A Catholic Visits a Lutheran Service

[@MikeFisher-l3j]

I walked into a lutheran church for the first time yesterday. I was instantly transformed. I will be there next Sunday.

[@stephenkneller9318]

Hopefully it wasn’t ELCA church.

[@gizmorazaar]

@@stephenkneller9318 I don't think an ELCA church is going to be transforming anyone anytime soon...

[@jgeph2.4]

Where were you coming from if you don’t mind me asking

[@joabthejavelin5119]

I'm a Lutheran in the LCMS, and normally at our Good Friday service we dim the lights with the candles and leave in darkness. Also, the loud noise at my church is a large hard-back Bible being slammed shut by a microphone to amplify the sound. We normally have a separate reader for the Old and New Testament readings and the pastor/priest reads the Gospel reading, but at some special services it is just the pastor/priest. We don't venerate icons, including the cross, but we bow towards and kneel at the alter and we try to treat the cross with respect, like how you would treat a war memorial with respect, only more so because it's the cross. We wouldn't touch it or kiss it or offer prayers through the cross. We might pray facing it, but not through it. We are very strict that Jesus himself is our mediator and all our prayers are directed to him.

[@joabthejavelin5119]

Also, with Communion, we do take it on Thursday and Easter. We don't on Good Friday because Communion is celebratory. Jesus is sharing his very body and blood that hung on the cross with us, for the forgiveness of our sins. It is a miracle and a great gift from God.

[@mwdiers]

I am a Lutheran pastor. A couple of observations. Many of our churches have a procession with the cross at the beginning of mass, at which we cross ourselves or bow. Many of us also venerate the sacrament at the words of institution. Regarding the creed, the change from Catholic to Christian actually predates the Reformation in northern Europe in the German translation of the creed, particularly in Saxony. So we were just following the practice that we already had at that time. When we recite the Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday, we retain the phrase “catholic faith .”

[@mrs.springerskindergarten7488]

Maunday Thursday usually ends with the stripping of the altar in LCMS churches

[@johnhudelson2652]

It is also done in Episcopal churches.

[@annb9029]

I’m Catholic I have been to a Lutheran church with kneelers great episode Ty

[@FlashthePreacherGuy]

I am a Lutheran Pastor. We used to say “catholic” in the creed. It’s a translation thing. For Lutherans we say the Nicene Creed typically when we have communion. The apostles creed is typically used when we aren’t having communion. As far as venerating the cross is not typical in the Lutheran church.

[@stevenewell9751]

The Tenebrae Service is one service in three parts: Mundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In our Lutheran Church. The Invocation happens at the beginning of Maundy Thursday with the only benediction happening at the end of Easter Sunday Service. This is very old tradition. Oh, I was raised Souther Baptist and joined the Lutheran Church and one aspect what I love about the Lutheran Church is that it is tied to the historic Christian Chruch.

[@MichaelJamesGrannis]

Technically, the third and final part of the Triduum (three days) service is not Easter Sunday, but Easter Vigil (Saturday night). Unfortunately, few Lutheran Churches hold Easter Vigil services.

[@josephparks4270]

Tenebrae is different from any other service, so you’ll not get a sense of Lutheran services from it. But aside from Easter, it’s one of my favorites. In my experience, the Apostles Creed is said in services not having communion. In services with communion (the “Divine Service”), we say the Nicene Creed. And at my LCMS church, our Good Friday service was totally different from our Tenebrae service.

[@legacyandlegend]

Depends on the lcms church, I guess. I've been to 3 different ones, and they all flip-flop. One Sunday, they may do apostles. One Sunday, they may do nicene.

[@bradkittelsen]

My LCMS church switched to having the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day as well as now a Thursday morning individual confession/absolution service. I love it. Can’t live without it now for each Divine Service. Word and Sacrament. My last LCMS church had kneelers, which I liked, though some bad doctrine and practice. Rather have solid doctrine. Overall- that you are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and not by works. - this is the belief upon which the Church stands or falls. Works must necessarily follow justification, but can no way ever be considered meritorious. Apart from this doctrine one cannot know the true peace of God in ourLord Jesus. You can never know if you’ve done enough. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Thank you for this video. Great job!

[@andrewwaltrip8552]

As an LCMS Lutheran, we have crucifixes and hold them as a real symbol of Christ crucified. A slogan the LCMS used now is “We Preach Christ Crucified”. Usually the main and biggest cross at the front does not have the crucifix but the one below on the altar usually does. If you’re sitting near the back you would totally miss it. Crucifixes can also be found next to the pulpit and is usually carried in during Easter or Christmas Eve by acolytes.

[@sarahrosebattles5858]

New subscriber to your channel, looking forward to seeing more from you! As you're clearly aware, different Lutheran churches are different from each other; my church does have kneelers, and we use them during the confession of sins, the consecration of the Sacrament, and starting to move towards using them for the Prayer of the Church as well.

[@BradChristensen-v6u]

The empty cross symbolizes the empty tomb! He is Risen Alleluia! He has Risen! He is no longer here! LCMS Lutherans also celebrate the Tre Ore Good Friday Service which is 3 hours and focuses on the 7 last words of Christ. Maundy Thursday service is Holy Communion and stripping of the altar. The Passion story ends at Jesus arrested at the Garden. Good Friday picks up the story from there. Some Lutheran churches will have kneelers. Lutherans are passionate about congregational autonomy and is more bottom up instead of top down leadership.

[@legacyandlegend]

As an lcms lutheran, I'll say that some lcms churches have kneelers, it's not in all of them, though. Good Friday services are different than the divine service. (Mass) They’re pretty traditional, though. Very liturgical. The ones that I've been to actually don't have a tenebrae service. I've actually never been to one before. Apostles and nicene creeds are usually flip-flopped. Some services we say apostles, some nicene. It just depends. The wording is slightly different. One holy christian and apostolic church instead of catholic. Little c. Meaning universal. Athanasian creed, we say catholic. Although we only say the athanasian creed once or twice a year. It's usually apostles or nicene. I'd love for you to go to a regular Sunday service. It is closed communion, though. If you want something slightly more "catholic" you could go to an Anglo-Catholic church. They do say catholic in the apostles creed. Be careful, though. Anglicans are very diverse. Not all may seem as "catholic" as others. It really depends on your diocese. I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves.

[@silverray95]

Unfortunately there are a number of LCMS churches that have gone worldly with praise bands and non liturgical divine services with open communion. Look on issues etc first to hopefully find in its listings a confessional church to be a part of. ELCA isn’t Lutheran so just skip that denomination altogether.

[@mic1240]

Very typical unfortunately of too many LCMS Lutherans who are a minority of Lutherans in the US and not part of the global Lutheran church, to be judgmental to claim 70+ million Lutherans and most US Lutherans are not “Lutheran”. This is why the nickname of the Misery Synod sticks.

[@Procopius464]

I hate rock and roll "worship" services so much. I was originally Pentacostal, and joined the LCMS to get away from that. The "contemporary" style so ratchet, ugly, unceremonious, unduly emotional, and secular. I went to Baptist churches for about 7 years, then found LCMS, and it is greatly superior to both Baptist and Pentacostal. It actually feels like church is doing something, and for the first time I really feel like I'm missing something if I skip church. We ought to kick out those churches which don't follow the divine service, and/or which have woman pastors. If LCMS ever goes all post-modern like these non-denominationals then I will probably go join an Orthodox church. No way will I ever, EVER, sit under a rock service ever again. It's torture.

[@robbchristopher158]

I want to an ELCA church and I was not happy that the priest was a woman although she did do a good job of conducting the service even teaching the kids up front with a conservative kind of sermon during the service as well.

[@joshuaneace6597]

If it is Pastor Decker and is in Wisconsin, there is a Pastor Daniel Decker of St. Paul’s Ev Lutheran Church in Janesville Wisconsin and he has been there as a senior pastor since 2012 and graduated from the Ft. Wayne seminary in 1983. The LCMS website has a locator function where you can either find a worker (including all pastors but not limited to all pastors) or a church or a school.

[@jpmangen]

I go to an LCMS church and we do have kneelers. Some LCMS church congregations use the sign of the cross as do the Catholic congregation. Yes the LCMS does have a Liturgy based on the stages of the cross. Maundy Thursday typically does the Sacrament and some will strip the altar and then leave in silence. The loud sound can be a door slam or a book slam down on a table to symbolize the stone rolling closed on the tomb of Jesus.

[@Procopius464]

I am LCMS. We do have kneelers, and a large crucifix in the front. We are more similar to Roman Catholicism than other Protestants, and this is because the Lutheran movement was a reform movement which was originally intended for the whole church. The purpose was not to create a new church or denomination, but to reform the existing Roman Catholic Church. So we retained as many of the ancient customs as we could during the reformation, which is why we resemble Catholics. After being kicked out of the RC Church, Martin Luther wanted to label the movement as "Evangelical Catholic Church," but the name Lutheran ended up sticking. He didn't like the fact that his "maggot filled name" was put on the church, but if we were to change it now people would be confused. Other movements were more like reboots, where they just abolished the existing customs and started over from scratch. These types of churches are the ones that use rock and roll, colored lights, etc.

[@sdegu5885]

I'm in the process of converting from Lutheran to Catholic, and I've noticed that very rarely the creed is said in the language of the mass where I attend the mass (in North Europe). Usually, it's credo that we sing in latin, like we also sing the sanctus in every mass in latin, and this is normal novus ordo mass. Once, I was surprised when they started saying the Nicean creed and I had been trying to memorize the credo. I wasn't prepared at all to say the nicean creed. It's kind of funny and embarrassing that I'm more familiar with credo than the Nicean Creed in my mother tongue (I don't live in an English speaking country).

[@jocrabtree4047]

I have been to Catholic churches in which the stained glass windows were not the Stations of the Cross. As well as Catholic churches with no kneelers.

[@mj6493]

And there are plenty of Lutheran churches with kneelers and the stations.

[@calebklingerman7902]

“And with thy spirit” is the historical response. The pastor has an extra portion of the Holy Spirit, so the response is not just “and with you,” it is an acknowledgement of his ordination, and a humbling reminder to him that it is not merely he, but God through him, who shepherds the flock. Vatican 2 changed it for some reason, and now they have changed it back.

[@mikegleason3921]

Even though this is old I figured I’d add a couple clarifications. Lutherans in the LCMS do not venerate items because it’s been to closely identified with graven images. Many of us use the term catholic since as you pointed out it means universal. There were other things but I’m old so I forget 🤪. I do do appreciate how you observed and critiqued rather than criticize. Our current worship styles are but a glimpse into what it shall be in eternity. Oh, one other thing. We do not call our pastors priests. We just call them pastor.

[@lukemwills]

A tenebrae service is one type of service Lutherans do on Good Friday. Another option is more similar to what Catholics do, which includes veneration of the cross. It usually includes readings, and especially the extended passion reading, prayers around the cross, and finally a veneration of the cross. The entire service is somber and contemplative. A lot of churches do have kneelers, but not all. Lutherans often kneel for confession, and especially to receive the body and blood of Christ. Also, many Lutherans use the word "catholic" in the creed. The substitution of "Christian" in the creed is a mistake, imo.

[@lanetrain]

I agree it is a mistake. But it was the wording used in Germany since before the Reformation. My pastor still says catholic but he's about the only one

[@jeremiahlindsay]

The "holy Christian vs catholic" church thing comes from where the tradition comes... Christian comes from the German translation of christliche.

[@mj6493]

Yep, it's a pre-Reformation thing for Germans. It's not anti-Catholic.

[@karlrovey]

There's a lot more sitting for the Good Friday services compared to a communion service. Just off the top of my head, you pretty much stand from the general confession and absolution until the first reading, then from the Alleluia until the hymn of the day (if it is before the sermon), then after the sermon until the distribution, and finally, from the Nunc Dimmittis (immediately following the distribution, including the Nunc Dimmittis following the distribution is a uniquely Lutheran practice) through the benediction. As far as Christian vs Catholic in the creed, this comes from translating from German (where "Christliche" was considered the equivalent of "Catholic") rather than Latin.

[@BirdDogey1]

I attend a very OG LCMS church. My son is RC. We've attended each others services my son's whole life. Very easily to move between the two given how similar the liturgy is and the readings were the same.

[@lynnerussell1440]

Holy Week, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are different than regular services. Maundy Thursday is all about the institution of the Last Supper, Good Friday is the crucifixion.

[@birdymcpig]

My Lutheran church has kneelers. I’ve never seen them used though.

[@Carl-t3l]

The stained glass windows do not always have the stations of the cross in them. In most Catholic churches the stations are on the walls of the church.

[@DRNewcomb]

Lutheran churches have considerable variability in design and practice. You might say everything from high church to low church. You can encounter anything from bells and smells to rock ‘n’ roll. And in my LCMS congregation a Catholic is free to take communion if they feel so inclined, although to do so is contrary to Catholic teaching.

[@Procopius464]

How are they allowed to take communion? I was told we only have communal reciprocity with other Lutheran denominations, and not even everything which has the name "Lutheran" on it. My pastor has said repeatedly that the RC Communion is invalid.

[@DRNewcomb]

@@Procopius464 Simple; we have a statement of belief in every Sunday bulletin which invites visitors to examine their beliefs and to refrain form taking communion if they disagree with any point. The old pastor who baptized me also taught my older siblings that there was no salvation outside the LCMS. Pastors can have some strange opinions. As for what the Synod says, our polity is congregational. We don't ask the Synod's permission. The District President knows our policy and says nothing.

[@Procopius464]

@@DRNewcomb So you guys have open communion then?

[@DRNewcomb]

@@Procopius464 No, we just don't have guards at the communion rail telling people to go away. We explain what we believe and tell visitors that if they agree with our beliefs, they are welcome. I sometimes joke that if Martin Luther showed up at my home church (where they give visitors the 3rd degree), he wouldn't be allowed to take communion because he's not a member of the LCMS.

[@Procopius464]

@@DRNewcomb We don't have guards either, but when I joined LCMS I had to go through catechesis for nearly a year before I could partake. It's understood that we have closed communion, but theoretically an outsider could just come in and fool people, and thereby take communion. I think the idea of open communion started with John Nelson Darby. It's the normal practice in a lot of the newer denominations and non-denominations.

[@johnpowers3013]

You can find many superficial differences between the Catholic Mass and the Lutheran Divine Service, but at it's core they are very much the same and use the same ancient liturgical structure. In fact, the Lutheran Divine Service is more like the pre-Vatican II Mass than today's Catholic Churches. (NOTE: The Pastor turning his back to the congregation when praying to God.) This should not come as a surprise since Martin Luther never intended to create a new denomination or a completely different worship service. He only wanted to purify the Church of its man-made, non-Biblical practices. The real differences between Lutheran and Catholic are in theology.

[@JoelRoss-d2i]

Justification on grace alone. Trent calls us Anathema. Couldn’t get farther apart.

[@kdnemeth]

St Mary’s Catholic Church in Elyria Ohio has no kneelers and two other Catholic Church have kneelers

[@markkeller725]

Some Lutheran churches do have kneelers.

[@beardedbdub426]

Pastors reading (and not laity) is Scriptural: 1 Tim. 4:14-14 - “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

[@stevekohl5351]

Just to clarify, we have many of the same practices in the ELCA.

[@recabitejehonadab2654]

ELCA is not a Lutheran church. The Bible does not approve of homosexuality sin.

[@stevekohl5351]

@recabitejehonadab2654 WRONG! The ELCA is a Lutheran church! I do not agree with ELCA teachings on that subject. But just because the ELCA may differ on that issue with the LCMS does not mean the ELCA is not Lutheran. The LCMS is clearly wrong in its practice of not participating in activities with other churches that do not involve doctrinal beliefs. A number of years ago an LCMC church in SE South Dakota worked with other churches in town to clean up after a tornado. In the following year the minister of that church was admonished by other pastors at the Synod convention for such ecumenical activity. I strongly disagree with the LCMS on many things but they are still Lutheran. You will never be more Lutheran than me. I am possibly a direct descendant of Luther.

[@lemokemo5752]

Boom! It happened! 😊

[@johngillatt2740]

Do the Lutherans veil crosses during lent including Good Friday?

[@andya7012]

Some do. My LCMS parish does

[@donnawilson4497]

Most Lutheran churches have kneelers.

[@brucejohnson4462]

Why

[@Acom987]

Why luterans dont come back to the catholic church?

[@recabitejehonadab2654]

Catholic hypocrisy .,

[@Procopius464]

Because we believe that the Bible is a higher authority than the Pope. The root disagreement between us was one of authority: What is higher, the Bible, or the Church? We believe the Bible has higher authority, so if we are going to join with the Roman Catholic Church, they would need to put the Bible above the Pope. There are a lot of surface level similarities between us and them, in terms of practices and appearances, but we have some rather deep doctrinal disagreements, and neither side is getting ready to budge.

[@jamesbeachsr.4330]

Our Lutheran Church we will "(NOT)" say the Holy catholic church but the Holy (Christian) church. We don't pray to Mary because Jesus died for our sins, not Mary. Mary needed Jesus to forgive her for her sins. Who was Jesus real dad? God the Father, Joseph was just the step father. Pray to Mary, you might as well pray to the devil. It will get you in the same place, (HELL)!!!! God brought Luther to restore the truths to God's Word. The Bible. Hey girls. Don't look at the out side of what things look like but the doctrine of the truths of Holy Bible!!!!!!!

[@39knights]

"....God brought Luther to restore the truths to God's Word..." Luther was an extremely vulgar and mentally disturbed individual. He spent the latter years of his life (after breaking all his vows to God) throwing his own feces wth his bare hands at imaginary demons he saw everywhere. This man changed the words of the bible to suit his made up false theology and began the great Apostasy of the end-times and the destruction of the christian faith. Luther was to the Christian Church what Judas was to the Apostles. Luther is most likely sitting on the chest of Judas as the next biggest betrayer of Christ to have ever existed.

[@jamesbeachsr.4330]

You know it is amazing how Luther brought back the truths of the Bible and how the Devils and his followers tries to discredit and lie about Luther to miss lead others to hell. Grace Alone. Fath Alone and Scriptures Alone was Luther was preaching St Paul says by fath we saved through out Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts, even our righteous acts is nothing but filthy rags. All of this is also in your catholic Bible too. Luther did not rewrite the Catholic Bible so what you said about Luther was faults but you know that too, don't you? Jesus died on the cross not Mary. Mary even called Jesus "(Her)" Lord means Mary needed forgiveness for her sins from Jesus. If Mary was perfect like you clam then Mary never would have called "(Her)" Lord and we all would have been in our sins because we needed some one from a imperfect line to be one of us. Jesus was perfect because Jesus real Father was God the Father and Joseph was only the sinful step father. Thank God Luther was correct on 100% of everything Luther said. Everything I said came from the Bible. Everything you said came out of hate which from the Devile.

[@mpkropf5062]

@@39knightsthat’s lies about Luther sand he was not only a Bishop but also a Priest! You should be ashamed talking such hatred about him! He was delivered by God to reform the Catholic Church and that’s why Lutherans sometimes call it the “ Reformed Catholic Church!” Luther did many great things and his desire was to lead the Catholic Church to be more like the First Century and the RCC refused and they drew further away from the First Century! They are no where close to the start of the Original Catholic Church!! Thank God for Luther!! And as a Catholic you know you are never to judge someone to be in hell because you don’t know their heart!!

[@39knights]

@@mpkropf5062 That was so funny and full of re-visioinist' history. You must write stuff for BLM. Are you sure we are talking about the same Luther that approved the german noblemen to slaughter thousands of peasants; forced nuns out of convents and married them off to unsavory men, cursed and swore in fits while losing arguments, and so much more (the shit-flinging being the least of them).??? My oh my how some people make heros out of monsters. I doubt very much this Judas of a man was sent to do anything by God. He was sent and controled by a spirit alright; just not a very holy one. So sorry facts and actual history burst your bubble.

[@39knights]

@@mpkropf5062 Luther was never a bishop (your first lie); only a monk-priest. Luther was not delivered to reform the Church; that reform was already well underway by the rightfully appointed authorities. Luther was a vulgar, self-righteous, mentally disturbed individual. He was responsible for the slaughter of thousands of peasants by the rich German noblemen by givnig them his blessing to quell their revolt. Luther was the tool of demonic forces who took advantage of the turmoil in the authentic Church and used Luther to interrupt the genuine reform which was already beginning. You can try to sanctify Luther all you want; but you only have to look at the awful fruits of the deformation of the Church he initiated to see just how evil he really was. The division, confusion, and heresy his revolt initiated can only be described as demonic (and that is in kind words). Anyone who thinks this spirit of division, confusion, heresy, and revolt against legitimate authority is holy in nature; is certianly not of the Holy Spirit and God I worship.

[@marymargarette4289]

But Jesus Christ is the head of the catholic church that He build ONLY ONE CHURCH through His Apostle Peter only and the popes are the sucessors right from His Apostle Peter. ONLY THE SON OF GOD CAN BUILD THE CHURCH THROUGH HIS APOSTLE PETER NOT EVEN TO HIS 11 APOSTLES. But now there are thousand of churches BUILD BY MEN THEY WERE AGAINST AND REJECT HIS CHURCH. WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY THE WORD PROTESTANT? But Jesus say fot those who protest against HIM. Mathew 12:30 - Jesus told to His Apostles"he who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters". Luke 10:16 - Jesus told to His Apostles "he who hears you hears Me and he who rejects you rejects Me and he who rejects Me rejects HIM who sent Me". Luke 10:31 - In that same hour He rejoiced in the HOLY SPIRIT and said, I thank thee, Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will". John 10:9-10-11 - Jesus say "I am the door, if any one enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep". John 10:25-26 - Jesus answered "I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness to Me but you do not believe because you do not belong to MY SHEEP". Mark 13:5-6 - Jesus warned us "take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in My name, saying, I am he and they will leads many astray". Mark 13:13 - Jesus told to His Apostles "and you will be hated by all for MY NAME's sake. BUT HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED". Mark 13:22-23 - Jesus warned us "false christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible the elect. BUT TAKE HEED, I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL THINGS BEFOREHAND". John 6:64-65 - Jesus say "but there are some of you that do not believe. For Jrsus knew from the first who those were that not believe, AND WHO IT WAS BETRAY HIM. And He said, "this is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him BY THE FATHER".

[@mpkropf5062]

Peter wasn’t taken as the leader until after he was dead by the Roman Catholic Church! It’s just one of the many lies within the RCC!!

[@jamesneuendorf]

This is silly, the word "protestant" refers to protesting the Holy Roman Empire not abiding by the original agreement to allow the reforms of the church in certain territories. At no point has it referred to "protesting against Christ" unless you think the emperor Charles V was Christ. Lutherans were always called the Christian church of the Gospel (Evangelische Kirche), so is the Pope against the Gospel then? (Yes, he is.)

[@marymargarette4289]

@@jamesneuendorf Yes Protestants always protest against the church that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself build through His Apostle Peter only not even to His 11 Apostles. Only CHRIST THE SON OF GOD CAN BUILD THE CHURCH. But now there are thousand of churches build by men they were AGAINST AND REJECT CHRIST CHURCH. Mathew 12:30 - Jesus Christ warned us "he who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Luke 22:31-32 - our Lord Jesus Christ He pray for HIS CHURCH "Simon, Simon, behold, satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, STRENGTHEN YOUR BRETHREN". John 6:55 - Jesus say "for My Flesh is food indeed and blood is drink indeed". John 6:66 - many of his disciples when they heard it said "this is a hard saying who can listen to it, they drew back and no longer went about with Him. John 6:67 - Jesus said to His 12 Apostles "do you also wish to go away?". John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered to JESUS "LORD to whom shall we go? You have the WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE". John 10:9-10-11 - Jesus say "I am the door, if any one enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His Life for the sheep". John 10:25-26 - Jesus answered "I told you and you do not believe. The WORKS that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness to Me; BUT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT BELONG TO MY SHEEP". Mark 4:11-12 - Jesus told to His Apostles "to you has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not perceive and may indeed hear but not understand lest they should turn again and be forgiven". Mark 13:5-6 - our Jesus Christ warned us "take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in My Name, saying I am he and they will leads many astray". Mark 13:13 - Jesus Christ told to His Apostles "and you will be hated by all for My Name's sake. BUT HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED". Mark 13:22-23 - "false christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible the elect. BUT TAKE HEED, I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL THINGS BEFOREHAND". John 12:48-49-50 - Jesus Christ told us "he who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; the Father who sent Me has himself given Me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden Me".

[@SeanusAurelius]

@@marymargarette4289 I'm guessing this won't help someone who lurches into ALL CAPS, but we Protestants wanted to fix the church, and we believe there still is only one church, albeit one that is sadly divided in practice. FWIW, the church was already split in 4 or 5 pieces before the Reformation, you already had Eastern Orthodox, Copts, Oriental Orthodox, etc.

[@marymargarette4289]

@@SeanusAurelius But Our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the catholic church because HE BUILD ONLY ONE CHURCH THROUGH HIS APOSTLE PETER and the popes are the successors right from HIS APOSTLE PETER. NO ONE CAN BUILD ANOTHER CHURCH, ONLY THE SON OF GOD CAN BUILD THE CHURCH. Please read carefully these words of our Lord Jesus Christ in :- John 21:17 - Jesus say to His Apostle Peter "Simon, Son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "do you love Me? And Peter said to him "Lord you know everything; you know that I love you" Jesus said to him "FEED MY SHEEP". Luke 9:1-2 - Jesus called HIS 12 Apostles together and give them power and authority over all demons and cure diseases, and HE sent them out to preach the Kingdom of GOD and to heal. Luke 9:5 - Jesus told to HIS Apostles "and wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them". Luke 10:16 - Jesus say to HIS Apostles "he who hears you hears Me and he who rejects you rejects ME and he who rejects ME REJECTS HIM who sent ME". Luke 10:19 - Jesus say to HIS Apostles "behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you". Luke 10:21 - Jesus rejoiced in the HOLY SPIRIT and said "I thank thee, FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, FATHER, for such was thy gracious will". John 20:21-22-23 - Jesus say to HIS Apostles "peace be with you. As the FATHER has sent ME, even so I send you. And when He had said this HE breathed on them and said to them "receive the HOLY SPIRIT if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained". Mathew 12:30 - Jesus say "he who is not with ME is against ME and he who does not gather with ME scatters". John 8:31-32 - Jesus say "if you continue in MY Word you are truly MY disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free". John 10:9-10-11 - Jesus say "I AM THE DOOR, if any one enters by ME he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY, I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP". John 10:25-26 - Jesus answered "I TOLD YOU AND YOU DO NOT BELIEVE. THE WORKS THAT I DO IN MY FATHER'S NAME, THEY BEAR WITNESS TO ME; BUT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT BELONG TO MY SHEEP". Mark 13:5-6 - Jesus warned say "take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in My name, saying I am he, and they will leads many astray". Mark 13:13 - Jesus told us "and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. BUT HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED". Mark 13:22-23 - Jesus say "FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL ARISE AND SHOW SIGNS AND WONDERS TO LEAD ASTRAY, IF POSSIBLE THE ELECT. BUT TAKE HEED, I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL THINGS BEFOREHAND". John 12:48-49-50 - Jesus say "HE WHO REJECTS ME AND DOES NOT RECEIVE MY SAYINGS HAS A JUDGE; THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WILL BE HIS JUDGE ON THE LAST DAY. FOR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN ON MY OWN AUTHORITY; THE FATHER WHO SENT MR HAS HIMSELF GIVEN ME COMMANDMENT WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO SPEAK. AND I KNOW THAT HIS COMMANDMENT IS ETERNAL LIFE. WHAT I SAY, THEREFORE, I SAY AS THE FATHER HAS BIDDEN ME".

[@FlashthePreacherGuy]

I am a Lutheran Pastor. We used to say “catholic” in the creed. It’s a translation thing. For Lutherans we say the Nicene Creed typically when we have communion. The apostles creed is typically used when we aren’t having communion. As far as venerating the cross is not typical in the Lutheran church.