Perhaps 15th Century disputes could be left in the 15th Century.
I do not believe you are correct wrt the claim, “The doctrine of Michelle Bachmann’s church is the doctrine of all orthodox Lutheran churches.”, at least as far as the claim, “The papacy is the antiChrist” is concerned. In the OP, the author points out that this is not the faith of all Lutherans.
Maybe I should have explained that better. This is what I find worrisome. If she does believe that, then she believes the same thing I do, when it comes to abortion. I believe abortion is literally “anti-Christ”, and this us why I work to stop it. Note that: I work to stop abortion BECAUSE it is anti-Christ. Who wouldn’t work to stop something they believe is “anti-Christ”? Let me put it this way: if someone SAYS they believe something is anti-Christ, yet don’t work to stop it, what does that say about their faith?
All of this is really quite silly. I see no reason, actually, why this engenders so much debate. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask someone running for president, “How do you feel about the Catholic faith?”, and that would resolve it.
Please, let’s not start constructing a cult of personality around Rep. Bachmann, immunizing her against any potentially critical question, as we have around Gov. Palin.