Comparison of Catholic and Protestant worship services

[Tommy999]

When I’ve gone to Baptist services, I’ve never felt like I’d gone to church. It mostly felt like a sing along with a bible lesson thrown in. When they had a ‘celebration’ of the Lord’s Supper, it felt like an afterthought to the singing and the preaching.

While a Mass can be overly ceremonial, there is still a sense of building up to something important.

I found that the lack of kneeling was also odd. That was before I realized that as a CaTholic, I believe that God is physically present in the building and most other churches do not believe that. If you don’t believe God is physically there, why would you kneel? Why would you think a church building required one to behave differently than one would in a stadium?

Hi Sally,
I believe in Matthew 18:20 which says, “Wherever two or three gather in my name, I am there also.” All Christains believe this, including Protestants. In my view, kneeling can be a sign of submission to God or just a traditional thing to do, depending on the motive of the person doing it.

However, sometimes I struggle with what I consider to be a lack of reverence in some Protestant church services (and I’m a Protestant), but it has nothing to do with the absence of ceremonial kneeling. To me, at some churches there is a tone of God being one’s best friend or buddy rather than the holy creator of the universe who deserves all honor, glory, and reverential respect that is due Him. I struggle more with that than any other aspect, and it does truly bother me at times although I feel God is very present.

On the other hand, some Protestants view Catholic emphasis on ritual, responsive readings, kneeling and other gesticulative actions taken during Mass as robotic and easily performed from rote akin to spiritual sleep-walking through church, leaving the person no different from when they arrived. I doubt any of the folks on this forum are like that but I know some Catholics who are. Most of the folks I’ve interacted with here appear to be sincere and God-fearing folks living our their faith to the best of their ability.

In the end, I believe that God works in the hearts and lives of the faithful of all Christian denominations if they seek Him in truth and love and follow His commands.

 

[po18guy]

It is recommended in some circles because Protestant pastors tend to preach longer than Catholic priests and they quote scripture and encourage people to follow along in their Bibles, aka their “Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).

Well, one huge difference is that the Word of God/sword of the Spirit actually lives in Catholic parishes. The Word is not merely written, but alive and living among us - even within us - in the Person of Jesus Christ. We are partakers of the Divine Nature via the Holy Eucharist. And, when that Eucharistic Lord is reserved in the Tabernacle, Christ is truly present, even when we are “alone” with Him. I am headed off to pray before our Lord as we speak. Time spent in His presence (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist) is the best-spent time on earth. On those occasions in a spiritual Bethany, I am Mary instead of Martha.

 

[KathleenGee]

Hi Tommy999,

Welcome!

I take a gentleman to a Lutheran service on Sunday’s. I go to the Saturday vigil Mass for my Sunday obligation. I noticed at his service, the Lutherans sing alot more than we do. But they follow the same Scripture readings as us which is a great thing to experience, and the congregation is very nice and friendly. They know I am Catholic now.

Did you know we also have daily Mass?

If you go to Mass every day for 3 years you will have gone through the entire Bible.

Also, when we enter into the church, we renew our baptismal promises with the sign of the cross and also when leaving. The Holy Water also is a sacramental, and is a form of strength and protection in Christ.

When Mass begins, we are no longer in the space of the world…or its time. We are now in God’s sacred space. And we are now experiencing God so fully that the time is eternal. When we hear the Old Testament, it is as if we are in the arena being witness to the ancient Jews in their faith walk where we empathize with them and likewise recognize our own strengths and failures with them.

As the priest represents Christ, he gets up to read the Gospel and then presents the homily that draws on all the readings, this part of Mass called the Liturgy of the Word.
The Nicene Creed and the prayers of the gathering of the people are prayed by a lay reader. Then this movement of the liturgy ends and with the offertory, where we unite all of our lives with the priest, begins the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

We get on our knees to witness Christ as High Priest ministering to us through the Holy Spirit, from the altar of heaven Who then becomes our nourishment in the Eucharist. We stand to say Amen and affirm His divine presence among us. We have Holy Communion, reflective prayer.

I think because of Word Made Flesh, and Christ physically present on the altar where we receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, our posture is one more of adoration.

After Holy Communion, we are renewed and restored in Him, and eager to go out to serve Him in our neighbor.

God bless you!

 

[sallybutler]

Hi Sally,
I believe in Matthew 18:20 which says, “Wherever two or three gather in my name, I am there also.” All Christains believe this, including Protestants. In my view, kneeling can be a sign of submission to God or just a traditional thing to do, depending on the motive of the person doing it.

However, sometimes I struggle with what I consider to be a lack of reverence in some Protestant church services (and I’m a Protestant), but it has nothing to do with the absence of ceremonial kneeling. To me, at some churches there is a tone of God being one’s best friend or buddy rather than the holy creator of the universe who deserves all honor, glory, and reverential respect that is due Him. I struggle more with that than any other aspect, and it does truly bother me at times although I feel God is very present.

On the other hand, some Protestants view Catholic emphasis on ritual, responsive readings, kneeling and other gesticulative actions taken during Mass as robotic and easily performed from rote akin to spiritual sleep-walking through church, leaving the person no different from when they arrived. I doubt any of the folks on this forum are like that but I know some Catholics who are. Most of the folks I’ve interacted with here appear to be sincere and God-fearing folks living our their faith to the best of their ability.

In the end, I believe that God works in the hearts and lives of the faithful of all Christian denominations if they seek Him in truth and love and follow His commands.

Unfortunately, there are people at every religious service, no matter the religion, that are only going through the motions.

I guess the difference to me is exactly what you pointed out, the sense that God is one’s buddy instead of One to be revered. I agree that where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there. And while that brings us great joy, it also brings a lot of other emotions, including reverence, fear, a sense of one’s smallness, thankfulness, etc. Mass allows us to express each and every one of those emotions.

It seems to me that many non-multilingual churches concentrate on one emotion. Currently, th trend is feeling good. At one time it was fear (fire and brimstone sermons being popular).

Generally, at Mass, even if one is only going through the motions, by going through those motions, they are being affected, even if at a level they don’t recognize. They say the prayers admitting to being a sinner, they ask forgiveness, they pray for others, they offer up gifts, they are reminded that Jesus died for them, they receive Him again, and finally, they are reminded to go out into the world in His name.

Yes, it may seem formulaic, but it is no more formulaic than the non-liturgical services I’ve been to.

 

[Tommy999]

After I attended my first Mass last Saturday, I wanted to add a brief synopsis of how I would compare the two. I am not pasing judgment on either – just wanted to share my observations on the thread I started weeks ago:

Focal Points:
I observed the centerpiece of the Catholic Mass is the Eucharist because the faithful consider it to be partaking the actual body of blood of the Jesus Christ. It is a solemn time and everything else leads up to it and revolves around it. The faithful gather in lines to take the bread and drink from the community chalice.

I can’t speak for all protestant churches, but in my AOG church the focal point is the pastor’s sermon. It lasts around 25-30 minutes and is where the pastor brings conveys a biblical message to the parishoners. Our pastor is a dynamic speaker who infuses humor and stories to reinforce the Biblical text and the message for that week. It is usually a core biblical truth with practical application to help spiritually strengthen the believer and help him deal with life’s issues.

Music:
– The Catholic Church I attended had hymns and a small section of musicians. It was what I would call traditional music. I was pleased to know the hymns that were chosen.

• My protestant church has a “praise team” that mainly leads the singing of praise songs. They rarely sing hymns. The praise songs, for me, allow a deeper level of praise than hymns, although I also liked the hymns and the truths sung in them. Plus, I grew up with them. However, a few of the praise songs at my AOG church are sung to a ‘Rock N Roll’ beat and the atmosphere according to some of the older parishoners resembles that of a night club during the praise singing.

Prayer

• There was much prayer in the CC I visited, from the time a person arrived and at various times in the Mass there is kneeling and praying. Prayer is intertwined throughout the service. I liked that, although I had trouble keeping up with all of it (I am a rookie).
• In my AOG church, there is prayer mainly toward the end of the service when there is an altar call invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior followed by a time of prayer when church staff and lay leaders make themselves available throughout the sanctuary for people with needs to pray for/with them.

Atmosphere:- The Catholic Church seemed to have a more formal and reverent atmosphere overall.
The sharing of the peace was short and to the point. Talking in the sanctuary before Mass
was not done, I assume out of respect for God and the proceedings.

• My AOG church atmosphere was more informal and familiar in tone. Parishoners chatted informally in the sanctuary before the church service started but were quiet once it started. The sharing of the peace lasts longer and people walk further distances to meet and greet others.

 

[Della]

After I attended my first Mass last Saturday, I wanted to add a brief synopsis of how I would compare the two. I am not pasing judgment on either – just wanted to share my observations on the thread I started weeks ago:

Focal Points:
I observed the centerpiece of the Catholic Mass is the Eucharist because the faithful consider it to be partaking the actual body of blood of the Jesus Christ. It is a solemn time and everything else leads up to it and revolves around it. The faithful gather in lines to take the bread and drink from the community chalice.

Yes, the Eucharist is the sum and summit of our faith. It is the one sacrifice of Christ re-presented to the Father at the consecration of the bread and wine.

I can’t speak for all protestant churches, but in my AOG church the focal point is the pastor’s sermon. It lasts around 25-30 minutes and is where the pastor brings conveys a biblical message to the parishoners. Our pastor is a dynamic speaker who infuses humor and stories to reinforce the Biblical text and the message for that week. It is usually a core biblical truth with practical application to help spiritually strengthen the believer and help him deal with life’s issues.

The homily has a lesser place in the Catholic Mass because preaching is not the main point of worship. And homilies are not Bible lessons. They are comments about the readings and Gospel of the day meant to put them into the context of our lives–what they mean to us as believers. Some homilists are quite good and others not so good, just as some AoG preachers are good and other not so much. I can remember enduring sermons that went on and on and really said nothing important. Our deacon once gave a homily so boring I thought I’d die from boredom before he finished. But, we are at Mass to woship God in spirit and in truth, to hear his word proclaimed and to receive the body and blood of Christ. So, God is the entire focus no matter how good or bad the presider or the homilist might be.

Music:
– The Catholic Church I attended had hymns and a small section of musicians. It was what I would call traditional music. I was pleased to know the hymns that were chosen.

Some parishes love the kind of songs of the style popular in the 70’s. Not my favorit or would be my choice. My parish does good, solid hymns for the most part, for which I am very grateful.

• My protestant church has a “praise team” that mainly leads the singing of praise songs. They rarely sing hymns. The praise songs, for me, allow a deeper level of praise than hymns, although I also liked the hymns and the truths sung in them. Plus, I grew up with them. However, a few of the praise songs at my AOG church are sung to a ‘Rock N Roll’ beat and the atmosphere according to some of the older parishoners resembles that of a night club during the praise singing.

Yes, too many of the more modern songs revolve around us not around worshipping God. And while some songs might be fine outside of Mass, those that are used for Mass need to be part of the prayers, of the liturgy of the Mass. It’s not about putting on a show or getting people all wound up. It’s about giving God the praise and honor he is due, isn’t it?

Prayer

• There was much prayer in the CC I visited, from the time a person arrived and at various times in the Mass there is kneeling and praying. Prayer is intertwined throughout the service. I liked that, although I had trouble keeping up with all of it (I am a rookie).

Yes, we do bob up and down quite a bit. But all the gestures have meaning and are there for good reason. Once you get into doing them they carry you along and frees your heart and soul to simply worship God. There’s no worry about what will happen next or what anyone else might expect of us. We are there as one body worshipping our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• In my AOG church, there is prayer mainly toward the end of the service when there is an altar call invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior followed by a time of prayer when church staff and lay leaders make themselves available throughout the sanctuary for people with needs to pray for/with them.

I remember that quite well. We have an altar call in the Church, as well–it’s when communicants go up to receive the Eucharist. That is when we rededicate ourselves to him and to his service. It’s when we reconfirm that we believe in him and in his life-giving sacrifice for our sins to redeem us. It’s quite a potent moment for us. Catholics have prayer services apart from the Mass and Bible studies for individual study and growth. The Mass is corporate worship, not a time for counciling and individual attention.

Atmosphere:- The Catholic Church seemed to have a more formal and reverent atmosphere overall.
The sharing of the peace was short and to the point. Talking in the sanctuary before Mass
was not done, I assume out of respect for God and the proceedings.

Glad to hear that the sharing of peace was brief and reverent–that’s how it ought to be at Mass. We have fellowship after Mass in the church hall with coffee and donuts.

continued next post…

 

[Della]

• My AOG church atmosphere was more informal and familiar in tone. Parishoners chatted informally in the sanctuary before the church service started but were quiet once it started. The sharing of the peace lasts longer and people walk further distances to meet and greet others.

Still, you follow a form and do things in order not chaos. Most Protestant bodies follow the basic form of the Mass without realizing it. Opeing song, prayer, readings, sermon, etc. The big difference is the emphasis on the Eucharist. In my AoG experience communion was offered one a month, if that often. We Catholics see the Mass as not only the gathering of the people of God but as a sacrifice to God, which is our main form of worship, as it was for the peoples of the OT. The difference being we are offering Christ himself, not lambs, goats or birds which have no power to save.

 

[Tommy999]

Yes, the Eucharist is the sum and summit of our faith. It is the one sacrifice of Christ re-presented to the Father at the consecration of the bread and wine. …

Yes, that made a big impression on me.

The homily has a lesser place in the Catholic Mass because preaching is not the main point of worship. And homilies are not Bible lessons. They are comments about the readings and Gospel of the day meant to put them into the context of our lives–what they mean to us as believers. Some homilists are quite good and others not so good, just as some AoG preachers are good and other not so much. I can remember enduring sermons that went on and on and really said nothing important. Our deacon once gave a homily so boring I thought I’d die from boredom before he finished. But, we are at Mass to woship God in spirit and in truth, to hear his word proclaimed and to receive the body and blood of Christ. So, God is the entire focus no matter how good or bad the presider or the homilist might be…

While I liked the priest’s homily and thought it tied in well to the scriptural reading, it seemed a bit like a fireside chat compared to one of my pastor’s sermons.

Yes, although some of the praise songs are very deep expressions of praise to our Lord. A couple of my favorites are listed below in case anyone would like to hear them. They are from Rich Mullins. These give you a taste of our praise songs.

youtube.com/watch?v=nXdrzzDZuLk
youtube.com/watch?v=H-61MaWETiU

The only problem is that you have to skip or endure a short commercial advertisement to get to these songs on those links, although it’s worth it, in my opinion. Just click on ‘Skip Ad’ at the first opportunity.

 

[Della]

Yes, that made a big impression on me.

There is nothing that can take the place of the Eucharist, that’s for certain. To receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ is the highest expression of faith. I could no longer do without it.

While I liked the priest’s homily and thought it tied in well to the scriptural reading, it seemed a bit like a fireside chat compared to one of my pastor’s sermons.

Homilies are not sermons. Catholic priests can and do offer sermons, but usually within the context of a special Mass for some special occasion. There are books of sermons by priests/bishops/deacons that are some of the finest ever preached. And the long, dull sermon I mentioned was by an AoG minister, btw. It really depends on the competency of the one giving the homily/sermon as to how good it is. But, it is up to us to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through either, yes?

Yes, although some of the praise songs are very deep expressions of praise to our Lord. A couple of my favorites are listed below in case anyone would like to hear them. They are from Rich Mullins.

youtube.com/watch?v=nXdrzzDZuLk
youtube.com/watch?v=H-61MaWETiU

The only problem is that you have to skip or endure a short commercial advertisement to get to them. Just skip at the first chance you get.

Thank you for the links. His songs are fine for Christian easy listening, of course, and perfectly okay for meditation. But, they aren’t suitable for the Mass. Hymns should have a liturgical connection or they are a mere distraction at Mass. No doubt his songs would be quite suitable for a special event for the young people.

 

[Tommy999]

Hi Della,
Thanks as usual for your insights. I realize some Catholics may disagree with me, but I experienced the presence of God at both the Catholic Mass and at my AOG church. I realize you prefer the Catholic Mass worship experience but I also see value in the AOG worship experience.

In my view, each is a different expression of worship to God (a different personality if you will) but both are equally valid in their own way, in my view. Each reaches up to God and God reaches down and touches His people at both events, or at least that was my experience.

 

[Della]

Hi Della,
Thanks as usual for your insights. I realize some Catholics may disagree with me, but I experienced the presence of God at both the Catholic Mass and at my AOG church. I realize you prefer the Catholic Mass worship experience but I also see value in the AOG worship experience.

You’re welcome re any insights you found helpful. :tiphat: If I were to attend an AOG service I am sure I too would experience the presence of God there. Such services remind me of ordinary prayer services held within Catholic prayer groups. We Catholics do not have to attend Masses in order to sense God’s presence since he is everywhere and in all believers. I want to mildly correct the idea that I go to Mass because I prefer it over any other form of Christian worship. I attend Mass firstly because it is my Christian duty to do so. That sounds cold, but it’s not. Oftentimes knowing that we have a duty to someone else drives us to do what we ought to do even when we don’t feel like it. My attending Mass has nothing to do with my feelings about it, you see, and it really shouldn’t. Some Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation I’d much rather stay in bed or do some other more delightful thing–that’s speaking strictly from my feelings not from my will. I attend Mass when the Church obliges me to because it is the corporate worship of the Church in which the Body of Christ comes together to offer God sacrifice and praise. The Apostles and disciples set this pattern for us to follow, to keep the Sabbath holy (none of the Ten Commandments has been abrogated, including that one). That I am privileged to receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ is like icing on the cake. I need the graces God gives us in the Eucharist so that I my have his power to be holy, as he commanded us to be, and to serve him and others as he desires me to do. Sorry for the long explanation, but I wanted to be sure to make myself as clear as possible about this point.

In my view, each is a different expression of worship to God (a different personality if you will) but both are equally valid in their own way, in my view. Each reaches up to God and God reaches down and touches His people at both events, or at least that was my experience.

Prayer is always valid, of course, but I have to respectfully disagree that they are equal simply because God heres them all. In offering to God the one sacrifice of Christ on our altars we are offering the highest prayer possible. It is more effective than any other because it is Christ himself we are offering. His offering of himself is divine and free of any self-interest or sin. In a word it is perfect. Our prayers, no matter how well intentioned are not perfect, although God understands this. It is one of the reasons we ask Mary and the other Saints to pray for us–to offer our prayers to God in a perfect manner. They are able to do this because their wills are perfectly in line with God’s will now that they are with him in heaven, you see. I relate these things to you so you will know the Church’s understanding of them and why the Church holds to them.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

A Catholic walking into an Anglican and Lutheran church during Mass would immediately recognize and likely feel at home with the worship. The same reaction occurs when Lutherans and Anglicans attend Mass in a Catholic church; we respond to the liturgy, understand the movement of the service and feel very comfortable. I have attended many services in Catholic churches [since I have relatives and good friends who are Catholic]; there is no difference compared to my own parish.

 

[andrewstx]

A Catholic walking into an Anglican and Lutheran church during Mass would immediately recognize and likely feel at home with the worship. The same reaction occurs when Lutherans and Anglicans attend Mass in a Catholic church; we respond to the liturgy, understand the movement of the service and feel very comfortable. I have attended many services in Catholic churches [since I have relatives and good friends who are Catholic]; there is no difference compared to my own parish.

I associate Lutheran and Anglican masses much more with Catholic/Orthodox worship much more than Evangelical (by the popular understanding of Evangelical) and Pentecostal worship. The L and A worship is technically Protestant however.

But things have changed with the L and A churches. The first Lutheran church I went to was ALC, before Seminex. Back then they only did the Eucharist once a month and the Episcopal church twice a month. Things have changed since the 70s, for the good.

I ended up in an Episcopal parish and things were coming together with the Episcopalians and the Catholics…until women’s ordination. Even though I support women priests quite a bit. That was the end of Catholic/Episcopal cooperation locally.

In the 70s and early 80s we students were together in United Campus Ministries which was Catholic and Mainline Protestant (no fundamentalists). When the Catholic bishop realized that women’s ordination was here to stay. The Catholic students had to withdraw
from UCM and form their own separate Newman Club.

While women’s ordination was progress, it certainly canceled attempts at church union and even caused regress. I sometimes think that it was not such a good idea.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I associate Lutheran and Anglican masses much more with Catholic/Orthodox worship much more than Evangelical (by the popular understanding of Evangelical) and Pentecostal worship. The L and A worship is technically Protestant however.

But things have changed with the L and A churches. The first Lutheran church I went to was ALC, before Seminex. Back then they only did the Eucharist once a month and the Episcopal church twice a month. Things have changed since the 70s, for the good.

I ended up in an Episcopal parish and things were coming together with the Episcopalians and the Catholics…until women’s ordination. Even though I support women priests quite a bit. That was the end of Catholic/Episcopal cooperation locally.

In the 70s and early 80s we students were together in United Campus Ministries which was Catholic and Mainline Protestant (no fundamentalists). When the Catholic bishop realized that women’s ordination was here to stay. The Catholic students had to withdraw
from UCM and form their own separate Newman Club.

While women’s ordination was progress, it certainly canceled attempts at church union and even caused regress. I sometimes think that it was not such a good idea.

You appear to have a good understanding of both Lutherans and Anglicans/ Episcopalians. Your comment about Seminex/ Christ Seminary caught my eye since I attended the seminary during the chaos/schism in the Missouri Synod in the 1970’s.

I also remember the first time I worshipped in a Lutheran parish [not my own parish] that had a woman pastor. She was the assistant/ curate and had a wonderful way of communicating the Gospel. I have met several female clergy in both Lutheran and Episcopal parishes/ Synod assemblies, heard them preach and celebrate the Eucharist. The ELCA elected a female presiding bishop this year; I understand that she is very talented and a good preacher.

In the ELCA, nearly all parishes celebrate the Mass weekly [and in my Synod all parishes]; it is expected by the bishop and pastor. I think nearly all Episcopal parishes also have Mass each Sunday.

 

[FathersKnowBest]

Hi Della,
Thanks as usual for your insights. I realize some Catholics may disagree with me, but I experienced the presence of God at both the Catholic Mass and at my AOG church. I realize you prefer the Catholic Mass worship experience but I also see value in the AOG worship experience.

In my view, each is a different expression of worship to God (a different personality if you will) but both are equally valid in their own way, in my view. Each reaches up to God and God reaches down and touches His people at both events, or at least that was my experience.

Worship involves sacrifice.
The Eucharist is the only sacrifice that fulfills the prophesy of Mal 1:11, i.e. a “pure offering.” How many pure offerings have existed, ever? One.

 

[JonNC]

Worship involves sacrifice.
The Eucharist is the only sacrifice that fulfills the prophesy of Mal 1:11, i.e. a “pure offering.” How many pure offerings have existed, ever? One.

Amen.

Jon

 

[GKC]

Amen.

Jon

Yep.

GKC