Is it ok for me to attend Protestant and Catholic or other services?

Question

I mean, if I believe in God and Jesus, is it wrong for me to attend Catholic services sometimes and protestant services another?, because when i'm at church I only care about god, and not the details that separate all the different types of christianity. But i dont know if thats ok or not.

Answer 1

Of course, both Catholic and (most) Protestant churches would say you are most welcome to attend their churches and observe their services. That would be with the hope of you converting. Catholic services, if they knew you were in fact not a Catholic, would not allow you to receive communion (analogously, Orthodox churches also practice closed communions). But you would still be able to attend services.

At either Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant services, if you said the only thing you believe in is God, and then pushed doctrines contrary to their Church, they might ask you to leave if you're not going to accept what they teach (but they would allow you to silently observe their services, even if they knew you did not agree with them).

Whatever the case, if you don't care about what sort of Christianity you are part of, that makes you more of a Protestant (i.e. the Catholic and Orthodox churches, and some Protestant churches, are emphatic about the fact that thier church is the only true church). In other words, you might consider yourself "non-demoninational" (however, I agree with the criticism that even "non-denominational" is, in itself, a type of denomination).

Eventually you are going to have to define what it is you believe, what your source of guidance is (i.e. do you only believe in Protestant Bibles? the Bible and Church Tradition? some other source), and what doctrines you consider most important. Once you have settled on those positions, there's probably a church out there for you with a similar view, and that would be the congregation you should fellowship with.

I, personally, am leaning towards Catholicism in my journey. If you are still defining your doctrines, I would recommend you, first, read the Bible, and second test your doctrine in discussions with knowledgeable Christians. For example, you can post to online Christian forums like soc.religion.christian:

http://groups.google.com/group/soc.religion.christian/topics

If you'd like to know more, e-mail me at [e-mail] and I can recommend some books (or even mail you a few free copies!).

Answer 2

The purpose for a Christian to attend church is to fellowship with other believers, because all believers are members of God's family.
Find a church where (as mentioned above) you can get proper doctrinal teachings, the Bible is read, the people pray, etc. and then stick to a church where you can connect with the people and get involved in a ministry, volunteering for example.
But its fine to visit other churches. I try to visit another church once a month or so, because I attend a church that is different than the one I grew up in, and I miss that kind sometimes.

Answer 3

Probably more than which type of church you attend is, do you have a personal relationship with God? The style of worship is less relevant than your heart and relationship. The main factors in selecting a church is whether you are fed from God's Word and can express the love in your heart for Him through the worship service. Read your Bible, visit different churches, and then decide for yourself which church draws you closer to God in a personal relationship that extends beyond the service.

Answer 4

If you are a Protestant it is O.K. to attend other services although they would probably prefer your $ stay right in their Church. If you are a Catholic you may attend other services but, not without upholding your Sunday Mass responsibilities and you must not partake in any other Communion services.

Answer 5

Yes and no. You can attend however you have got to additionally attend Mass on Sundays and so on. You can't alternative a Protestant provider for Mass. You can attend a Protestant marriage ceremony for instance.

Answer 6

It's OK to do that, but remember that if you are Catholic, you should not be celebrating communion in another church, and if you are not Catholic, you should not receive the Eucharist until Confirmation, though most parishes will allow you to cross your arms over your chest and come up to receive a blessing.

Answer 7

Yes.

All are welcome to attend Catholic Masses.

Please:
+ If you feel comfortable then pray and sing with the rest of the congregation.
+ Sit and stand when everyone else does.
+ If you feel comfortable kneeling during the Consecration then do so, otherwise sit.
+ Out of respect do not to receive Communion, according to local custom, and only if you wish, you may approach the altar with their arms crossed over your chest to receive a blessing.

Here is an outline of the Mass:

+ Introductory Rites
. + Entrance (All stand)
. + Greeting
. + Act of Penitence
. + Kyrie Eleison (Latin for "Lord have mercy")
. + Gloria
. + Opening Prayer

+ Liturgy of the Word
. + First Reading - usually from the Old Testament (All sit)
. + Responsorial Psalm
. + Second Reading - usually from a New Testament Epistle
. + Gospel Reading (All stand)
. + Homily (All sit for the sermon)
. + Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed) (All stand)
. + Prayer of the Faithful (prayers of petition)

+ Liturgy of the Eucharist
. + The Preparation of the Gifts - the bread and wine are brought forward and placed on the altar, our monetary offerings are also collected at this time (All sit)
. + The Prayer over the Offerings (All stand)
. + The Eucharistic Prayer - during this prayer the bread and wine change into the Body and Blood of Christ (Catholics kneel, visitors may kneel or sit)
. + The Lord's Prayer (All stand)
. + The Rite of Peace (We offer each other a sign of peace)
. + The Breaking of the Bread
. + Communion - non-Catholics are requested out of respect not to receive Communion, they may approach the altar with their arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing (Stand or kneel according to local custom)

+ The Concluding Rites
. + Announcements (All sit)
. + Blessing (All stand)
. + Dismissal
. + Procession

For more information, see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter2.shtml#sect3a
and http://stbrigids-kilbirnie.com/Pages/mass-1.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

As long as you don't receive Communion in a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church, it's absolutely cool. I know my own parish (Eastern Orthodox) would go out of its way to welcome you, and I expect you'll shortly hear online here from Catholics and Protestants saying the same thing.

Some parishes and congregations may be a bit standoffish. Please don't generalize from them, visit someplace that welcomes you enthusiastically.

I suggest that you find a copy of "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis and read the introduction (I think it is) in which he talks about Christianity being a bunch of rooms leading off a central hallway, each of the rooms being a communion or denomination. He says it's important to enter one of the rooms, not stay in the hallway. But it's *much* better to read what he says rather than listen to my clumsy summary of what he says.

Blessings upon you and upon those with whom you worship!

Answer 9

Don't worry about it too much. None of them are going to ask if you are Catholic or Protestant and none of them will ban you from going into their churches.

Answer 10

There's nothing wrong with that at all, and I know a few people who do that. They're both Christian services, after all.