Question

Should Protestants pray together with Catholics?

Studied by claude-opus-5-5 · asked once

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The Bible never mentions Protestants or Catholics, because the split came 1,500 years later. It does strongly urge believers in Christ to pray together and stay united. It also warns against compromising the gospel and says prayer goes to God through Christ alone. So Christians disagree about whether shared prayer is right, and how far it should go.

What the text says

The Bible doesn't name either group. The split between Protestants and Catholics happened in the sixteenth century, so no verse settles the question directly. What the Bible gives are principles, and they pull in two directions that need to be held together.

Pulling toward praying together. Jesus prayed that those who believe in him "may all be one" so that the world would believe (John 17:20–23). Paul tells believers to keep "the unity of the Spirit" because there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:3–6). He wants them to glorify God "with one mind and one voice" (Romans 15:5–6). The first church prayed "with one accord" (Acts 1:14; Acts 4:24). Jesus promises to be present where two or three gather in his name (Matthew 18:19–20). When the disciples tried to stop someone who was "not one of us" but acted in Jesus' name, Jesus told them not to stop him (Mark 9:38–40). Paul was glad Christ was preached even by people whose motives he questioned (Philippians 1:15–18). Protestants and Catholics both confess the Trinity and the creeds of the early church. Both also pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13), so on these principles there is a lot they can pray together.

Pulling toward caution. The same New Testament insists that the content of the gospel matters. Paul curses any "different gospel" (Galatians 1:6–9). John warns against welcoming people who don't hold to the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9–11). Scripture says there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Paul also notes that you cannot honestly say "Amen" to a prayer you don't understand (1 Corinthians 14:16). That implies that saying Amen means agreeing with the words actually prayed. Many Protestants believe some Catholic teachings, especially on justification and on asking Mary and the saints to pray for us, cross these lines. Catholics, for their part, hold that the Eucharist expresses full communion in the Church, so they limit sharing it.

Where that leaves things. The text does not say "never pray with anyone you disagree with." It doesn't say "pray with anyone who uses Christian words" either. The real question is a judgement call. Can these particular people, in this particular setting, honestly pray these particular words to the God revealed in Christ? Romans 14:5 leaves room for each believer to be "fully convinced in his own mind" on disputed matters, so Christians reach different conclusions in good conscience.

Where readers differ

Yes: shared faith in Christ makes joint prayer natural and right

Protestants and Catholics both confess the Triune God, Jesus' full divinity and humanity, his death and resurrection, and the Nicene Creed. Jesus prayed for his followers' unity as a witness to the world. Paul grounds unity in one Lord, one faith and one baptism. Jesus also rebuked the disciples for shutting out someone who acted in his name. Holders of this view say that refusing to pray with fellow confessors of Christ ignores what Jesus himself asked for. The Catholic Church officially encourages this kind of shared prayer, calling it 'spiritual ecumenism' (Vatican II, Unitatis Redintegratio 8), and many Protestant bodies agree.

John 17:20Ephesians 4:3Mark 9:38Romans 15:5Philippians 1:15

Yes, with limits: pray together what both can honestly affirm

This view says joint prayer is good when it is addressed to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit, using words both sides can mean, like the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, or prayers for the sick, for peace and for the persecuted. It is not appropriate where one side would have to affirm practices it believes are wrong. For a Protestant, that means prayers addressed to Mary or the saints. For many Catholics, it means sharing the Eucharist across communions. The basis is that 'Amen' means agreement (1 Corinthians 14:16), that there is one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and that conscience should not be forced on disputed matters (Romans 14:5, 23).

1 Corinthians 14:161 Timothy 2:5Matthew 6:9Romans 14:5Romans 14:23

No: joint worship blurs real disagreements about the gospel

Some Protestants hold that the Reformation was about the gospel itself, especially justification by faith alone. If so, praying together in public worship suggests a unity that doesn't exist. They point to Paul's sharp line against a 'different gospel' and John's warning not to share in the work of those who don't hold to Christ's teaching. Private prayer with an individual Catholic friend may still be acceptable to them, but formal joint services are not. Some traditional Catholics reach a similar conclusion from their side and are cautious about shared worship that might imply doctrine doesn't matter.

Galatians 1:62 John 1:92 Corinthians 6:14Jude 1:3

The words it turns on

  • ὁμοθυμαδόν homothumadon (ὁμοθυμαδόν)

    'With one passion' or 'with one accord': people united in purpose and feeling, not just in the same room. It describes the early church at prayer (Acts 1:14; Acts 4:24) and Paul's hope in Romans 15:6.

    Drift: 'Together' in English can mean only being physically present. The Greek stresses agreement of heart, which is exactly what this question is about.

  • συμφωνέω sumphōneō (συμφωνέω)

    To 'sound together' or agree (the root of 'symphony'). Matthew 18:19: 'if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask'.

  • ἀμήν amēn (ἀμήν)

    A Hebrew word carried into Greek meaning 'truly' or 'so be it'. Saying it means affirming what has just been said (1 Corinthians 14:16).

    Drift: Today it is often heard as a way to close a prayer. In the Bible it is a statement of personal agreement, which is why it matters what words one says Amen to.

  • ἑτεροζυγέω heterozugeō (ἑτεροζυγέω)

    To be 'yoked with a different kind', like mismatched animals at one plough. In 2 Corinthians 6:14 the contrast is between a believer (pistos) and an unbeliever (apistos).

    Drift: 'Unequally yoked' is sometimes applied to any disagreement between Christians. The text itself contrasts believers with unbelievers and the temple of God with idols.

  • ἐκκλησία ekklēsia (ἐκκλησία)

    An assembly, the gathered people of God. In the New Testament it means a local congregation or the whole body of believers.

    Drift: English 'church' now often means a denomination or a building. The New Testament has no word for separate denominations.

What the Bible doesn't say

The Bible says nothing about Protestants, Catholics, denominations or interchurch services. Those categories came long after the texts were written. It also never sets out rules for when believers who disagree on doctrine may pray together. That is why sincere Christians, all reading the same verses, land in different places. Some welcome shared prayer freely. Some accept it with limits. Some decline formal joint worship. Catholic teaching itself separates shared prayer, which it encourages, from shared Eucharist, which it generally restricts. Many Protestant churches make similar distinctions about the Lord's Supper.

Key verses

  1. John 17:21

    that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

    Jesus prays that all who believe in him may be one, so that the world may believe.

  2. Ephesians 4:3

    and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

    Unity is grounded in one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father.

  3. Galatians 1:8

    But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!

    The strongest warning that the content of the gospel cannot be compromised for the sake of unity.

  4. 1 Corinthians 14:16

    Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

    Saying 'Amen' assumes you understand and agree with the words being prayed.

  5. 1 Timothy 2:5

    For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

    One mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus; central to Protestant concerns about some prayers.

  6. Matthew 18:19

    Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.

    Jesus promises his presence where two or three agree and gather in his name.

  7. Mark 9:38

    John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

    Jesus refuses to shut out someone acting in his name who was 'not one of us'.

  8. Acts 1:14

    With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

    The first believers devoted themselves to prayer 'with one accord'.

  9. Romans 15:5

    Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

    Paul hopes believers will glorify God 'with one mind and one voice'.

  10. 2 John 1:9

    Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

    A warning against sharing in the work of those who don't hold to the teaching of Christ.

  11. Romans 14:5

    One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

    Each person should be fully convinced in their own mind on disputed matters.

  12. Philippians 1:18

    What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

    Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed even by those whose motives he doubts.

Common points of confusion
'Do not be unequally yoked' (2 Corinthians 6:14) forbids Protestants and Catholics from praying together.
Paul's contrast is between believers and unbelievers, and between the temple of God and idols (2 Corinthians 6:14–16). Christians may still debate whether specific practices cross a line, but the verse doesn't address disagreements between people who confess Christ.
Praying with someone means endorsing everything they believe.
In 1 Corinthians 14:16 the 'Amen' is tied to the specific words being prayed. Agreeing with a particular prayer is not the same as signing up to someone's whole set of beliefs.
Amos 3:3 ('Can two walk together unless they are agreed?') forbids praying with anyone you disagree with.
In context, Amos 3:3–8 is a series of cause-and-effect questions leading up to the claim that God has spoken through the prophet. It isn't a rule about fellowship between believers.
Jesus' prayer for unity means doctrine doesn't matter.
The same prayer asks that the disciples be sanctified 'by the truth; Your word is truth' (John 17:17). The New Testament holds unity and truth together.

Sources: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (Greek entries G3661, G4856, G281, G2086, G1577) · Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (BDAG) · Berean Standard Bible (verse wording) · Second Vatican Council, Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism), 1964, sections 8 and 22 · Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (1993) · Westminster Confession of Faith, chapters 11 (Justification) and 21 (Religious Worship)

Discussion

What do you make of it? Agree, push back, add a verse.

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