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I'm a catholic but there are many things i question and disagree with the catholic church while from everything else i've learned about with protestants and i didn't question anything because it all maked sense.


Since there are so many branches of protestantism. what are the differences with the masses? like how do the following protestant religions worship? congregational, baptist, methodist, lutheran, presbyterian, episcoplian?

2007-12-03 11:14:14 · 11 answers · asked by Julia 2 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

11 answers

I will list them in the order that is closest to the Catholic church, in descending order.

Episcopalian, is probably the closest the the Catholic in their worship service. and this includes the Anglican Church.
then is the.
Lutheran
Methodist
Presbyterian
Baptist
Congregational
Pentecostals

each has their own way of worship, and they will very from Church to Church.
while many of them start with an invocation to worship, other do not.
some will sing Hymns, others have a song service with contemporary music.
and then a Sermon by the minister, and prayer afterwards.

2007-12-03 11:35:32 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 0 0

Hi Julia

I'm with Mark R all the way on this one. I wasn't always Christian. When I finally converted, I strongly considered joining the Roman Catholic Church. However, as much as I agreed with their doctrine, I had some pretty big disagreements as well. I tried a few other denominations, and ended up as a Confessional Lutheran (LCMS). It would be pretty easy for you to adjust to a Confessional Lutheran church. Actually, if someone blindfolded you before you went inside and then removed the blindfold, it might take a while for you to realize you're not in a Catholic church. We practice liturgical worship (we use the Order of Martyrs, Order of Matins, etc) just like the Catholics, but we don't pray to saints or believe in papal infallibility. Some of us call the service mass, some of us don't. Some of us make the sign of the cross, some of us don't. That will all depend on the particular church you attend, and the pastor there. Like I said, you wouldn't have too hard of a time at all adjusting to a Confessional Lutheran church. Martin Luther's intention was to fix some of the things he saw wrong with the Roman Catholic Church, not to start a new one, so we have more in common with Catholics than any other protestants do.

I've posted a few links in my sources that can give you some basic information on Lutheran beliefs and practices. The link from bookofconcord.org will tell you the most about Lutheran beliefs (we all adhere to the interpretations in the Book of Concord and Luther's Small Catechism), and gotquestions.org will probably be the most helpful in giving you the basics of protestantism, though their articles written about my church are mostly wrong. The link I gave you from that site explains the Five Solas- the five basic differences between protestantism and catholicism. The LCMS (Luteran Church- Missouri Synod) links are just additional sites that can show you how we perform our missions, things like that.

Don't ever forget to pray for direction, and don't ever let anyone else make your choice for you. I know from my own experience that choosing a new church isn't easy. It may take some time, but stay the course and know in your heart that God will continue to bless you as you make your choice. If you have any questions about the Lutheran faith, feel free to email me or send instant messages through my profile.

Peace,
Drew

2007-12-05 02:07:35 · answer #2 · answered by That Guy Drew 6 · 1 0

I can only try to summarize from experiences I have had in Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Bible, Church of Christ, Evangelical Free, and Charismatic non-denominational (protestant) churches:

These all celebrate "communion" or the "Lord's supper" -- using the elements of wine (or unfermented grape juice) to symbolize the blood of Christ, and bread (or a wafer or cracker) to symbolize the body of Christ.

While none of these protestant churches believe that Jesus' blood and body are physically consumed, they all do believe that Jesus spiritually presides over the ceremony, just as He did at the last supper. It is observed in obedience to Jesus' command to do so "in remembrance of Me". Note that in the original ceremony (at the last supper) Jesus was clearly physically distinct from the wine and bread, and so protestants believe He still is.

Also, none of them believe that participation in communion can provide salvation. Instead, salvation comes from a relationship with the risen Lord Jesus which is acknowledged publicly (as signified during baptism or a confirmation ceremony, during which the believer declares allegiance to Christ). For some churches, membership is required to participate (closed communion), for others, any professing believer is welcome (open communion).

All these churches vary according to the frequency in which they conduct a communion ceremony. The Lutheran church I grew up in did it once a month. The Church of Christ congregation I was part of in college did it every Sunday. The Charismatic congregation I was part of had no set schedule.

2007-12-03 11:59:41 · answer #3 · answered by Dave 2 · 0 0

Julia,

A Confessional Lutheran Congregation would be a good fit for you. We are essentially Catholic, but with some very important differences. In the US Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and in Canada, Lutheran Church Canada. All of the other synods in North America deviate from Scripture a great deal.

The biggest difference is that we base ALL of our doctrine on Scripture alone, and all doctrine and practice must be tested against Scripture, and can not conflict with the Bible.

Because of this, we in concord with the Bible teach and believe that salvation can not be earned through works. Salvation can only come through faith in Christ and his Gospel message. Works proceed from this faith. (even St. Augustine agreed with this) Faith itself is also a gift of Gods Grace. The Holy Spirit calls and enlightens us through the Church, the sacraments, and God's holy word.

We do celebrate the Mass. The music may be different, but the content will be very familiar to you. Again the differences between us and Rome have to do with the Bible. Anything that conflicts with Scripture has been removed. In particular the offertory prayer offering the bread and wine as a sacrifice to God is NOT part of the Lutheran Mass. Likewise the Mass itself can not be treated as a sacrifice or offering to God because Christ's death on the cross is the once and for all sacrifice for our salvation. To offer anything else cheapens what Christ did for us, and implies that his sacrifice was not enough!

Confessional Lutheran Churches DO believe that when we receive the sacrament we do eat Christs body, and drink His blood just as Scripture tells us, however since the Bible does not explain how it happens, the Church does not refer to "transubstantiation" although I personally do accept this doctrine, as do many other Lutherans and many of our Pastors.

We use the same lectonary, the same creeds, and most of the same canticles, but we do have more freedom with the format of the liturgy than Rome allows.

Again, in accord with Scripture our Mass is valid, just as all are that use the "verbum Domini" (words of our Lord). Again to say that one has to be ordained in the RC Church for the sacrament to be valid is putting some of the onus on the celebrant, and taking away from Christ. Just like Rome we believe that even non-believers and un-repentant sinners receive Christ's body and blood, but instead of receiving Gods grace, they eat and drink judgment upon themselves.

Interesting that the Roman Catholic Church accepts our Lutheran baptism as valid, but not our Eucharist.

We also have Confession and Absolution but it is not mandatory. Our Pastors offer good council, and comfort rather than assigning penance as this is also "works for merit".

Some Anglicans are very much like us (Elizabeth I was Lutheran and brought a bunch of Lutheran Theologians to England to assist the Bishops to draw up the "39 Articles". Other Anglicans are very Roman in their doctrine, then there is the majority that look like Lutherans and Catholics, but whose belief is more Methodist.

All other denominations can be divided into two groups: Calvinist and Armenian.

Among Calvinist denominations are the Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, and some Baptists. Calvinists do put a great deal of emphasis on Scripture, but temper it with human reason. This is why they teach that the sacraments are only "remembrances" and not means of Grace.

Armenians consist of denominations such as Methodist, Salvation Army, Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite, Pentecostal, so called Non-Denominational, Community, and Mission Churches. Like the Calvinists, they also put a great deal of trust in Scripture, but also temper it with reason. They also emphasis being born again, and accepting Jesus, there by taking credit for their salvation. Most teach "once saved, always saved". The also deny the sacraments as means of grace.

Other groups such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses deny the divinity of Christ, and therefore are NOT Churches, but rather are cults.

Here is a link to the Book of Concord which contains all of the Confessional documents of the Lutheran Church. Start with the Small Catechism.
http://www.bookofconcord.org/
The Book of Concord

Also get a hold of a copy of Dr. Gene Edward Vieth's book Spirituality of the Cross. It is an easy read, and about the best description of applied Lutheranism. I have lent my copy to some of my Catholic friends, and they haven't converted, but all have said that it has strengthened their faith.

If you have any questions, please email me.

Your friend in Christ,

Mark

2007-12-04 11:32:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Our Statement of Faith [ Baptist]

The members of this Church believe and adhere to the statement of faith herein set forth:
a. Bible
We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of
God [ 11 Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:27]
b. God
We believe in one God [DEUTERONOMY 6:4 ;
Romans 3:30; creator of all,existing in three equal persons [Genesis 1:26 Isaiah6:8] The Father,the Son, and the
Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19; John 1;1 Acts 5:3-4]
c. Christ
We believe in the absolute and essential deity of Jesus Christ [ Matthew 28:19; John 5:18] in His eternal existence with the Father in preincarnate glory, in His virgin birth [Luke 1:34-35], sinless Life [ 11 Corinthians 5:21],
substitutionary death [ 1 Timothy 2:6; and Romans 3:25]
bodily resurrection [Mattew 28:6 and John 20:24 - 28]
triumphant ascension [Ephesians 1:20], mediatorial ministry [ 1Timothy 2:5] and personal return

d.The Holy Spirit
We believe in the absolute and essential
deity [Matthew 28:19 ] and personality of the Holy Spirit who convinces of sin, of righteousness and judgment; Who
regenerates [John 16:8-9 and Titus 3:5], sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ [Galatians 5: 22-23, 1John 2:27, 1 John 15:8].

e. Satan
We believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, the origination of sin, the archenemy of God and man [Genesis 3; Isaiah 14:11-20].

f. Man
We believe that man was divinely created in the image of God; that he sinned becoming guilty before God,
resulting in total depravity, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death [Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3; Romans 3:23;
Revelation 20:11-15].

g. Salvation
We believe that salvatin is by sovereign, electing grace of God [ Ephesians 1; 2:8-9] that by the appointment of the Father [John3:16], Christ voluntarily suffered a vicarious, expiatory death [Romans 5]; that justification is by faith alone in the all sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of the Lord [Romans 8].

h.Future Things
We believe in the personal, bodily, and
glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the resurrection of
the just and the unjusst; in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed and in the judgment and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked [Revelation 19,20].

i. The Local Chuch
We bebieve that a Church is a company of immersed believers [Acts 2, 8, 10], called out
from the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus, voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word, the mutual edification of it's members, the propagation of the faith and the observance of the ordinances [Acts 2:42-44]. We believe it is a sovereign, independent body, exercising its' own divinely awarded gifts, precepts and privileges under the Lordship of Christ [1 Corinthians 12], the Great Head of the Church.
We believe that its' officers are Pastors and Deacons
[ 1 Timothy 3, 1Peter 5:4; Philippians 1:1].

2007-12-03 14:08:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

look, you may find the catholic mass boring. you may find the homily not so great. the music may not be to your liking either. these may all be better in a protestant church. but one thing in defence of the catholic church is that you get fed, with the food that is the living bread from heaven, graces available to those who bother to dispose themselves to them. while protestants have only a symbol of the eucharist, we have the lord of lord and the king of kings!! we can go straight to the holy of holies, Jesus there in the church upon the altar next to the light. where do you think you will find Jesus in a protestant church the way we possess him in the catholic church? we have his true pressence. why would anyone think of leaving Jesus to find better singing or sermons? thats all they have. they celebrate the lords supper seldom, and then its just grape juice and soda cracker.

2007-12-03 11:24:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

They pray , sing hymns , listen to sermons , just about like the Catholic mass , but without the preacher trapsing back and forth and holding up the wafer , " Hoc est corpus dominus ".

2007-12-03 11:49:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

This is an excellent question.They cannot celebrate the Mass because they lack valid clergy. Most dismiss this error by adopting the heretical teaching of Ulrich Zwingli that essentially forbids the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ from their worship. Consequently the focus of their worship is not on Christ but instead on their pastor allegorically presenting that part of Scriptures that they accept from Sacred Tradition while denying the fullness of the truth from their congregations.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

2007-12-03 11:26:00 · answer #8 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 1 3

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2016-09-30 13:18:08 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

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2007-12-03 11:22:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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