Why don't Lutherans cross themselves?

[Jim47]

It is remarkable to me that Luther himself urged crossing oneself frequently during morning and evening prayers and yet it is hardly practiced by modern Lutherans today who profess to follow Luther's teachings? One wonders if justification by faith alone will soon be abandoned as well?

This is likely because Luther came from a Catholic heritage and up bringing. I don't ever remember a single person crossing themselves in my church. I think it would be fine, but sadly its looked upon as a Catholic thing.

It should be neither expected or denied of anyone, we all serve The Lord in our own way. This is the freedom that Christ won for us.

 

[rd151]

Crossing oneself was practiced by Christians from the earliest centuries and may go back to apostolic times. We know that is was already a common ceremony used daily in A.D. 200, for Tertullian writes: "In all undertakings -- when we enter a place or leave it; before we dress; before we bathe; when we take our meals; when we light the lamps in the evening; before we retire at night; when we sit down to read; before each task -- we trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads." St. Augustine (A.D. 431) speaks of this custom many times in his sermons and letters.
It is one of the traditional ceremonies that was most definitely retained by Luther and the Lutheran Church in the 16th-century Reformation. Luther prescribed in his Small Catechism under the heading: "How the Head of the Family Should Teach His Household to Bless Themselves in the Morning and in the Evening." He says, "In the morning when you rise (In the evening when you go to bed) you shall bless yourself with the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen." Again in his Large Catechism he recommends that parents should instruct their children to cross themselves for the purpose of recalling their divine Protector in moments of danger, terror, and temptation. This ceremony is also still authorized in many present-day Lutheran service books.

 

[filosofer]

filo? This might be a silly question...but how does one cross themself? I'm being serious. What is the proper way?

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I had rather urgent writing last night that took 4 1/2 hours (including re-writes), and didn't see this post until now.

But, then DaRev filled you in. Except I do it backward (according to DaRev's instruction) and always have. Never learned from the RCC or the EO or Lutherans. I did what felt natural for me. I suspect it developed from my blessing the congregation at the benediction. And then instead of reversing that sign for my personal use, I continued to do it the same way, except with my fingers inward instead of outward (you gotta try it to understand that).

In Christ's love,
filo
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[seajoy]

Thanks filo, it's ok.

 

[dinkime]

i cross myself when i am in Ukraine at a ULC church, here, not so much

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

It is odd to me that I find Lutherans don't cross themselves, especially when Luther gave instruction to in his small Catechism. Also when the Pastor says the words "in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit" one would think to do so at that time. Also when I receive the flesh and blood of Christ during communion I always cross myself.So why is there such a reluctance on Lutherans part to make the sign of the cross, when they are instructed to do so in the first place? Are Lutherans afraid they will somehow turn into a Catholic by doing so.I truely wonder?

re quote "instructed to do so in the first place?"

I was born and raised %110 lutheran - zion lutheran in ferguson, then lhsn in north st.louis country - and I never heard of anyone crossing themselves nor being taught to until decades later when I saw pagans do it on tv (so I'm glad I wasn't taught wrong early on, eh?)...
and a simple google search reveals the apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom...
shalom

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Oh I'm sure that's biblical..............?????

 

[LilLamb219]

re quote "instructed to do so in the first place?"

I was born and raised %110 lutheran - zion lutheran in ferguson, then lhsn in north st.louis country - and I never heard of anyone crossing themselves nor being taught to until decades later when I saw pagans do it on tv (so I'm glad I wasn't taught wrong early on, eh?)...
and a simple google search reveals the apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom...
shalom

Do you mind giving us some scripture so we can see for ourselves where it says the "apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom"? I don't recall ever seeing that.

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Lutherans can't cross themselves---they would drop their plates on the potluck table. Sheesh---I thought everybody knew that.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Do you mind giving us some scripture so we can see for ourselves where it says the "apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom"? I don't recall ever seeing that.

can't do it on this thread. email me and I'll send you the links. you can post them here if you want. (they frequently get deleted)

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Do you mind giving us some scripture so we can see for ourselves where it says the "apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom"? I don't recall ever seeing that.

p.s. I saw them on 3 other cf threads last year, about august. they might still be there, I'll check if/when I get a little time.
I guess maybe they only get deleted if someone complains, I really don't know. I'll pass the cf links on if I can find them again.

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Anybody can post scripture on here.

 

[DaSeminarian]

Back to what the original post asked. Crossing one's self is an adiaphoron. The Pastor however is to give the sign of the cross when doing the invocation and benediction as well as over the elements during the words of institution.

 

[KagomeShuko]

Just stopping in for a friendly comment!

I may be ELCA, but even I cross myself as do a few others at St. Paul! Our Interim awhile ago always made the sign of the cross.

Yep, right or left first, either is correct. I touch my left side first from my old acolyte training as first approaching the right hand of God.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

 

[suprdrk]

Interesting thread

 

[Melethiel]

I cross myself EO fashion, since that's how I first learned to do it. Of the people in my church who cross themselves (off the top of my head, I'd say 10 or so), most do it RC fashion. Usually done at the words "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," and when receiving Communion.

The acolytes are always taught to bow before and after lighting/extinguishing the candles.
[Disclaimer: I currently attend an ELCA church.]

 

[DaRev]

and a simple google search reveals the apostles and disciples never crossed themselves but rather rejected it as a pagan custom...
shalom

Of course the "apostles and disciples " never crossed themsleves. The practice didn't first appear until about the 9th century.

 

[LilLamb219]

They didn't cross themselves, but the part I'd like scripture on is where they "rejected" is as a pagan practice!

 

[WildStrawberry]

Lutherans can't cross themselves---they would drop their plates on the potluck table. Sheesh---I thought everybody knew that.

Huh...says YOU. If you were BORN a Lutheran, you can juggle two overfull entree / sides plates, one salad bowl, one dessert plate, a cup of coffee, AND cross yourself!



Kae

 

[KimLCMS]

Huh...says YOU. If you were BORN a Lutheran, you can juggle two overfull entree / sides plates, one salad bowl, one dessert plate, a cup of coffee, AND cross yourself!



Kae

LOL