Use of incense in worship services
I am wondering what position the Lutheran church has on the use of incense in worship services, as I know is done during Catholic services. Did the Lutheran church ever use this and, if it was discontinued, why? Thank you.
We do not have a formal position on the use of incense in worship services. The practice is in the category of those things that God neither commands nor forbids.
I would say the use of incense has been a rare practice in the Lutheran church in general and an even rarer practice in our church body because of its association with the forms of worship of Roman Catholic churches and Orthodox churches.
In our church body the practice has been utilized in special worship services and in conjunction with the Evening Prayer canticle, “Let my prayer rise before you as incense” (Psalm 141:2).