Can Methodist use prayer beads?

[Lord's Servant]

I converted to United Methodist recently but raised a Catholic.Recently I pray with rosary beads but not the Catholic version of the rosary,the Lutheran version of it.this is the Lutheran version:
Holding the crucifix, say the Invocation and make the sign of the cross;
2. Holding the crucifix, say the Apostles Creed
3. Holding the first bead, say the Our Father
4. On each of the next three beads, say the Jesus Prayer
5. On the chain, say the Doxology
6. On the large bead, say the Our Father
7. On each of the next ten beads, say the Jesus Prayer
8. Holding the chain, say the Doxology
9. Repeat these steps until you have gone through all the beads
10. Holding the medal, say the Magnificat,Pre-Trent Hail Mary or martin Luther evangelical praise to the Mother of God
11. Holding the crucifix, end with the Invocation and make the sign of the cross
Is this a good devotion for me to use?

 

[Dave-W]

There was a thread on this topic about a year ago or so, but am unable to find it right now. This subject was discussed at some length. Perhaps someone else here can link you to that thread.

If memory serves, there were several different types of prayers with beads in various configurations. The discussion was positive in their use.

 

[JCFantasy23]

There was a thread on this topic about a year ago or so, but am unable to find it right now. This subject was discussed at some length. Perhaps someone else here can link you to that thread.

If memory serves, there were several different types of prayers with beads in various configurations. The discussion was positive in their use.

I think it was probably this thread:
http://www.christianforums.com/threads/advice-on-prayer.7923016/

 

[Albion]

While there are members of many different Christian churches that do use prayer beads of some sort, there are usually two ways that non-Catholics do this.

One is to use the (Catholic) rosary and change the prayers in some way, such as dropping off the second part of the 'Hail Mary' which is not a quote from Scripture like the first part is. The more appropriate way is to use what are called "Anglican Prayer Beads" or, alternately, "Christian Prayer Beads."

They look somewhat like the Catholic rosary but usually have a cross instead of a crucifix, the number and arrangement of the beads is a little different for symbolic reasons--again, based on the Bible--and there are no assigned prayers. There's a good Wikipedia Article on this prayer bead set.

 

[Dave-W]

I think it was probably this thread:
http://www.christianforums.com/threads/advice-on-prayer.7923016/

No - actually, it was not that thread. It was much longer and I had a post on so-called "Jesus Beads" and some similar prayer aids used in the Messianic and traditional Jewish devotions.

 

[JCFantasy23]

No - actually, it was not that thread. It was much longer and I had a post on so-called "Jesus Beads" and some similar prayer aids used in the Messianic and traditional Jewish devotions.

Oh. I seem to remember a lot of discussion about it too but can't recall which thread either. It's around somewhere. I'll search again later if the OP doesn't find the other helpful.

 

[Lord's Servant]

Thank you for the information and I did find the link helpful and thanks again

 

[RomansFiveEight]

The discussion is a little nuanced. United Methodists don't venerate Saints or Mary; and we wouldn't feel that praying to saints or asking them to intercede on our behalf would be appropriate. I understand many Roman Catholics are also moving away from that belief; but not all. I'm not sure what background you came from. My wife's family is Roman Catholic and while I admire their faith and share many of their practices; that's one "hang-up" I have. Just a few weeks ago someone lost their car keys and said proudly "Okay now everyone pray to St. Anthony so I can find these" and she prayed aloud to St. Anthony, and when she found them; attributed finding them to him. Now, RCC theology would say that one doesn't pray TO saints but asks saints to pray FOR us; both are one in the same in my perspective though. My understanding of eternity isn't compatible with the notion of being able to communicate with the dead; whether to ask for intercession or to pray directly too. I also have a relative who is convinced (VERY convinced) that if I had a statue of some saint related to gardening in my garden, the flowers would grow better. That's plain, unsalted Idolatry. (And I venture most RCC Priests would oppose that perspective of icons as well).

BUT; I DO have images and icons of saints, I use them in my sermons, and I absolutely share their stories with children. The saints of the church (those venerated and not) are an important witness. So we're not quite full-on fundamentalism that would balk at a picture of someone who wasn't Jesus in a church; and not quite Roman Catholic in venerating or asking for intercession.

The reason I throw that out there is this; while some protestant circles detest anything that 'looks' Catholic; most United Methodists I know are more substantive. Are prayer beads okay? Better than okay, I wish more people would use them! I think they are super cool! But my personal practice would probably omit the portions about Mary. Likewise I think prayer cards are cool; insomuch as they offer a reflection of some hero of the faith; I don't think praying to or asking prayers from saints is cool.

We're a strange, mixed, "radically center" bunch. Rock those prayer beads!

 

[Albion]

Are prayer beads okay? Better than okay, I wish more people would use them! I think they are super cool! But my personal practice would probably omit the portions about Mary. Likewise I think prayer cards are cool; insomuch as they offer a reflection of some hero of the faith; I don't think praying to or asking prayers from saints is cool.

We're a strange, mixed, "radically center" bunch. Rock those prayer beads!

Not to be redundant or disagree with your post, but the idea with Anglican Prayer Beads, AKA Christian Prayer Beads, is that there are no assigned prayers. It's simply a counting device in an historic shape, and with a certain symbolism attached to the number and arrangement of the beads..

This is not a modified version of the Catholic rosary. While various online sites that discuss these beads give the reader some prayer format, that's just the selection of the writer's own choosing.

It's common to pray the Jesus Prayer on most of the beads, but the user is quite on his own to use whatever prayers he prefers and which would be in keeping with his own religious background.

 

[Lord's Servant]

I'm also come from a Roman Catholic background and I don't have any Anglican prayer beads I used Catholic rosary beads but when I pray the decades I use the Jesus Prayer instead of the Hail Mary.The only time I use the Hail Mary is when I reached the medal and it is the Pre-Trent form.

 

[Maid Marie]

I think I am the only Nazarene who has prayer beads, but any way, here is what I do. I have Anglican Prayer beads. At the cross and big beads [whatever they are called] I say a traditional prayer like Blessed Be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit or quote a verse. But then the rest of the time I say verses that reflect my heart's prayer. I really feel God's blessing on it.

 

[Lord's Servant]

Ah I see then interesting and I personally don't use Anglican prayer beads because I can't find any haha

 

[circuitrider]

Ah I see then interesting and I personally don't use Anglican prayer beads because I can't find any haha

I can give you links to websites to order some if you want.

 

[Lord's Servant]

Thanks I would like that thank you