When to bow in front of an altar?

[Lprdgecko]

Around this time last year, I went on a trip to London. I was looking through my old pictures just now and was reminded of this:

While there, we visited/toured several different cathedrals/chapels/etc. (Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and others). These were Anglican churches, of course. The tours were obviously not during a service, but each time I approached the altar, I felt like I should bow. Sometimes I did, other times I didn't.

Is it necessary to bow before an altar while no service is being conducted? Are there any "rules" about doing so in non-Lutheran churches?

Just curious

 

[Willie T]

John 11:35

 

[ForJesusChrist]

I usually just cross myself or say a little prayer

 

[Lprdgecko]

John 11:35

??? Am I missing something?

 

[Willie T]

??? Am I missing something?

Jesus reacted as He felt... despite the fact that there were all sorts of people standing around, watching, judging, with their "expectations" of what He was "supposed" to do. There is no "rule book" about when and how we respond to God, save that which man, himself, has chosen to impose upon worshipers.

 

[Lprdgecko]

Jesus reacted as He felt... despite the fact that there were all sorts of people standing around, watching, judging, with their "expectations" of what He was "supposed" to do. There is no "rule book" about when and how we respond to God, save that which man, himself, has chosen to impose upon worshipers.

Ah, I understand now. Thanks for explaining!

 

[LilLamb219]

Is it necessary to bow before an altar while no service is being conducted? Are there any "rules" about doing so in non-Lutheran churches?

Lutherans don't have "rules" about bowing. We bow out of reverence for our Lord and especially since the altar is where His body and blood have been for Communion. It's neither commanded nor forbidden to bow.

 

[Willie T]

Originally Posted by Willie T
Jesus reacted as He felt... despite the fact that there were all sorts of people standing around, watching, judging, with their "expectations" of what He was "supposed" to do. There is no "rule book" about when and how we respond to God, save that which man, himself, has chosen to impose upon worshipers.

Ah, I understand now. Thanks for explaining!

One of the worst feelings I ever had in church involved this.

A visitor raised his hands, and fairly quietly said, "Praise God". I was totally shocked when one of our self-righteous "pious" members went up behind him , and authoritatively announced, "We don't do that here." The poor man was so embarrassed and humiliated. He looked like someone had slapped him, and just sat there in the pew for the rest of the service.

I was equally ashamed of myself for just being such a milque toast as to sit there, and do nothing, but allow one of God's special children be treated that way in a house we claimed belonged to God, himself.

I've grown a lot in God since then, and no longer fear what men say. But that one morning still comes back around to remind me that we can so easily desire to look proper, and be accepted in our manmade religions, rather than actually honor God by offering worship to Him from our inner feelings. From our hearts instead of our heads.

Today, I would have given that old religious pretender a very direct, "Back Off!", stare, while moving to stand beside that man while he raised his hands to his Lord. It sometimes takes time to grow into what God means for us to be. Some of us never do.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Around this time last year, I went on a trip to London. I was looking through my old pictures just now and was reminded of this:

While there, we visited/toured several different cathedrals/chapels/etc. (Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and others). These were Anglican churches, of course. The tours were obviously not during a service, but each time I approached the altar, I felt like I should bow. Sometimes I did, other times I didn't.

Is it necessary to bow before an altar while no service is being conducted? Are there any "rules" about doing so in non-Lutheran churches?

Just curious

What ever you are comfortable doing. In the congregation that I grew up in, few did except when approaching the altar for Communion and on being dismissed from the altar. In my second congregation we did it all the time; some upon entering the sanctuary, before taking a seat. In my present Congregation, some do all the time, some rarely do.

It is a matter of the custom of the congregation, and personal custom.

When I was studying to become a Funeral Director we were instructed to do what was done (follow custom and practice) for the sake of good order. At Catholic Funerals, regardless of our Church, we process into the Church, and when everyone genuflects, we do to. Likewise we bow in Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Churches, as is their custom.

Luther stressed Adiaphora, while also stressing the retention of customs for the sake of good order.

 

[Sean611]

I know that I am late to this thread, but this reminds of a story about doing altar guild training for my Episcopal parish.

I was told that there are two ways to do this and both are acceptable. You can either bow every single time when approaching the altar or you can bow once at the beginning and once at the end. Rather than having to bow about 40 times, I went with the once before and once after approach lol. The nice lady who taught me was taught that the proper way was to bow every time. My parish is very traditionalist and there are some who still do it the traditionalist way.

Now, I don't think there is a set in stone Anglican way of doing it, however, that is the experience at my parish. During the Sunday service, most members at my church bow at least once during the service.

At the local LCMS parish, most people bow and many even cross themselves at various times. Both the LCMS parish and Episcopal parish in my area are quite traditionalist.

 

[VDMA]

I bow when going up to the altar rail for communion, and then once I take part, I make the sign of the cross, stand up, and bow again towards the altar, simply out of reverence and because it feels right to me.

I also bow when passing the rail to go up into the chancel, and again when leaving.

In some of the English Cathedrals, I bow before the altar, or kneel in front of a crucifix, out of respect and prayer, though, as a true Lutheran, I refuse to bow in front of a Catholic altar, simply because I disagree with the theory of transubstantiation and the theology of the tabernacle.

Pax Christi,

VDMA