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The beliefs above are given expression through Protestant practices, which vary as widely as do Protestant beliefs.
Attending Religious Services
Attending religious service regularly is encouraged, but not required by most Protestant denominations (and weekly attendance is not obligatory, as among Catholics). One reason for this is that there is no biblical basis for gathering together for worship at a particular frequency. However, Hebrews 10:25 does encourage regular meetings and warns those who are not involved in the religious community: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This passage is often used by Protestant clergy to encourage regular (including weekly) attendance at religious services. According to the most recent Pew Research Centre (2014a) survey, Jehovah’s Witnesses are most likely to attend at least once/week (85%), followed by Mormons (77%), Evangelical Protestants (58%), Historically Black Protestants (53%), and Mainline Protestants (33%), compared to Catholics (39%) and Eastern Orthodox (31%).
Prayer
Protestants believe in prayer as a way of enhancing one’s relationship with God, and so strongly encourage it. Other reasons are that Jesus prayed regularly (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16) and encouraged his followers to do likewise (Matthew 6:7-13; Matthew 7:11), and prayer is emphasised throughout both the New Testament (Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 4:15) and the Old Testament (Jeremiah 33:3; 2 Chronicles 7:14). In fact, the Scriptures stress that Christians should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The prevalence of daily or more frequent prayer varies depending on denomination in the U.S.: Evangelical Protestants (79%), Historically Black Protestants (80%), Mainline Protestants (54%), Orthodox Christians (57%), and Catholics (59%) (Pew Research Centre, 2014b).
Bible Reading
Because of the importance of the Bible to Protestant Christians (vs. church tradition among Catholics), Bible reading is strongly encouraged. Those who read the Bible weekly or more often) are Jehovah’s Witnesses (88%), Mormons (77%), Evangelical Protestants (63%), and Historically Black Protestants (61%). This contrasts with Mainline Protestants (30%), Orthodox Christians (29%), and Catholics (25%) (Pew Research Centre, 2014c).
Donating Money or Time
In many conservative and fundamentalist Protestant denominations, members are asked to “tithe” 10% of their gross annual income to the church. According to the Philanthropy Roundtable, Catholics give on average 1.5% of their gross income; Mainline Protestants give 2.9%; and Evangelical and Charismatic or Pentecostal Christians such as the Assemblies of God give 4% to 8% (Dunn, 2001). A national U.S. survey the Gallup Poll in 2013 reported that Protestant Christians (85%) were more likely to donate money than Catholics (79%) or those with no religious affiliation (77%) (Gallup Poll, 2013). With regard to donating time, Protestants are also more likely to have volunteered (for religious or other organisations) in the past 12 months (69%) compared to Catholics (57%) or those with no religious affiliation (53%) (Gallup Poll, 2013).
Fasting
The frequency, length, and type of fasting various widely across religious groups in Christianity. Greek Orthodox Christians fast 180-200 days each year, including the Nativity Fast (40 days before Christmas), Lent (48 days before Easter), and Assumption (15 days in August). Fasting is optional for most Protestants (i.e., not obligatory as with Catholics or Eastern Orthodox), although individual fasting is encouraged. Evangelical Protestants are more likely to fast than mainline Protestants (Beliefnet, 2001). A popular fast among Evangelical Protestants is the Daniel Fast (based on Daniel 1:8-14). This involves eating nothing but vegetables (pulse) and water for 10 days (Trepanowski & Bloomer, 2010).
Observing Holy Days
As noted earlier, Protestant Christians are less likely to emphasise specific Holy Days than Catholics or Eastern Orthodox Christians, and instead emphasise that each day is holy and should be celebrated as such. According to Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Thus, one day or the another does not merit any special reverence over other days. However, almost all Protestants celebrate Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, and may have special religious services on these days. Depending on the particular Protestant denomination, other days and seasons of the year may be important including Advent, Epiphany (commemorating the visit of the Magi to the Christ child), Lent (Ash Wednesday or the entire five weeks before Easter), Holy Week (the week before Easter, especially Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday), Pentecost (7th Sunday after Easter when the Holy Spirit descended on Christ’s disciples), Ascension Day (when Jesus ascended into heaven), and All Saints Day.
Baptism
As noted earlier, baptism may be performed as either an infant or as an adult after the person has reached the age of accountability. However, most Protestant denominations baptise members to initiate them into the denomination. Some of the more conservative, fundamentalist or charismatic denominations may in addition encourage a Baptism of the Holy Spirit, where the individual may “speak in tongues” and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which gives them the power and boldness to testify to their faith.
Confirmation
Protestant denominations that practice infant Baptism usually require a ceremony where the person confirms their belief and makes a public commitment to the teachings of the faith. This is called confirmation, and is similar to that which Catholics undergo during their early teen years. Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for some Protestant denominations may also serve as a kind of confirmation. Regardless, whatever name is given to this practice, it involves equipping the person with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used in serving God. These gifts are listed in at least three places in the New Testament and have considerable overlap. In 1 Corinthians 12:28-30, the gifts are listed as leadership positions (apostles, prophets, and teachers), ability to perform miracles and healing, ability to helping others, and the gift of serving in church administration. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 the gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed as ability to receive messages of wisdom or knowledge, the gift of faith, gifts of healing and miracles, gifts of prophecy, tongues or interpretation, and the ability to distinguish between spirits. Finally, Romans 12:6-8 describes the gifts of the Holy Spirit as prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving to others, leading others, and showing mercy. These gifts of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from those conferred to Catholics during confirmation (wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder or awe), and are also different from the fruit of the Holy Spirit which include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:16).
Eucharist
For most Protestant Christians, the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion) is an important practice that usually takes place in church and involves receiving the wafer (body of Christ) and drinking the wine or grape juice (blood of Christ). Communion practices, though, may vary between denominations. Any believer is usually eligible to participate in the Eucharist ceremony, although some denominations may have certain regulations. As noted earlier, Protestants view receiving the Eucharist as an expression of faith, obedience to Christ, as a remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross of human sins, and as a time of renewal of personal commitment.
Penance (confession)
Most Protestants do not believe in confessing one’s sins to clergy, but rather follow the biblical injunction to confess one’s sins to one another (based on James 5:16) or go directly to God (Matthew 6:12). However, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists engage in group confession during religious services, and in select cases, may also engage in private confession to their clergy, with the clergy providing absolution. Again, this practice varies widely, and most members of conservative or fundamentalist traditions do not confess their sins to clergy, but rather to God or to one another.
Matrimony
Although Protestants do not consider marriage a sacrament (as do Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians), they do consider it sacred, holy, and the most intimate of human relationships. Marriage is not a temporary contract, but rather a life-long commitment. Divorce is highly discouraged among Protestants, based on Matthew 19:2-6, but is not considered a “mortal sin” as it is in Catholicism. Divorce rates are higher among Conservative Protestants than other religious groups, although there are many reasons for this, non-religious factors in particular (lower education, earlier age of marriage, earlier age of parenthood, and lower income) (Glass & Levchak, 2014).
Miscellaneous Practices
Other common religious practices of Protestants include listening to religious music, watching religious programs on television, reading inspirational Christian books (besides the Bible), wearing a cross on a necklace (simple cross, not a crucifix with Jesus on it, like some Catholics may wear), and for more evangelical traditions, placing a “fish” sign on their automobiles. “Witnessing” to others (sharing the Gospel) may also be very important for some Evangelical Christians, since failure to do so may have consequences in the hereafter based on Ezekiel 3:17-18, Ezekiel 33:6-9, and Acts 18:5-6 (the other person’s “blood will be on their hands”). Mental health professionals need to be aware of such beliefs, since patients may seek to evangelise or share their faith with them for this reason; understanding and toleration can go a long way.