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Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
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If not - it never occurred to me that I should.Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
Lutherans certainly do, as well as Anglicans and a few Methodists I know. From a Lutheran perspective I would point to a few reasons. First, making the sign of the cross is prescribed in Luther's small Catechism before morning and evening prayer. Lutheran pastors often bless the congregation by making the sign of the cross as well especially at the beginning and at the end of the Divine Service. And let us not forget Baptism where the sign of the cross is made as well.Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
A lot of Christians obsess over issues of symbolism. They confuse symbolism with substance. Making the sign of the cross was never mentioned in the apostles writings to the Christians. That speaks to its priority.Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
Do you do it only before morning and evening prayers? Or can you do it everytime you pray?Lutherans certainly do, as well as Anglicans and a few Methodists I know. From a Lutheran perspective I would point to a few reasons. First, making the sign of the cross is prescribed in Luther's small Catechism before morning and evening prayer. Lutheran pastors often bless the congregation by making the sign of the cross as well especially at the beginning and at the end of the Divine Service. And let us not forget Baptism where the sign of the cross is made as well.
Why? I suppose it was one of the things Luther thought helped teach the faith. It does bring to mind the Trinitarian nature of worship. Here's a an article detailing the practice here:
https://steadfastlutherans.org/2014/03/on-making-the-sign-of-the-cross/
It has been present since the Second Century. I think it's a harmless and useful traditionA lot of Christians obsess over issues of symbolism. They confuse symbolism with substance. Making the sign of the cross was never mentioned in the apostles writings to the Christians. That speaks to its priority.
It's a tradition since the beginning of the Church. Tertullian, John Crysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, and many other great early Christians spoke of it as a powerful prayer unto itself, a mark of loyalty to Christ, and a weapon against demons.It has been present since the Second Century. I think it's a harmless and useful tradition
I do it every time I pray or when the Holy Trinity is invoked.Do you do it only before morning and evening prayers? Or can you do it everytime you pray?
I do. And so do most of the members of the congregation/parish that I belong to. It's just a sign, not something that drives away devils or something like that.Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
Oh sure, but if we were to look closely, we would find that members of almost every branch of Christianity engage in acts or make gestures or have certain devotionals that are not specifically mentioned in Scripture. What matters, I would think, is whether or not there is a solid reason for abandoning some or all of them.Making the sign of the cross was never mentioned in the apostles writings to the Christians. That speaks to its priority.
If it's not a sin not to make the sign of the cross, then why bother people about it?Oh sure, but if we were to look closely, we would find that members of almost every branch of Christianity engage in acts or make gestures or have certain devotionals that are not specifically mentioned in Scripture. What matters, I would think, is whether or not there is a solid reason for abandoning some or all of them.
I don't think that there is, in the case of the sign of the cross.
I am not bothering people about it. And now that I think about it, I cant honestly say that I have ever encountered anyone who does.If it's not a sin not to make the sign of the cross, then why bother people about it?
Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
Howdy! I'm just curious to know if there's any Protestant here who does the Sign of the Cross. Why do you do it? If not, why not?
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