I have a question about Protestant church prayers

[JustRebecca]

I babysit for a Protestant church because the Catholic church that I attend doesn’t have a big childcare system and it is nice to just have a little job and watch some kids for a couple hours.

I have a question about the prayers that they say. For instance before we start the day off our boss, who just an everyday person, she has no religious background except for probably attending the church, she isn’t a pastor or anything like that, just the leader of the childcare department. She starts off with a prayer and I just feel a little weird when I am around everyone because they are not the same religion as I am. Sure protestantism is in some ways similar to Catholicism, but in the past years that I have been working there I have started to not appreciate their religion from what I have heard the people that go to the church talk about and what happens on in the church, it just doesn’t seem like a very strong religion to me and I know I am not supposed to dislike other religions, there are just somedays when I get sort of upset with what they are doing. Some days it annoys me so much that I don’t even want to go back to babysit.

But I was wondering is it okay that I don’t really listen or pay attention to the prayer that she is saying? I listen but at the same time I am just saying my own prayer silently to myself and saying a Hail Mary or Our Father. To me saying “Amen” at the end of their prayer seems similar to me saying something similar if I was to visit a Mormon church, Hindu church or Buddhist temple or any other religions places. I don’t know their religion and it isn’t what I believe in, so why would I say “Amen” to something I don’t even believe in. Is this wrong of me or is it okay since i still say my own prayer?

I don’t want to seem rude, but having seen what the Baptist religion is like in the past 3 years has just not made me accept them entirely. Sorry if this offends anyone or if I am being a complete idiot right now!

 

[Tietjen]

I babysit for a Protestant church because the Catholic church that I attend doesn’t have a big childcare system and it is nice to just have a little job and watch some kids for a couple hours.

I have a question about the prayers that they say. For instance before we start the day off our boss, who just an everyday person, she has no religious background except for probably attending the church, she isn’t a pastor or anything like that, just the leader of the childcare department. She starts off with a prayer and I just feel a little weird when I am around everyone because they are not the same religion as I am. Sure protestantism is in some ways similar to Catholicism, but in the past years that I have been working there I have started to not appreciate their religion from what I have heard the people that go to the church talk about and what happens on in the church, it just doesn’t seem like a very strong religion to me and I know I am not supposed to dislike other religions, there are just somedays when I get sort of upset with what they are doing. Some days it annoys me so much that I don’t even want to go back to babysit.

But I was wondering is it okay that I don’t really listen or pay attention to the prayer that she is saying? I listen but at the same time I am just saying my own prayer silently to myself and saying a Hail Mary or Our Father. To me saying “Amen” at the end of their prayer seems similar to me saying something similar if I was to visit a Mormon church, Hindu church or Buddhist temple or any other religions places. I don’t know their religion and it isn’t what I believe in, so why would I say “Amen” to something I don’t even believe in. Is this wrong of me or is it okay since i still say my own prayer?

I don’t want to seem rude, but having seen what the Baptist religion is like in the past 3 years has just not made me accept them entirely. Sorry if this offends anyone or if I am being a complete idiot right now!

Not really sure why you feel you can’t say Amen, but if what they are praying for is in opposition to Church teachings then don’t join in the prayer. However, I am curious as to whether you make the sign of the cross when praying with them and if so, what their reaction is.

 

[Syele]

I would expect most prayers in such a situation would be related to work, or asking God to bless the children. Since you don’t listen at all to what is being said there is no way to know if you agree with what is being prayed about. When I visit a Catholic Church I have no qualms about agreeing in prayer when we are praying for things that I cannot object to praying for, (the sick, leaders of the country etc.)

Catholics and Protestants may disagree on a thousand things, but we are praying to the same God.

You should not say Amen (so be it) to a prayer to another God or to one praying for something inappropriate.

 

[juno24]

It sounds like you have 2 separate issues here. You say you disagree with and disapprove of the things that the people in that community are doing. But you seem to conflate their actions with their prayers. If you don’t approve of the behavior of the people you choose to be around, then you have the option of moving on to a new group of people (whether it be paid or volunteer work).
You have not said, however, what you find objectionable in their prayers. Are they praying for something that you find you absolutely cannot agree with (for example, are they praying “Lord, please make all those Catholics accept you and become Christian”)? If so, then of course you do not say, “Amen”. Are they praying for the same things that you might pray for privately (such as to have a productive day, to attempt to please God in all that you do, for the safety and well-being of the children and the staff)? Then why not add your Amen to those prayers?

 

[FaithJoy]

Protestant prayers usually have 3 main parts: 1. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for sins or something similar in that category. 2. Pray for the sick 3.Ask God to help them to be a better people in some fashion. i.e. faith or wisdom or open mindedness to the sermon ect.

 

[teresa_lamb]

Whenever anyone asks me to pray with them I do. I bow my head and listen. However, I first silently call upon the Holy Spirit to come to me, and I ask for forgiveness of any of my sins (and the person who is praying sins) to be forgiven so that the Lord will hear our prayer.

I have noticed though, that at the end of their prayers they will say “We ask this thru Jesus’s precious name, Amen”…and I say Amen. Now, it is very seldom I do vocal prayer with anyone, except of course at Mass. (I always pray quietly to myself, or with my husband and children) so when my cousin put me on the spot with “you start the prayer Teresa”, I said “alright” and so we began. (I felt I was being tested to see if I could pray out loud) However, at the end of my prayer I said “We ask this thru Christ our Lord, Amen” and there was no “Amen” added from her…I took notice of that immediately, and just said a quiet prayer of “Lord please forgive her”…(actually this has happened on more then just one occasion)

Whenever someone wants to speak to the Lord be respectful…

 

[cooterhein]

I babysit for a Protestant church because the Catholic church that I attend doesn’t have a big childcare system and it is nice to just have a little job and watch some kids for a couple hours.

This is kind of interesting to me. It’s not often that I get to hear from a Catholic on their experience within a Protestant church while still being Catholic.

I have a question about the prayers that they say. For instance before we start the day off our boss, who just an everyday person, she has no religious background except for probably attending the church, she isn’t a pastor or anything like that, just the leader of the childcare department.

Insofar as her everyday status and lack of ordination, is she different from you?

Does she- being a Protestant with an everyday status- do anything that you would not do? Assuming you are an everyday person as well. And with the obvious exception of being Protestant- I know you wouldn’t do that.

She starts off with a prayer and I just feel a little weird when I am around everyone because they are not the same religion as I am.

I’m sure a non-Christian would see it differently if they were in the group with you. But you aren’t a non-Christian, and you feel how you feel. Which is weird. Speaking as a non-Catholic, do you want to run some ideas past me that might make things less weird for you? If I knew what type of Protestant church it was, I might have some idea of how feasible it is.

Converting them all to Catholicism is probably not the most feasible option. I’ll just get that one right out there.

Sure protestantism is in some ways similar to Catholicism, but in the past years that I have been working there I have started to not appreciate their religion from what I have heard the people that go to the church talk about and what happens on in the church,

I can’t help but be curious, but I know I should restrain myself. It would be way too gossipy if you told me what’s wrong with people and what they’re doing. If it seems useful and not gossipy, though, you be the judge.

it just doesn’t seem like a very strong religion to me and I know I am not supposed to dislike other religions, there are just somedays when I get sort of upset with what they are doing. Some days it annoys me so much that I don’t even want to go back to babysit.

What would seem like a very strong religion to you? I mean…what would make this church seem strong if they were doing things differently? Try to focus more on the potential for a positive show of strength instead of imagining what they’d be like without some type of weakness.

But I was wondering is it okay that I don’t really listen or pay attention to the prayer that she is saying? I listen but at the same time I am just saying my own prayer silently to myself and saying a Hail Mary or Our Father.

Honestly, this is something I’ve heard about before but I assumed it was more a product of anti-Catholicism than an actual thing that Catholics sometimes do. I always thought extemporaneous prayer was encouraged by Catholics along with recited prayer, but I didn’t think I’d ever run into a Catholic who said her own Catholic prayer or a memorized, recited prayer right over the top of someone else’s prayer.

Even more interesting. Although the responses you’re getting from other Catholics are just as interesting, if not more so.

To me saying “Amen” at the end of their prayer seems similar to me saying something similar if I was to visit a Mormon church, Hindu church or Buddhist temple or any other religions places. I don’t know their religion and it isn’t what I believe in, so why would I say “Amen” to something I don’t even believe in.

Perhaps because you find a way to demonstrate the capacity to differentiate between non-Christians with whom you have no unity and Christians who are separated brethren and lacking the fullness of truth but with whom you nevertheless have an imperfect unity?

I think there’s some Catholics who would say something similar to this. I wouldn’t say that, but you probably should. And it just might be good enough for you to say “Amen” when you pray with them.

Is this wrong of me or is it okay since i still say my own prayer?

I’m guessing this isn’t primarily directed at me.

I don’t want to seem rude, but having seen what the Baptist religion is like in the past 3 years has just not made me accept them entirely. Sorry if this offends anyone or if I am being a complete idiot right now!

No offense taken. And I can’t imagine that the Baptists you’ve interacted with have consistently gone out of their way to avoid giving you offense. Some of them are quite awful to Catholics. But you know what they say about two wrongs and making a right. There’s probably something in the Bible about repaying evil for evil, too.