Why don't non-Catholics kneel in their services?

[EPHRIAM777]

jim1130 SAYS…

For Catholics, we genuflect when we enter the Church and kneel during portions of the Mass, all of which reflect our respect and humility before God.

Eph asks…

Now Jim…do you really kneel out of “respect to God” or do you just do it because “it’s time to kneel” when everyone else does it…?

I find that most folks are just doing that kneeling out of habit…and not out of respect…! Do you ever see anyone “kneeling extra” the entire service because they have extra respect…? Be honest now cause I haven’t seen them do it…

Jim writes…
I wonder why non-Catholics do not kneel and/or genuflect during their services.

Eph kindly replies…

Well I’m sure deep down they DO Jim…but they probably have read MATT 6:2:4 a few times …and take it seriously to mean what it says…!

 

[thogg85]

jim1130:

Peace.

Truth be told, I was not judging. I am genuienly curious. I know why we, Catholics, genuflect and kneel, but was interested in why Protestants, typically, do not kneel during their services. That’s all. No judgement intended. Jim

Glad to hear that!! To be honest, I don’t know why kneeling isn’t a part of the service. My only guess, and only a guess, is that Protestant pastors don’t want people doing an “act” of worship to God that isn’t from the heart - that is only done because of a routine. True worship is in spirit and in truth, not in if we bow or kneel or genuflect…Doing those things is awesome when we are truly worshiping God. I wonder if it might be considered a lie to our Lord if have a form of worship when are hearts are in rebellion against Him. Just a thought.

 

[jim1130]

EPHRIAM777:

Eph asks…

Now Jim…do you really kneel out of “respect to God” or do you just do it because “it’s time to kneel” when everyone else does it…?

Thanks for asking. I kneel in revereance, respect, and humility of God and the presence of Christ.

EPHRIAM777:

I find that most folks are just doing that kneeling out of habit…and not out of respect…! Do you ever see anyone “kneeling extra” the entire service because they have extra respect…? Be honest now cause I haven’t seen them do it…

That is hard to know (motives for kneeling) because that would mean I would know what is in the hearts and minds of others. I believe people kneel out of respect unless they tell me otherwise.

And, yes, I do see people kneeling “extra.” I’ve been known to kneel “extra” myself.

Peace.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

thogg85:

Glad to hear that!! To be honest, I don’t know why kneeling isn’t a part of the service. My only guess, and only a guess, is that Protestant pastors don’t want people doing an “act” of worship to God that isn’t from the heart - that is only done because of a routine. True worship is in spirit and in truth, not in if we bow or kneel or genuflect…Doing those things is awesome when we are truly worshiping God. I wonder if it might be considered a lie to our Lord if have a form of worship when are hearts are in rebellion against Him. Just a thought.

More or less, what you have articulated is what I was taught as a Protestant (Southern Baptist). It was said that kneeling in church was “Catholic.” It’s one of those areas where I, as a convert to Catholicism, think it would be helpful if Baptists and Catholics tried to understand at least each other’s vocabularies, if not each other’s beliefs. I know people on both sides, however, who would not attempt to travel any distance in understanding what the other side was saying.

 

[a_pilgrim]

jim1130:

Thank you VERY much for the clarification and explanation. I certainly appreciate your post. My OP was meant as a way for me to understand, not pass judgement or make any critical accusations so I am grateful that you took the time to enlighten me. Have a blessed day. Jim

Jim, my friend,

Trust that your original post was in NO WAY interpreted as being judgemental or accusatory (except, perhaps, by those who may have an agenda and purposely wish to “read” things into it to fit their own needs )… it was a very valid question. As a Byzantine Catholic, I always welcome the opportunity to share with my Roman Catholic brethren the liturgical differences between us that they may not even be aware of. But that’s one of the* truly wonderful* things about our shared Catholic faith - the fact that we can worship God according to our own, sometimes very different, traditions and still be united as One Church, the Catholic Church, each of us under the pastoral care of the successor of Peter, the one hand-picked by Our Lord to lead his Church on earth!

Thank you, my friend, for asking the question!

 

[Mickey]

a pilgrim:

Jim, my friend,

Trust that your original post was in NO WAY interpreted as being judgemental or accusatory (except, perhaps, by those who may have an agenda and purposely wish to “read” things into it to fit their own needs )… it was a very valid question. As a Byzantine Catholic, I always welcome the opportunity to share with my Roman Catholic brethren the liturgical differences between us that they may not even be aware of. But that’s one of the* truly wonderful* things about our shared Catholic faith - the fact that we can worship God according to our own, sometimes very different, traditions and still be united as One Church, the Catholic Church, each of us under the pastoral care of the successor of Peter, the one hand-picked by Our Lord to lead his Church on earth!

Thank you, my friend, for asking the question!

Ditto!
That’s what I like about you my Eastern brother(sister?)–you always explain it so well, that I don’t have to type as much.

Many years,
Mickey

 

[cecilia97]

tparsons:

cecilia97:

I’ve seen new Catholic church buildings with no kneelers and no space between pews to kneel on the floor, either.

Where???..I’ve never seen that before.

Once years ago in a state I can’t remember, while traveling the US, and once last year when attending Mass with family in a Cincinnati suburb…and Cincy is/was a VERY Catholic town!

I was shocked, I thought we had walked into the Methodist church by accident. The crucifix showed Christ fully dressed in flowing robes with no nails or wounds, a la the last Episcopal church I’d visited, too. Felt I was in the Catholic Twilight Zone.

Didn’t get the impression it was a monetary decision, as the church was well decorated, carpeted, not cheap-looking materials, and had expensive-looking landscaping outside. And if the kneelers were coming at a later date, I didn’t see the space between the pews for them to go. But I could always be wrong!

c

 

[jonfan]

EPHRIAM777:

jim1130 SAYS…

For Catholics, we genuflect when we enter the Church and kneel during portions of the Mass, all of which reflect our respect and humility before God.

Eph asks…

Now Jim…do you really kneel out of “respect to God” or do you just do it because “it’s time to kneel” when everyone else does it…?

I find that most folks are just doing that kneeling out of habit…and not out of respect…! Do you ever see anyone “kneeling extra” the entire service because they have extra respect…? Be honest now cause I haven’t seen them do it…

Jim writes…
I wonder why non-Catholics do not kneel and/or genuflect during their services.

Eph kindly replies…

Well I’m sure deep down they DO Jim…but they probably have read MATT 6:2:4 a few times …and take it seriously to mean what it says…!

Actually I see a lot of people at church kneeling when others aren’t. For example at the beginning of mass, before and after recieving Jesus Christ through the Eucharist, and after mass.
God bless,
Jon

 

[LilyM]

do you really kneel out of “respect to God” or do you just do it because “it’s time to kneel” when everyone else does it…?

I find that most folks are just doing that kneeling out of habit…and not out of respect…! Do you ever see anyone “kneeling extra” the entire service because they have extra respect…? Be honest now cause I haven’t seen them do it…

No, not the entire service, because in a Catholic service there are times where it’s appropriate to stand rather than sit or kneel, but particularly before and after Communion absolutely, there are people (myself included) who stay kneeling well after most people have sat up.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

I’m not judging the protestants, but does anyone remember the story of Abbot Apollo (a desert Father that lived about 1700 yrs. ago)? He got a glimpse of the devil-and the devil had no knees with which to kneel. Being unwilling to bend the knee for Christ is the essence of evil according to Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix and you can all read what he has to say about kneeling at this site-

adoremus.org/0505Olmsted_Kneeling.html

 

[Vaclav]

I wonder why non-Catholics do not kneel and/or genuflect during their services.

As a Lutheran I can say that we knelt quite a bit actually. We knelt in the pews during services and at the altar rail during communion, every Sunday.

So at least for my experience that isn’t true of all Protestant churches. I will say that Baptists and non-denominational churches do not kneel. Also, Methodists do not during services - at least in my experience.

 

[Della]

Originally Posted by Della
Now, when Evangelicals come around to seeing the necessity of the Eucharist, which I believe is really just a matter of time, then you will become Catholic and the divisions between two of the largest segments of Christianity will be over. For, if you have an altar it stands to reason you are offering a sacrifice, and the only sacrifice that removes our sins is the one sacrifice of Christ, which we Catholics re-present to the Father at every Mass.

thogg85 wrote:
During communion each person kneels at the altar. Some believe in the the true presence of Christ. Yes, I know that this is highly unusual for an Evangelical church, but I believe we have a large group of people seeking truth and have seen truth in scripture.

That is quite interesting. I wonder how many other Evangelical churches are beginning to understand that communion is just what Jesus said it is–reception of his body and blood and not just symbolic. I think this is most encouraging, even if these dear folks haven’t yet realized that what they yearn for is found and has been found for 2000 years in the Church Christ established–the Catholic Church. And, that all they’d have to do is be reconciled with it to have the Real Presence for real. At least it’s a step in the right direction.