Stop dressing so tacky for church

[Johnboy60]

If the Rev. John DeBonville could preach a sermon to lift the souls of churchgoers across America, his message would be simple:

Stop dressing so tacky for church.

DeBonville has heard about the “come as you are” approach to dressing down for Sunday service, but he says the Sabbath is getting too sloppy.

Stop dressing so tacky for church – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

 

[ForJesusChrist]

Its style now its not a problem its just what the dress trends are nowdays.

 

[jgarden]

I'm sure that the chief priests and Pharisees were better dressed than Jesus and his disciples - but did that make them better people?

 

[apache1]

If the Rev. John DeBonville could preach a sermon to lift the souls of churchgoers across America, his message would be simple:

Stop dressing so tacky for church.

DeBonville has heard about the “come as you are” approach to dressing down for Sunday service, but he says the Sabbath is getting too sloppy.

Stop dressing so tacky for church – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Frankly, as long as they are coming to church, who cares how they are dressed? Better one dressed like a bum (or in case of that church in Virginia mentioned in other thread person showing his/her bare bum) in church than well dressed guy in 3 piece suit visiting harlot house.

 

[apache1]

If the Rev. John DeBonville could preach a sermon to lift the souls of churchgoers across America, his message would be simple:

Stop dressing so tacky for church.

DeBonville has heard about the “come as you are” approach to dressing down for Sunday service, but he says the Sabbath is getting too sloppy.

Stop dressing so tacky for church – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Who is John DeBonville?

 

[Paradoxum]

At least they aren't coming in wear dusty dirty robes I suppose. Clearly God would find that disrespectful.

I understand not wanting people to look like an absolute mess, but I find a self-righteous, prudish attitude to be more annoying. If you want to dress formally good for you, but don't be complain that I'm not wearing a dress, corset and petticoat on a plane.

I don't understand specifically dressing up for church. God is suppose to be you're Father that you talk to every day. Sunday isn't special... it's just being with God with others too.

 

[Cearbhall]

Frankly, as long as they are coming to church, who cares how they are dressed?

Especially if the church is trying to attract young people. Turning your nose up at a teenager's shorts when it's 80 degrees outside isn't going to help anyone.

The 1960s examples in the article make me laugh. A lot of those expectations seem very shallow, materialistic, and nosy.

 

[woodpecker]

I am all for come as you are, but if you are a born again Christian you should come as dressed for The Lord, not others. We should not come dressed in lustful ways, the scripture teaches us to dress modestly, not with a bunch of crazy bling and jewelry saying look at me, breast squeezing out, and men's pants hanging below their underwear......

 

[ForJesusChrist]

I just think showing up to church is the most important part. Its not like we are going to a fashion show, nor to judge others. We should be going to give praise to the good Lord, and we should not be worrying about things like this.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

When I was dating my Catholic boyfriend, we were running late for Mass and so we didn't have any time to change. He was in jeans and a polo and I was wearing khaki shorts with a sweater.

The usher beckoned the priest over to us, for what I thought would be a greeting, since we were visiting that particular parish. But no...instead the usher prompted the priest to address us on our attire. I was told that no proper Christian wore shorts to church. I turned around and walked right back out.

I should've known something was bad in that relationship when the boyfriend asked if he could attend mass while I waited...:o

 

[HannahT]

(shrugs)

It seems this preacher is like most everyone else today. lol Lets see what I can find to be upset about, and make an issue of it.

This should be a non issue. What was culturally approved once upon a time isn't so much now. Get over it. Its called life!

 

[Belk]

Perhaps he would prefer the congregation at the nudest colony?

 

[HannahT]

Perhaps he would prefer the congregation at the nudest colony?

The poor man may keel over and have a heart attack if he did.

Don't do that to HIM!

 

[wing2000]

Americans in general dress tacky.

 

[Sunshine Locket]

There's no excuse for showing up to mass improperly dressed considering that there is more than one mass performed per day.

I think the pastor has a point. People show up without having respect for church because people don't hold a lot of respect for what it means to attend church.

Shorts, a sloppy tee shirt, flip flops and a cup of coffee in hand? Isn't that what ushers are for? To escort people like that out? Not let them saunter on in and sit down as if they're waiting for a movie to start.

Unbelievable. Especially that there are those who excuse this type behavior. Or make fun when people think dressing appropriately is just silly.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

There's no excuse for showing up to mass improperly dressed considering that there is more than one mass performed per day.

Not always, depending on where you're located at. For example, where we went in my experience, it was the last mass of the day and the nearest parish was about 25 miles away.

I think the pastor has a point. People show up without having respect for church because people don't hold a lot of respect for what it means to attend church.

While that may be true, method of dress is NOT a good indicator of that respect. One of our most faithful attenders in Detroit did not get dressed up for church - he couldn't. Being homeless, he couldn't afford much in the way of clothes. We helped him out as much as we could, but it was more important for him to have food, both physical and spiritual, than it was to have a nice suit for church.

Shorts, a sloppy tee shirt, flip flops and a cup of coffee in hand? Isn't that what ushers are for? To escort people like that out? Not let them saunter on in and sit down as if they're waiting for a movie to start.

In our church, it is not the job of the ushers to escort people based on what they're wearing.

You're reading an awful lot into what one wears to church. I think the bible warns against that.

Unbelievable. Especially that there are those who excuse this type behavior. Or make fun when people think dressing appropriately is just silly.

I am more concerned with someone's soul than their soles, if you get my drift. I'd rather they come to church than get scared away by judgmental fools who think the clothes make the Christian.

 

[High Fidelity]

Especially if the church is trying to attract young people. Turning your nose up at a teenager's shorts when it's 80 degrees outside isn't going to help anyone.

The 1960s examples in the article make me laugh. A lot of those expectations seem very shallow, materialistic, and nosy.

Indeed, there has to be some sensibility involved.

Fortunately here in the UK most of our churches are made out of huge stone blocks and are quite cool in the summer, so it isn't really an issue.

Personally I don't see it as a big ask to wear a suit even without the tie and jacket.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Indeed, there has to be some sensibility involved.

Fortunately here in the UK most of our churches are made out of huge stone blocks and are quite cool in the summer, so it isn't really an issue.

Personally I don't see it as a big ask to wear a suit even without the tie and jacket.

Some of the older women in our church like to waste their time asking their pastor why his wife doesn't wear dressed to church.

Honestly? It's really none of your (general, not specifically pointed at you) business what they wear to church. Just be happy they're there. You don't know what their circumstances are, you can't judge them based on their appearance. THEY ARE IN CHURCH. Isn't that enough?

 

[Joykins]

Well, this lady is wrong:

The reasons why people stopped dressing up could fill a book. Yet Fulwiler offers one explanation that’s seldom mentioned – lack of gratitude.

Fulwiler’s revelation came one day as she watched scruffily dressed people board a plane. She flashed back to a black-and-white photo she had seen of her grandparents boarding a plane in the 1940s. Most of the passengers were dressed in suits and ties and dresses because air travel was such a privilege at the time.

“We dress up for what we’re grateful for,” she says. “We’re such a wealthy, spoiled culture that we feel like we have a right to fly on airplanes,” says Fulwiler, author of “Something Other than God,” which details her journey from atheism to Christianity.

Church is like air travel now – it’s no longer a big deal because people have lost their sense of awe before God, Fulwiler says.

That is not why people don't dress up for air travel now.

I don't always wear a dress to church anymore but I try to do at least "business casual." Most people in our church tend to dress up at least a little, with the exception of the teenagers (who still don't tend to wear shorts or t-shirts). Little girls still run around in foofy dresses...

 

[High Fidelity]

Some of the older women in our church like to waste their time asking their pastor why his wife doesn't wear dressed to church.

Honestly? It's really none of your (general, not specifically pointed at you) business what they wear to church. Just be happy they're there. You don't know what their circumstances are, you can't judge them based on their appearance. THEY ARE IN CHURCH. Isn't that enough?

Mhmm, I agree attendance is more important.