What is the difference between Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran church?

Question

I was raised in the lutheran church and my husband's family is catholic but the closest church to us is episcopal so I'm a little confused as to if it would be ok for my son to take Sunday School at an episcopal church. I simply want him to learn about God and Jesus like I did. I would prefer a faith where the leader of the church is able to have a family of their own.

Thanks so much in advance.

Answer 1

Please, please, please don't choose a church based first on how close it is to you. What Mark R says about the Episcopalian Church is true--if you don't want your child to learn that homosexual behavior is okay, I wouldn't send him there. How close & far away are you talking about? The closest church to us is a small United Methodist Church with a woman "pastor"--we wouldn't think for a second of actually sending a child there.

If neither you or your husband are going to church regularly, I would suggest you start visiting a WELS, or LCMS church. If you want your child to be brought up in the church (knowing the Bible), it's not going to do a whole lot of good for you to send him to Sunday School when you, yourself aren't going to church & learning in adult education. Your husband & you are the *primary* teachers of your child, especially in spiritual sense. Is your son baptized? Did the pastor/priest not tell you that it's primarily your responsibility to bring this child up in his baptismal grace? You're a missionary of sorts whether you want to be or not, so you'd better be learning what you believe, so you can pass it on to your child. Speaking from the perspective of a long-term volunteer lay missionary who spent 2.5 years in Japan, (aka. the missionary graveyard) where a person sees very few conversions, you have an easy job! You get to start from the beginning of this child's life, before they're distrustful of people & Christianity. Don't you want to know that you're teaching him what's right?

Putting that aside for a moment, I think your husband would find the Lutheran church to be refreshing. It would be familiar & liturgical without the guilt that RCism constantly dumps on you.

The Lutheran churches (barring ELCA--Mark R's assessment of them is also correct), are such a gift from God. Why would you want to just dump that, so your son can learn a few Bible stories close by? The best that these liberal churches will teach your child is that these Bible stories are only myths & legends. What good is that going to do? The public school system will undo whatever good the Bible "legends" did in a flash.

To help you teach your son yourself, Concordia Publishing House has children's books that are illustrated Luther's Small Catechisms. For smaller kids, "Follow & Do Series" (6 small books in the series); for older kids "My First Catechism". In the latter, there are old Sunday school illustrations & Bible stories that go with each of the Ten Commandments, Articles of the Apostles' Creed, Petitions of the Lord's Prayer. Holy Baptism, Confession & Lord's Supper are also covered with Bible stories.

I also would recommend a couple of books for you & your husband, that might whet your appitite for God's Word & a desire to teach your son. (1) "The Spirituality of the Cross" by Gene Edward Veith. (2) "Why Won't They Listen?" by Ken Ham (this one you can read free online: http://www.answersingenesis.org/cec/online_resources.asp#listen). They are both fairly short books with a lot of impactful information.

Prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide your family unto truth & into the loving arms of your Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Answer 2

The Episcopal Church is the American extention of the Church of England,which split from the Catholic Church 500 years ago,but still maintains the sacraments. The Lutheran Church also split with Rome around the same general period,known as the reformation. Since the Episcopalian and Catholic churches in America have drawn fairly close over the last fifty years,and since you prefer a married clergy,i would recommend the Episcopalian Church,which should satisfy your husband since again they maintain the rite of sacraments,and also disciplic succession via the Archbishop of Canterbury. Hubby won't be entirely happy,but Episcopalian and Catholic are a lot closer than Lutheran and catholic.

Answer 3

The Roman Catholic Church bases its doctrine on Scripture, but much of its dogma and practices are derived from the traditions of men, not God. They teach that merit towards Salvation can be earned by what we do. This is contrary to Scripture. Likewise praying to Saints to intercede for us also has no Biblical foundation. That being said, The RC Church still has much more in common with the Confessional Lutherans than it has separating us. For example our very conservative Lutheran Pastor has his two daughters enrolled in a French immersion Roman Catholic School. He is also chairman of the Parents Board at that school. Times have changed.

The Episcopal, or Anglican Church is a bit of a different story. Some of the more conservative congregations are very Lutheran in their doctrine and practice. The High Church Anglicans lean more towards the RC Church in their teaching and practice. More liberal Congregations are more like Methodists in their beliefs. Not a lot of consistency.

It is interesting to note that under Queen Elizabeth I , in order to unify doctrine in the Anglican Church she brought a bunch of Lutheran Theologians from Germany to draft the 39 articles of faith that the Anglican Church is based on.

In the last few decades much has happened in the Anglican Church (generally) that has shown them drawing away from Scripture. Open Communion with other (and not always) Christian denominations. Belief in the sacraments is optional, as well as belief in the literal and final authority of the Bible as not really necessary. Add to this the ordination of women, women Bishops, Ordination of practicing homosexuals to the priesthood (I have one living directly across the street from me), consecrating gay and lesbian marriages (as if it is even possible to "consecrate" such a union!). Where I live they even hold funerals for pets (I am not B S ing you). I could go on and on and on. All of which flys in the face God, and makes a mockery of Scripture.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is now in full fellowship with the Episcopal Church and by declaring this fellowship accepts the doctrines of the Anglicans. They are Lutheran in name only.

The Confessional Lutheran Churches (LCMS, WELS, LCC etc) hold Scripture as the one and only authority. All doctrine must pass the test of Scripture or it must be rejected.

Our Catholic brothers like to tell everyone that the Lutheran Church split from Rome. This is not the case. The Pope at the time Excommunicated Luther and his followers. The intent of the Reformers was just that; to reform the Church.

The Anglicans did split from Rome. King Henry VIII wanted a divorce because his wife was unable to bear him a male heir. The Pope wouldn't give him one (Good Pope). So he declared himself head of the Church of England, and boss over the Arch Bishop and got his divorce. The British Monachy is still the official head of the Church of England. Curently Elizabeth II, next in line is Prince Charles.

Personally I will no longer enter an Anglican Church. Outwardly it does apear much like the Lutheran Church, but it's like biting into an apple with a wormy center.

If there is no Lutheran Church nearby I would most certainly choose the RC over all the other denominations. The Orthodox Church isn't bad either.

Answer 4

Seek out the local congregation of the church that Christ founded in the first century. It bears his name, the church of Christ. There are many difference between Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran but the main difference is that all three are denominations. They all teach ideas that are not found in the Bible and are instead doctrines of men. All three were denominations founded by men many years after Christ founded his church. The church of Christ today is the same as it was in the first century.

See source for more info.

Answer 5

Between most main stream Christian Churches there really is very little difference in their actual faith, we squabble over details. Time to find the simularities rather than the differences.

Answer 6

The Catholic church says one must talk to god through the priest, and they worship the POPE liken to a god. The others church's disagree with these concepts: feel people can pray to god directly and place no stock in the POPE at all. That is the basic differences between all doctrines of the Christian faith's. They like a more one one path to GOD.

Answer 7

I'd recommend, the Catholic Church, because it is very holy, traditional, and spiritual. It is the oldest and original Christian faith, because it was established by Christ on St. Peter (first pope) 2000 years ago. Good luck in finding a CHurch, God bless.

St. Paul told the Corinthians: "But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I " I Cor. 7:8

Answer 8

YOU are the priciple teacher for your child. YOU should be teaching him about Jesus and God.

Answer 9

They're all the same geez! We're still ONE BODY of CHRIST even if the names are different.