Protestant genuflection...

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GKC said:
True of Anglicans, generally. In my parish, maybe one might bow at the *Incarnatus *, many genuflect. Same for when the processional crucifix passes.

At the Holy Name, bowing is the rule.

And yes, when approaching the Tabernacle, to be sure.

GKC
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Affirmative to all. But at the Name, we would nod the head (except in the Creed, if sung, when you had a little more time.
 
2ndGen said:
Why aren’t Protestants allowed to make the sign of the cross when it’s been a Christian practice for 2,000 years?
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again, bad question. there is no where in my denomination that says i am not allowed to make the sign of the cross. in fact i do make it frequently.
 
bengal_fan said:
again, bad question. there is no where in my denomination that says i am not allowed to make the sign of the cross. in fact i do make it frequently.
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There are not many “rules” or "requirements’ in most Protestant churches on when to bow, when to kneel, when to cross oneself, when to stand, when to sit…the idea of “not being allowed” is foreign to most of us…many of the questions asked lately have no real answer…many if not most Protestants have no “Catholic” counterparts to many of the rites and postures Catholics are required or instructed to engage in.
 
2ndGen
Why aren’t Protestants allowed to make the sign of the cross when it’s been a Christian practice for 2,000 years?
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I am not aware of any prohibition against making the sign of the cross. I do it at the points in our liturgy where it is appropriate. And, I have been in large gatherings of Lutherans where most people do so.

At the same time, there are people who do object to making the sign of the cross as being “too Catholic.” My response to them is usually along the lines of “Oh, does the Catholic Church own the sign of the cross? What about the Lord’s Prayer, the creeds, and the rest of our worship service?” That doesn’t often get me very far, but I know full well how much we are indebted to the Catholic Church for the things that the reformers didn’t throw out.
 
bengal_fan said:
again, bad question. there is no where in my denomination that says i am not allowed to make the sign of the cross. in fact i do make it frequently.
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So then, Protestants are allowed to make the sign of the cross but they just choose not to?

It was my understanding that they beleived (generally speaking) that it wasn’t biblical so they don’t do it.
 
gcnuss said:
2ndGen

I am not aware of any prohibition against making the sign of the cross. I do it at the points in our liturgy where it is appropriate. And, I have been in large gatherings of Lutherans where most people do so.

At the same time, there are people who do object to making the sign of the cross as being “too Catholic.” My response to them is usually along the lines of “Oh, does the Catholic Church own the sign of the cross? What about the Lord’s Prayer, the creeds, and the rest of our worship service?” That doesn’t often get me very far, but I know full well how much we are indebted to the Catholic Church for the things that the reformers didn’t throw out.
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GC!

You don’t count!

You’re a Lutheran!

You guys are catholic! (small c)!

😃

I’m posting this for the Protestants who “aren’t” allowed to genuflect.

If I tried to name the denominations, I’d be here all night, so I made a generalized statement.

I think it’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority of Protestants (outside of the mainline groups like Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc…) are not allowed, instructed or taught the Christian history and tradition of the sign of the cross.

I bet they don’t even mention it or talk about it or discuss it (unless their saying that it’s wrong or inappropriate to do).

🙂
 
By the way…I think it’s beautiful for all of you Protestants that genuflect and that prostrate themselves in prayers to God!
 
Anglicans make the sign of the cross. They also genuflect and kneel. All of this is part of the church service.

I make the sign of the cross, but I do it the way the Orthodox do.

The Foursquare church I’m currently attending doesn’t have any of these things as part of the service, but if someone was to kneel during the service no one would comment on it.
 
HannahLisa said:
Anglicans make the sign of the cross. They also genuflect and kneel. All of this is part of the church service.

I make the sign of the cross, but I do it the way the Orthodox do.

The Foursquare church I’m currently attending doesn’t have any of these things as part of the service, but if someone was to kneel during the service no one would comment on it.
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When I went to a Synagogue and a Mosque, I asked if I could genuflect before I prayed. They said yes.

I didn’t ask out of shame, but out of respect.

Jesus would never force Himself on anyone, so I wouldn’t force Him on anyone either.

They were so gracious to me and we prayed together.

I’ve never met an anti-Catholic Jew or an anti-Catholic Muslim…only anti-Catholic Christians. 😦

Your story reminded me of that Hannah.

How in other Churches, we are allowed to worship God freely, but the non-Catholic Christian Churches I’ve been to were offended by my genuflection.

I didn’t ask them if I could do it.
Maybe that was my mistake,
but being that it was supposed to be a Christian church,
I didn’t even think I needed to.

But as I said, for all those who do do it,
God bless you all for doing it and for not being offended when others do it.

👍
 
2ndGen said:
So then, Protestants are allowed to make the sign of the cross but they just choose not to?

It was my understanding that they beleived (generally speaking) that it wasn’t biblical so they don’t do it.
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your understanding (in most protestant circles) would be wrong. many of them wear signs of the cross (crucifixes are not looked upon favorably by most protestants although i find a beauty in Christ on the cross AND the empty cross as well) in the form of cross necklaces and chains.
 
2ndGen said:
I’ve never met an anti-Catholic Jew or an anti-Catholic Muslim…only anti-Catholic Christians.
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that’s because most muslims and jews would not make a distinction between catholic, orthodox, and protestant in our beliefs. you would only find anti-Christian jews and muslims (if you find them at all).
 
bengal_fan said:
your understanding (in most protestant circles) would be wrong. many of them wear signs of the cross (crucifixes are not looked upon favorably by most protestants although i find a beauty in Christ on the cross AND the empty cross as well) in the form of cross necklaces and chains.
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I would agree that many Protestants use crosses. I too am a Prebyterian and when our communicants class graduates each of them is given a cross.
 
bengal_fan said:
your understanding (in most protestant circles) would be wrong. many of them wear signs of the cross (crucifixes are not looked upon favorably by most protestants although i find a beauty in Christ on the cross AND the empty cross as well) in the form of cross necklaces and chains.
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I know that many wear crosses “now” (it only took them 30 years to come around) and yes, they do frown upon crucifixes (and I appreciate your admiration of it 🙂 ).

Before, to them it was idolatry…what is it today to them?

A compromise?

They state that "Christ is not longer on the Cross.

I (like the veteran that I am) respond “Never forget”.

Besides, it wasn’t the Cross that saved us, but He Who died on it. Many died on Crosses before and after Christ, but only one death made a difference in our lives as Christians.

The Cross without Christ is just two pieces of wood. It’s not the Cross that is wrong itself, but the wearer’s intent to exclude the crucified Christ from it (in my humble opinion).
 
bengal_fan said:
that’s because most muslims and jews would not make a distinction between catholic, orthodox, and protestant in our beliefs. you would only find anti-Christian jews and muslims (if you find them at all).
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I’ve had some “American” Muslims attempt to lure me into a “we’re right/you’re wrong” debate, but I tell them that in order for us to debate, we have to have one common point from which to argue.

And most Jews and Muslims I’ve met have shown great admiration for Catholics and especially for Pope John Paul II.

The Muslims I’ve become friends with have told me that they don’t recognize Protestants (the non-catholic type) as true Christians. They seem to seperate those Christians that have a direct link to The Apostles from those that were started after the 16th Century.

This is what they’ve shared with me. I know this…they relly cannot understand how most Protestants can belittle Mary’s reputation and “not” see her as a woman above all women. This is really a point of contention with them (because they too love her as we do).
 
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