Why do Protestants

[MarieAnn]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

Why does your priest talk for so long?
Why don't you use holy water?
Why don't you have communion every week?

umm, that's it!

and
Marie

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

I will try

Why does your priest talk for so long?

That is funny in a way. I went to Catholic Mass a few times years back and thought the priest spoke pretty long actually. i guess it depends on the pastor and the message. Sometimes the message is 20 minutes, sometimes longer - and sometimes shorter.

Why don't you use holy water?

I've never really considered this. However, do not believe it to be a necessity of a Christian walk. I do not believe anyone can 'make' water Holy, with the exception of Christ. However, this is not a doctrin, or dogma, so not worth arguing I guess. I won't argue the use either way.

Why don't you have communion every week?

Depends on the denomination or congregationm I guess. We have it once a month. However, I know of Protestant churches who do have it every Sunday as part of their regular worship service. I personally like that idea. So, once again - it all depends on the church you visit.

HTH

God Bless

Victoria

 

[ukok]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

Why does your priest talk for so long?
Why don't you use holy water?
Why don't you have communion every week?

umm, that's it!

and
Marie

Marieann,

I think the length of time that the priest speaks for is usually dependant upon his personality. Some are simply more effusive than others.

As for the 'holy water', I have attended many protestant churches, but largely, the C of E, which does in fact have the water 'blessed', but then again, we did used to say the Hail Mary, and had many a statue and crucifix and candle adorning the Chruch also, so we weren't that disimilar to the Catholic church ( we did borrow a heck of a lot from it!)

Also, the C of E do have weekly communion, as do some of the more liberal churches that I have attended in the past., but as you correctly state, there are some that do so monthly and even, I have heard, annually.

I don't suppose I did anything but cloud the toipic, did it? Sorry.

 

[Fiskare]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

Why does your priest talk for so long?

Not all do- but there is generally an emphasis in protestantism with teaching from the scriptures as a key for personal growth in faith.

Why don't you use holy water?

We do.

Why don't you have communion every week?

We do.

 

[jbarcher]

o.o

Today my pastor had his sermon for about 35-40 min. But he was speaking on the topic of sexuality (Proverbs) and undoubtedly there is a lot that the Bible has to teach on the subject.

Personally I do not consider the length of the sermon; rather if it is from the Bible, if it is edifying, etc.

 

[ZiSunka]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

Why does your priest talk for so long?

He's called a pastor, and he's teaching us, which takes some time. We are listening and learning from what he is saying, so he goes at a pace we can learn from.

Why don't you use holy water?

All water is holy, so what why would we need special bottles of water and call them holy?

Why don't you have communion every week?

Depends on where you go, some churches have it every week and some don't.

 

[Jenna]

Why does your priest talk for so long?

Um, my priest (whom we call pastor, but who IS still technically just as much a priest as any of the catholic persuation ), well, I don't think he talks all that long. However, I have gone to some churches (usually baptist) where the ministers of the Word have talked, and talked, and talked. I got grounded once when I was 17 because my dad didn't believe that I was in church for nearly 3 hours. lol I really was, I swear. Heeheehee...... All in all, I don't mind though. I don't think that the thousands who followed Jesus all of the time harassed him at all to give them the short version. *laughs sweetly* I do know that there are sometimes when it is way too early and the sanctuary is way too warm, that I really wish the sermon could be shorter. lol

Why don't you use holy water?

Well, we don't have any at the entrance, but that doesn't mean that in some ways blessed water isn't used. So, same thing, just different applications...

Why don't you have communion every week?

We do, every week, just like clockwork. I guess if you wanted to, you could recieve communion multiple times since each service has communion each week. I get where you are coming from though. I could never understand how people decide to only have communion bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or whatever. It just seems to make sense to have communion whenever we gather together for worship.

Oh, and I am a member at a Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod).

 

[Reformationist]

Why does your priest talk for so long?

Most of the time I wish my services would go longer. I love the way my Pastor teaches and it seems as if I can never get enough of it. So, I guess my answer is that God graces us with His Word longer so we can enjoy it longer.

Why don't you use holy water?

What would we use water for? Sometimes I've gotten a bit thirsty and had a glass of water in church but I don't know that I'd call the water "holy." "Holy" is a descriptive term used to signify being set apart or being righteous and good. Now, as I said, I've had some good water before but, again, I doubt I'd call it "holy."

Why don't you have communion every week?

Um...I'm not sure. Why don't we have it every day?

God bless

 

[Bruce S]

I've only been to a protestant church once in my life, I have some questions about it:

Why does your priest talk for so long?

They get paid by the word, the longer the sermon, the more they make. Don't believe it? Listen to TBN.

Why don't you use holy water?

We find it hard to walk on ANY water, holy or not. So we leave the water thing to those who like those "specialty type of waters" I personally like Perrier, but the fizzle goes out when you put it into fonts, I hate that about Perrier.

Why don't you have communion every week?

We are all on diets, all those calories play havoc with our waistlines.

 

[Lanakila]

Sarcasm Bruce. I think the OP was honest questioning. At least I hope so.

My Pastor is long winded, but most of the people are hanging on every word, so I don't think they mind much. Pastors write their own sermons, and aren't issued a text either in most Protestant churches. They can preach for as long as the people can stand it. Most know that a persons attention span is about a half hour and try to end by that time though, after a 30-45 minute worship service.

What is Holy Water? I never understand what the purpose of that was, or what made it holy. Pastors don't even call the Baptismal pool holy.

In my church we have communion once a quarter. Some churches do it once a month and some less often, or more depending. Most Protestant take the threats of 1 Corinthians about Communion being so important you don't want to take in in an unworthy manner very seriously, and therefore the Pastor is careful to preach about repentence for at least one sermon, and some many before having communion.

Many groups of Protestants are very independent in how their churches conduct things such as communion.

 

[jbarcher]

What is Holy Water? I never understand what the purpose of that was, or what made it holy. Pastors don't even call the Baptismal pool holy.

Yeah...I would like to know as well. First time I heard that.."Holy water? What?"

 

[Gamecock]

Hi MarieAnn, as a life long Presbyterian (PCA) I'll answer from my perspective from my little corner of Protestantism!

Why does your priest talk for so long?

The sermon is the center peice of our worship. It is where we learn about God and his Grace. BTW, long is about 15-20 minutes, doesn't seem long to me...

Why don't you use holy water?

Not sure what you mean by holy water. Are you talking about for baptism or upon entering church???

Why don't you have communion every week?

Some do, some don't. My current church does. In the Presbyterian Church, it is a local decision.

 

[AngelAmidala]

I think everyone else has already summed up the answers about Holy Water and Communion. But I would like to comment about sermon length.

As had been said already, it mostly depends on the pastor's personality and what the subject is they're speaking on. In my church, my pastor usually speaks about 15 minutes, sometimes 20. On days we have Communion, the sermon is called a "meditation" and is about 10 minutes.

In training as a lay speaker, if we do the "preaching" training, we're required to write and preach a 20 minute sermon as our kind of "final presentation" along with shorter sermons and messages. And I know when my pastor had to have a sermon video taped for part of her ordination process, that also had to be a full 20 minutes.

BTW....this is from a United Methodist perspective.

 

[Benedicta00]

Well since y'all asked what Holy Water is I’ll answer then scurry away.

It is water, ordinary water that the priest blesses and we call this a sacramental, something that God uses to give us grace.

The Holy Water remits venal sins and it chases off Satan when we are being tempted or are under attack. Can’t tell you how many times I have used it on my computer when I feel we have been under attack on here.

Basically that is what it is. We usually do not drink it and a good Catholic always has it in the home. I bless things with it, myself, my children etc.

 

[Lotar]

I need to get some to put in a squirt gun. You know, too keep the vampires away.

 

[Benedicta00]

I need to get some to put in a squirt gun. You know, too keep the vampires away.

Actually that has been done but not to keep vampires away, to keep demons away. And it works.

 

[tulc]

"I need to get some to put in a squirt gun. You know, too keep the vampires away."

Dude!! I was totally going to say that!! I've always liked the idea of putting it in water balloons.
tulc(who's sorry for staying from the point but couldn't help it)

 

[BigToe]

for the churches that don't have communion every week- i asked my university minister about this when i went to a baptist church. he said its because he doesnt want (his choice) the members to do it only out of habit. when he feels called by god to have communion he wants everyone in the congregation to reflect on what it means and what it does for you. he believes you can't just do communion when you want, but you should pray and ask for forgiveness and come clean before god.

so its to keep people from forgetting what communion represents

 

[ukok]

Well since y'all asked what Holy Water is I’ll answer then scurry away.

It is water, ordinary water that the priest blesses and we call this a sacramental, something that God uses to give us grace.

The Holy Water remits venal sins and it chases off Satan when we are being tempted or are under attack. Can’t tell you how many times I have used it on my computer when I feel we have been under attack on here

That is an excellent idea...i was going to buy a bottle yesterday from Church, i'll be sure to sprinkle a little on my computer next week when i get some.

Basically that is what it is. We usually do not drink it and a good Catholic always has it in the home. I bless things with it, myself, my children etc

I think that is a lovely idea...blessing yourself and the children...is there any special way that you do so, or is there a specific prayer that you say when you bless yourself or the children?

 

[Benedicta00]

That is an excellent idea...i was going to buy a bottle yesterday from Church, i'll be sure to sprinkle a little on my computer next week when i get some.

You should not have to buy it, it's free. Nothing that has been blessed can be for sale. In your Church you should have a place somewhere, maybe where the candles are that you can light for vigils?? Ask someone if you can't find it but there should be a large, forgive me but I forgot it's name but it is something like a fountain that you can fill up a bottle with. The bottles may be for sale at your Church but the water is free, you can put your water in anything, but the holy water bottles that are for sale in Church or here, we can buy them at a Catholic bookstore, has some prayers and instructions on them how you can bless yourself or others.

I think that is a lovely idea...blessing yourself and the children...is there any special way that you do so, or is there a specific prayer that you say when you bless yourself or the children?

No, what ever you want to pray or any prayer you like, I like to use it when they are sick, especially when they have fever. You just make a sign of a cross on their forehead and you can have them cross themselves with it.

Sprinkling in around the house and praying the prayer to St. Michael when strife shows it's ugly head is what I'm custom to do. It is a great defense against temptation and falling into sin and you can say an act of contrition for your sins and it remits venal sins.