing people, including pastors, to take a new look at the "historic" Christian churches.

In The Spirituality of the Cross , Dr. Gene Veith states:

"Each of the varieties of Christianity represents some spiritual tradition, an emphasis or distinctive teaching. It would be naive to deny that each also has its problems and distortions. This is where the search for Christian spirituality often runs aground.

Another rather ironic problem today is that many of these traditions, however valuable, are now hard to find. The diverse Christian traditions - such as those of Aquinas, Calvin, Wesley - all very different but bracing in their own ways, have been merging into a single generic pop Christianity.

... This new popularized Christianity seems bland and one-dimensional, full of good feelings, but rather empty of content. In the meantime, the riches and insights of the historic Christian traditions are all but forgotten." Veith

A newer problem with many Christian churches today is highlighted by Todd Wilken. He states, "Many Christians today think of themselves as conservative. They are pro-life, pro-family. They listen to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. They watch FOX News. They vote traditional values. But can you be politically, socially and morally conservative without being theologically conservative? Oh, yes you can."

Wilken further states, "You see, many Christians think of themselves as conservative Christians. But they have confused cultural conservatism with theological conservatism. Theologically these Bible-believing Christians have a lot in common with liberals."

Click here to read Todd Wilken's article Bible Believing Liberals.

Begin Your Journey

"This is a faith particularly centered in the cross of Jesus Christ, one that offers a framework for embracing, in an honest and comprehensive way, the whole range of the spiritual life, and whose insights have a profound resonance in ordinary, everyday life."

...Instead of insisting that human beings attain perfection, Lutheran spirituality begins by facing up to imperfection. We cannot perfect our conduct, try as we might. We cannot understand God through our own intellects. We cannot become one with God. Instead of human beings having to do these things, Lutheran spirituality teaches that God does them for us - He becomes one with us in Jesus Christ; He reveals Himself to our feeble understandings by his Word; He forgives our conduct and, in Christ, lives the perfect life for us. 



We do not have to ascend to God; rather, the good news is that He had descended to us. Most philosophies and theologies focus on what human beings must do to be saved; Lutherans insist that there is nothing that we can do, but that God does literally everything." Veith

Start by reading the articles and books listed under "Preparing for the Trail: Essential Reading" .


There are five "stops" along the Trail. This website will provide links and book suggestions during each "stop".

Stop #1: By What Authority?

Stop #2: Law & Gospel

Stop #3: Justification & Sanctification

Stop #4: Word & Sacrament

Stop #5: Vocation

In addition, there are specific sections on:

* The Divine Service (with links to videos of the traditional Lutheran liturgy)

* Conversion Stories (stories of those who have converted to the Lutheran faith)

* The Reformation (the meaning of this historical event)

There are also two sections that will help you understand the main differences between:

* Lutheran and Roman Catholic theology

* Lutheran and Evangelical theology


Finally, there are sections providing links, blogs, audio resources, podcasts and videos that will be helpful to people on the Trail.

Visit The Wittenberg Trail Online Community


Please visit the Wittenberg Trail Bookstore for your book resources while on the Trail.

What does "catholic" mean?

Rev. Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his church website and on YouTube.

What about all the different denominations?

Rev. Ernie Lassman, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, posted this video on both his church website and on YouTube.

Enjoy Your Walk Along the Wittenberg Trail !


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