Protestant Denominations Most Likely Resembling Catholicism

[Cthompson]

Hello all.

I was baptized and grew up in the Lutheran denomination before converting to Catholicism. Our service was similar (albeit remotely) to the Catholic mass. The pastor wore vestments and the service was similar in the structure of readings followed by a sermon then communion.

The biggest difference was the celebration of communion vs the Eucharist. In the Lutheran Church, there was a loaf of bread that was distributed along with grape juice. After services, the leftover bread was often tossed to the birds out back behind the Church.

One thing that we did in the Lutheran Church that I wish the Catholic Church would adopt as a whole (maybe individual parishes do this, but I’ve never seen it) is that everyone going to church would bring their bibles. The sermon would often require us to cycle through our bibles and find different books and verses.

In my experience, Lutherans are similar to Catholics in their worship and services. IMO, Evangelical services seem to be perhaps the furtherest from the Catholic mass. I’m curious to hear about different denominations and their similarities/differences to the Catholic approach to worship and service/Mass styles.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I know an Eastern Catholic priest that encourages people to bring their Bibles to the Divine Liturgy!

 

[adamhovey1988]

I’m always found Baptist services to be a little boring. Baptists can be very friendly, (I live in the southern United States, I know many of them), but I just don’t get anything out of their worship.

 

[adamhovey1988]

To answer you question. Anglicans/Episcopalians.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I hope you don’t think I’m bashing Baptists. I sincerely love my Baptist friends and family. But it’s just not something I am into.

 

[Cthompson]

Then we come back later in the day

I respect this so much about baptists. I know a few good baptists around me who will be in church All Sunday. I think us Catholics could learn from baptists in how to truly keep Holy the Lord’s day.

I’m praying for your full conversion to the Catholic faith. As a protestant concert to Catholicism, I can identify with you a little and truly say it has been an amazing transition.

 

[Cthompson]

Try testing the waters and see what they say. Maybe ask an obvious question that you know the answer to about the Catholic faith and see how hostile or not their response is to gauge where they are.

I’m not sure how old you are, but once you turn 18 or move out of your parents house, they can’t really stop your conversion either.

 

[Cthompson]

an Eastern Catholic priest

Good, I’m glad! I’d still like to see it become more of an institutional change than a priest-by-priest basis. But always good to hear.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

Before the Crystal Cathedral shut down (it is now Christ Cathedral- it was bought by the Catholic Church) , my (half)sister and I went up to attend a service. (She is Christian Jewish). She and I came away with two totally different impressions. She loved the showiness, the impressive stage, organ, presentations, screens etc. I came away bewildered… Where was Christ? It might be me, but I never sensed Him. The sermons were man centered, not Christ centered. Nothing drove you to praise Him.

So, yes, friendly was there. Yes, the people were nice. Yes, it was impressive. But…

Blessings,
Stephie

 

[Catholicos]

Communion has an entirely different meaning in the non-Catholic world. I didn’t realize that until I really began to learn the faiths of my non-Catholic Christian friends. That’s why you can never truly say the Protestant Church, as you do with the Catholic Church.

Disunity destroys Communion, whereby the real presence and visible kingdom established by Christ becomes invisible to the world as well. The souls that are in heaven are in Communion with each other and God,. Those souls, once sat right next to you in the pews at Mass, you were in Communion with them then, as you are now. When I thought about this, I truly started to understand what the Catholic faith was all about, and why it’s unique.

It’s at the heart of Christianity’s problem. The very best of every faith, rite and denomination are separated from each other, and the world divides and conquers us. The Catholic faith at least has the fullness of truth and is united by an authority it was given by Christ. However, mother Church will not reap all its good fruits until the very best from all other Christian faiths return home to the earthly kingdom Christ established. We should all rejoice when that happens and we’re united in faith and can worship together as it was always willed to be, and as the saints are doing right now in Gods presence.

ps: answer to the question, nothing resembles it in the protestant world. The Eastern Orthodox would be the closest IMHO

 

[brian_custer]

i attended a presbyterian baptism because i just had to for family reasons

the “minister” or whatever he was,said the catholic apostle’s creed word ford word

the little child had a christian baptism; that is all that matters…

 

[Duesenberg]

Before the Crystal Cathedral shut down (it is now Christ Cathedral- it was bought by the Catholic Church) , my (half)sister and I went up to attend a service. (She is Christian Jewish). She and I came away with two totally different impressions. She loved the showiness, the impressive stage, organ, presentations, screens etc. I came away bewildered… Where was Christ? It might be me, but I never sensed Him. The sermons were man centered, not Christ centered. Nothing drove you to praise Him.

So, yes, friendly was there. Yes, the people were nice. Yes, it was impressive. But…

Blessings,

Stephie

This thread made me think of the old Crystal Cathedral. Talk about lite Christianity! By itself it would be very unfulfilling. But in conjunction with the Mass, it can really hit the spot.

My wife and I attend the Mass and sometimes an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy each and every Sunday.

On Sunday evenings we also attend a Christian non-denominational fellowship. It’s not anti-Catholic in the least. The “service” consists of singing (and I mean REALLY SINGING!) together, praying together, reading the Bible together and listening to a sermon which is typically outstanding. This is followed by what they call a “covered dish meal” – a potluck.

This service brings us: the ability to really sing with other Christians, which simply doesn’t exist in my home parish. Additional prayer and exposure to Sacred Scripture, and best of all, excellent preaching. The fellowship at dinner is wonderful too.

I really wish Catholic Churches offered these sorts of things in conjunction with the celebration of the Mass. None that I know of actually do.