Sign of the cross

Why donā€™t Lutherans make the sign of the cross like Catholics do? I know Lutheran pastors start services by making the sign of the cross but why doesnā€™t the congregation do it?

Some Lutherans do make the sign of the cross; many do not. It is entirely a matter of Christian freedom.

You might be interested to know that in his Small Catechism (in the Concordia Triglotta) Martin Luther included this preface to his Morning Prayer: ā€œIn the morning, when you rise, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say: In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lordā€™s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayerā€ [which we know as Lutherā€™s Morning Prayer].

Similar wording precedes his Evening Prayer: ā€œIn the evening, when you go to bed, you shall bless yourself with the holy cross and say: In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lordā€™s Prayer. If you choose, you may, in addition, say this little prayerā€ [which we know as Lutherā€™s Evening Prayer].

In addition, The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) included this rubric for worshipers: ā€œThe sign of the cross may be made at the Trinitarian Invocation and at the words of the Nicene Creed ā€˜and the life of the world to come.ā€™ā€

Lutherans are free to follow or disregard those instructions for making the sign of the cross. There are no ceremonial laws for New Testament children of God.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that some Lutherans make the sign of the cross when they receive the Lordā€™s Supper. Lutherans who do that are exercising their Christian freedom. Lutherans who do not join in that practice are also exercising their Christian freedom.

Making the sign of the cross can be a helpful reminder that Christians are redeemed children of Godā€”people who enjoy salvation only because of Godā€™s forgiving love and not because of anything they have done (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). Wearing a cross can serve that same purpose. With untold words and various actions, Christians seek to point others to Jesus and his cross (Galatians 6:14).