Why don't Lutherans cross themselves?

[seajoy]

You go Kae!

 

[KagomeShuko]

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

 

[synger]

I just had this discussion with my FIL the other day. Gem was trying to teach him to cross himself. (rather cute, in a way) He rather gruffly said, "it's a form of self-blessing that Catholics do. I don't do it." She looked rather surprised, and I gently explained that it's something that Catholics and some Lutherans do, and that it helps remind us of our baptism, rather than being a "self-blessing". He didn't agree, but my explanation was more for Gem than him anyway. So long as he doesn't try to undermine our teaching of her, I have no problem with such discussions.

 

[Hummie]

Very interesting thread.

I never cross myself, but the Pastor always does. But I have never seen it as wrong. Our Pastor did teach the confirmands how to do it if the choose too.

You know, the second part of the cross is hard for me when I do try to do it. I know I am supposed to go from the right shoulder to the left, but because my entire experience has been watching the Pastor do it as he faces me, when he starts on his right, it is on my left, so the left seems natural as we are mirrored. uggg!

 

[seajoy]

I just started crossing myself when in prayer alone, about a month ago. Mostly because of this thread. The constant reminder of the cross, and the Triune God, has really been only a positive thing for my relationship with Him.

It helps me humble myself before God. I don't know if that's what it's supposed to do...but it does that for me.

 

[DaRev]

You know, the second part of the cross is hard for me when I do try to do it. I know I am supposed to go from the right shoulder to the left, but because my entire experience has been watching the Pastor do it as he faces me, when he starts on his right, it is on my left, so the left seems natural as we are mirrored. uggg!

It can be done either way. The right-to-left is how most EO's do it, and left-to-right is how the RCC insists it must be done. Since it is adiaphora, and an act of personal piety, it doesn't matter which way. I have parishioners that do it both ways.

 

[VonBarnstejn]

Does God care if I'm left handed?

No I donot think that God minds whether one is right ot left handed. However, making the sign of the cross left handed AND upside down is a sign that Satanists use. Hence, if you are left handed ensure you do not make St.Peter's cross.

 

[LilLamb219]

I've never heard of that one.

 

[Melethiel]

Never heard that one before either...
I'm left handed, but cross myself with my right hand.

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Yep--upside down is satanic although I've never heard of St.Peters cross.

Does God care if I'm left handed?

No I donot think that God minds whether one is right ot left handed. However, making the sign of the cross left handed AND upside down is a sign that Satanists use. Hence, if you are left handed ensure you do not make St.Peter's cross.

 

[Melethiel]

St. Peter's cross is the upside down cross, because St. Peter was crucified upside-down.

 

[DaRev]

It should be done with the right hand as an indication of Christ being at the Right hand of the Father.

 

[seajoy]

It should be done with the right hand as an indication of Christ being at the Right hand of the Father.

Goodness, I'm left handed...how do I know if I'm doing it wrong I thought it was ok to cross one's self lefthanded.

 

[DaRev]

Goodness, I'm left handed...how do I know if I'm doing it wrong I thought it was ok to cross one's self lefthanded.

Technically, it's adiaphora. Left hand, right hand, left-to-right shoulder, right-to-left shoulder...

It's what it symbolizes to us that is important, that being our baptism.

 

[Melethiel]

Goodness, I'm left handed...how do I know if I'm doing it wrong I thought it was ok to cross one's self lefthanded.

You get 50 lashes with a wet noodle.

 

[WildStrawberry]

You get 50 lashes with a wet noodle.

quick hijack...

Ha! That reminds me of something that happened this week.

I've decided to try to read Luther's writings and thought that Bondage of the Will would be a good one to start with (besides the BoC writings of course.)

So I order it from my library. Had to use an ILL service because our library doesn't have a copy.

Got a phone call, on Tuesday I think it was, from the branch manager stating that my book arrived but was being held "for consideration" before they'd release it to me.

I asked why and was told that the technical services department head didn't think it was "good for the library's image" to allow members to borrow books dealing with "BDSM"

I called the Director of the library to, well complain but I wasn't upset, just rather amused. She was all because, as she puts it "it's not the library's policy to scrutinize books our patrons check out. You shouldn't have had to deal with this, Kim. I'm sorry."

Some people. *G*

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

/quick hijack

Kae

 

[DaRev]

quick hijack...

Ha! That reminds me of something that happened this week.

I've decided to try to read Luther's writings and thought that Bondage of the Will would be a good one to start with (besides the BoC writings of course.)

So I order it from my library. Had to use an ILL service because our library doesn't have a copy.

Got a phone call, on Tuesday I think it was, from the branch manager stating that my book arrived but was being held "for consideration" before they'd release it to me.

I asked why and was told that the technical services department head didn't think it was "good for the library's image" to allow members to borrow books dealing with "BDSM"

I called the Director of the library to, well complain but I wasn't upset, just rather amused. She was all because, as she puts it "it's not the library's policy to scrutinize books our patrons check out. You shouldn't have had to deal with this, Kim. I'm sorry."

Some people. *G*

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

/quick hijack

Kae

She must have been Roman Catholic!

 

[dinkime]

quick hijack...

Ha! That reminds me of something that happened this week.

I've decided to try to read Luther's writings and thought that Bondage of the Will would be a good one to start with (besides the BoC writings of course.)

So I order it from my library. Had to use an ILL service because our library doesn't have a copy.

Got a phone call, on Tuesday I think it was, from the branch manager stating that my book arrived but was being held "for consideration" before they'd release it to me.

I asked why and was told that the technical services department head didn't think it was "good for the library's image" to allow members to borrow books dealing with "BDSM"

I called the Director of the library to, well complain but I wasn't upset, just rather amused. She was all because, as she puts it "it's not the library's policy to scrutinize books our patrons check out. You shouldn't have had to deal with this, Kim. I'm sorry."

Some people. *G*

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

/quick hijack

Kae

 

[seajoy]

Technically, it's adiaphora. Left hand, right hand, left-to-right shoulder, right-to-left shoulder...

It's what it symbolizes to us that is important, that being our baptism.

First satanic, now adiaphora . I'm new at this crossing myself....now Mel wants to whack me with a wet noodle too yet.
What is the upsidedown cross thing? I was really thinking this was a good thing, now I may just leave it alone.

 

[Melethiel]

quick hijack...

Ha! That reminds me of something that happened this week.

I've decided to try to read Luther's writings and thought that Bondage of the Will would be a good one to start with (besides the BoC writings of course.)

So I order it from my library. Had to use an ILL service because our library doesn't have a copy.

Got a phone call, on Tuesday I think it was, from the branch manager stating that my book arrived but was being held "for consideration" before they'd release it to me.

I asked why and was told that the technical services department head didn't think it was "good for the library's image" to allow members to borrow books dealing with "BDSM"

I called the Director of the library to, well complain but I wasn't upset, just rather amused. She was all because, as she puts it "it's not the library's policy to scrutinize books our patrons check out. You shouldn't have had to deal with this, Kim. I'm sorry."

Some people. *G*

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

/quick hijack

Kae

BotW was the first of Luther's writings I read...I was just browsing the library and picked it off the shelf...