Why don't Lutherans cross themselves?

[DaSeminarian]

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.


Crossing oneself is done by puting the fingers of the right hand to the forehead, to the breast, and to the left and right shoulders, with the words, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." By doing this we profess our faith in the Triune God and in our redemption through Christ crucified. But it is more than a profession of faith; it is a prayer in action of thanksgiving or for blessing to God the Father, in the Holy Spirit, through our one and only Mediator, Jesus Christ. The sign of the cross may also be made from the right to the left shoulder. This is the older form, which has been retained in the Eastern church.


In the church's worship it is a laudable custom to cross ourselves at the beginning and end of all services and at the following places in the Service or in the Order of the Holy Communion Service: During the opening words, "In the name etc."; at the end of the Absolution; at the beginning of the Introit; at the end of the Gloria in Excelsis; when the Gospel is announced (At this point the sign is made with the hand closed, using the tip of the thumb, upon the forehead, lips, and breast.); at the end of the creed; during the Sanctus at the words, "Blessed is He"; after the consecration at "The peace of the Lord"; when we receive the holy body and precious blood of Christ; when the minister says, "Depart in peace"; and at the end of the Benediction.


The holy cross is the symbol of our salvation. We were signed with it when we were baptized. It is the sign by which the church blesses people and things. By it we become part of the wonderful history of our faith and companions in the company of the saints. It is right that we should make the sign of the cross frequently and to glory in it, saying with St. Paul, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Gal. 6:14)
(Paul H. D. Lang, Ceremony and Celebration, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO, 1965)


Among all the ancient writers there is indeed frequent mention of the sign of the cross. ...at the time of Tertullian and afterward the Christians with their fingers formed a transverse figure like a cross in the air, and in this way identified themselves. It was...a profession and reminder that they believed in Christ crucified, and that they were placing all their hope and confidence in Him. (Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, Part IV [Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1986], p. 94)






I thought this was interesting




Q

Thanks for the historical background.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I treasure the sign of the cross and the blessings it brings- a reminder and a reenactment of our covering by the Trinity, the cross, and baptism, and a defense against the Evil One and our own temptations. I'd say I cross myself about eleven times in the service- at the invocation, at the absolution, at the reading of the Holy Gospel (thumb across forehead, lips, and heart), at the Benedictus, at 'this is my body' and at 'this is my blood,' before receiving the Eucharist, after receiving each of the kinds (body and blood), when I return to my seat, and at the benediction. I find it is an excellent way to keep my whole body in the rhythm of worship.

I'd say the congregations around me don't do it quite that often, but many of them do cross themselves regurally.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I come from a brief Catholic background and the making of the sign of the cross was practiced during worship. Also Luther wrote we should use it as well and it dates back to very early Christian history as a valid practice. Yet when I attend the Lutheran church I don't see anyone crossing themselves at all and especially when the minister declares his blessing upon us in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit?

I want to cross myself, but if I do I would feel "looked upon" as an oddball by everyone around me? What is your advice and just why don't Lutherans cross themselves anyway when Luther himself said we should?

I do.

The pastor does, maybe half the congregation does - well maybe 1/3.



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[stumpjumper]

I cross my self after receiving communion and the benediction..

I do it at the kids bedside as well...

 

[Mick116]

I want to cross myself, but if I do I would feel "looked upon" as an oddball by everyone around me?

I feel the same way in my evangelical Anglican parish; I don't think anyone else crosses themselves, but this is what I was taught to do in my previous Anglo-Catholic church.

 

[Tofferer]

During the service at church, I frequently cross myself during the mention of the Trinity and after the prayers of the church and the Lord's Prayer. As stated previously, I also cross myself during personal prayer.

 

[PostTribber]

in the parking lot I notice some of the 'male' members, as they get out the car, in 'modified' version: check tie, zipper, wallet, car keys. in Sports most just point to the sky, but I do see some cross themselves, like after stealing a base, making a 'header', or slamming a dunk. a friend of mine once crossed himself as we passed an accident, as though warding off evil, and I couldn't help but think how 'superstitious' it was.

 

[Tofferer]

in the parking lot I notice some of the 'male' members, as they get out the car, in 'modified' version: check tie, zipper, wallet, car keys. in Sports most just point to the sky, but I do see some cross themselves, like after stealing a base, making a 'header', or slamming a dunk. a friend of mine once crossed himself as we passed an accident, as though warding off evil, and I couldn't help but think how 'superstitious' it was.

How do you know that they didn't do that as they silent prayed for those involved? I have been known to do that as I pass an accident scene or when I see an ambulance go speeding by.

 

[Tetzel]

Those who want to, do so. Those who don't want to, don't have to. Christian Freedom!

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

in the parking lot I notice some of the 'male' members, as they get out the car, in 'modified' version: check tie, zipper, wallet, car keys. in Sports most just point to the sky, but I do see some cross themselves, like after stealing a base, making a 'header', or slamming a dunk. a friend of mine once crossed himself as we passed an accident, as though warding off evil, and I couldn't help but think how 'superstitious' it was.

That's a fairly judgmental view. How are you, who gets to judge the motivations of your friend?

Or does Christ's commend refrain from judgment not apply when something looks Catholic?

 

[Radiata]

I just realized that I do cross myself. I do it in the morning while spraying on my deodorant.

 

[Tofferer]

I just realized that I do cross myself. I do it in the morning while spraying on my deodorant.

And I thought my prayer life was odd....

 

[Zecryphon]

And I thought my prayer life was odd....

What little quirks do you have? If you won't tell me, I'll get it out of your wife. Vee have vays of making people talk, lest you forget. A little German chocolate and she'll be singing like a canary.

 

[Radiata]

What I mean is, I spray the stuff in the shape of a cross. Not that I do it while spraying.

 

[Tofferer]

What little quirks do you have? If you won't tell me, I'll get it out of your wife. Vee have vays of making people talk, lest you forget. A little German chocolate and she'll be singing like a canary.

I generally like to pray while facing east and on my knees.

What I mean is, I spray the stuff in the shape of a cross. Not that I do it while spraying.

Spray deodorant or make the sign of the cross?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I'm so directionally challenged that unless the sun was out, I wouldn't know if I was facing east or not...

 

[RadMan]

East? Why east?

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Mecca.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I thought I had read somewhere that many churches are built so that its members are often facing east during worship. That could be bunk, though.

 

[Melethiel]

PW - yes, most Orthodox churches are built with the altar facing East. I'm not sure about other traditions. This is because the sun rises in the east.