Why Is It Acceptable for Christians to Dress Like Slobs to Church?

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
I recently moved to a new city and I've been checking out a lot churches in the area and I'm curious why it is acceptable to dress like a slob at so many of them. People wear flip-flops, pajama pants, sweat pants, graphic tees that make them look like a billboard, athletic shorts, or shirts that actually might be parachutes I'm not sure. Stuff that doesn't even fall into the casual dress category, just straight up lazy slob.

Clearly it is not a money problem. Everyone has a $2-600 cell phone in their pocket they pay ~$60 or more a month for data, they can afford to go buy a collared shirt and some nice pants. Even designer stores have really nice clothes for ~$20-30 during their seasonal clearance sales which seemingly go on all year round these days.

I can only guess it's a respect problem? I mean I can't imagine these people dress like that all the time, do they? I know anyplace I've ever worked will tell you to go home if you dress like that, and I know if I was on a date with a woman and she showed up in sweats or flip-flops and we weren't going to the beach I'd just shake my head and leave. I can understand visitors, but why is it acceptable for Christians to dress like slobs to church?
 

Quid est Veritas?

In Memoriam to CS Lewis
Feb 27, 2016
7,319
9,272
South Africa
✟316,433.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
I try to dress neatly for church, button shirt and neat trousers, but this doesn't really matter in my opinion.

I mean, they came to Church. Full stop. Who cares how they look? What matters is the heart. After all, I am fairly certain we are not supposed to judge others on their outward appearance.
 
Upvote 0

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
I mean, they came to Church. Full stop.
So anyone is allowed to keep coming to church? Guy who cheats on his wife, it's cool for him to come and sit in the next pew over with his new mistress?

Who cares how they look? What matters is the heart. After all, I am fairly certain we are not supposed to judge others on their outward appearance.
If all that matters is "the heart", then let me ask if you dress up for dates with your wife? I mean if the heart is all that matters then you're cool if she shows up to date night with flip-flips, torn sweat pants, bed hair, and no makeup even though she probably wears makeup everywhere else she goes. You plan a nice date night out and if she showed up looking like a slob you wouldn't mind at all, correct?
 
Upvote 0

Hank77

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 26, 2015
26,368
15,457
✟1,099,338.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
So anyone is allowed to keep coming to church? Guy who cheats on his wife, it's cool for him to come and sit in the next pew over with his new mistress?
How did you get from wearing overly casual clothes to adultery?

If I remember correctly Paul only talks about dressing to show off, fancy hair styles and jewelry, but never about patched clothes and sandals.
 
Upvote 0

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
How did you get from wearing overly casual clothes to adultery?
He alleged that a person showing up to church is of supreme value and nothing else matters. I was pointing out how such a claim is absurd.

If I remember correctly Paul only talks about dressing to show off, fancy hair styles and jewelry, but never about patched clothes and sandals.
1st Timothy 2:9 you mean? Paul mentions jewelry and woven hair, but he contrasts that and says women should dress modestly, with decency and propriety. He's telling them not to dress like a prostitute who sells sex for money, not that they shouldn't dress in respectful and dignified clothing.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: fat wee robin
Upvote 0

Hank77

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 26, 2015
26,368
15,457
✟1,099,338.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
He alleged that a person showing up to church is of supreme value and nothing else matters.
No he didn't. He was saying that it was more important that they show up for church than worrying about them dressing too casually. :doh:
1st Timothy 2:9 you mean? Paul mentions jewelry and woven hair, but he contrasts that and says women should dress modestly, with decency and propriety. He's telling them not to dress like a prostitute who sells sex for money, not that they shouldn't dress in respectful and dignified clothing.
So where does he scold someone for not dressing up enough?

Oh and it's not about what prostitutes wear either. Think about the typical Roman and Greek attire and hair styles.
 
Upvote 0

Quid est Veritas?

In Memoriam to CS Lewis
Feb 27, 2016
7,319
9,272
South Africa
✟316,433.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
So anyone is allowed to keep coming to church? Guy who cheats on his wife, it's cool for him to come and sit in the next pew over with his new mistress?
Well, yes. It is very cool for the adulterers to come to church. They really need it. Jesus came for the Sinners.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Baby Cottontail

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2016
834
273
41
Northwest Ohio
✟19,571.00
Faith
United Methodist
Marital Status
Single
I recently moved to a new city and I've been checking out a lot churches in the area and I'm curious why it is acceptable to dress like a slob at so many of them. People wear flip-flops, pajama pants, sweat pants, graphic tees that make them look like a billboard, athletic shorts, or shirts that actually might be parachutes I'm not sure. Stuff that doesn't even fall into the casual dress category, just straight up lazy slob.

Clearly it is not a money problem. Everyone has a $2-600 cell phone in their pocket they pay ~$60 or more a month for data, they can afford to go buy a collared shirt and some nice pants. Even designer stores have really nice clothes for ~$20-30 during their seasonal clearance sales which seemingly go on all year round these days.

I can only guess it's a respect problem? I mean I can't imagine these people dress like that all the time, do they? I know anyplace I've ever worked will tell you to go home if you dress like that, and I know if I was on a date with a woman and she showed up in sweats or flip-flops and we weren't going to the beach I'd just shake my head and leave. I can understand visitors, but why is it acceptable for Christians to dress like slobs to church?
I think this might vary depending on culture. For example, in big cities people tend to dress up more. In smaller communities, people don't tend to dress up quite as much. I know that my aunt, who grew up in a large city and still lives in one, is disgusted by people wearing athletic shoes for any purpose other than for going to the gym.

However, I view athletic shoes completely differently, having grown up in a smaller community. For wear I live, they are considered casual, and people tend to wear them almost everywhere.

Flip-flops are kind of the same way. People wear them a lot in the summer, and they wear them almost everywhere.

I'm guessing that maybe you moved from a larger city where people tend to dress up more, to a smaller community where people don't dress up quite so much. Is that accurate?

Now, the pajama pants and the sweat pants is a little under casual, but maybe that's the trend in the community that you have moved to? People just wear what they feel like wearing. I have seen people wear pajama pants out in public, and I do find it a bit odd. My guess is that they aren't dressing "worse" for church than they dress other places. Work might be a different story, but that's probably how they dress everywhere else that they go -- except maybe to a fancy date or to a wedding.

I don't think they are trying to purposely be disrespectful towards God or anyone else. That's just how they dress.

Perhaps it is something that you could talk to one of the pastor's about.
 
Upvote 0

Hank77

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 26, 2015
26,368
15,457
✟1,099,338.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Well, yes. It is very cool for the adulterers to come to church. They really need it. Jesus came for the Sinners.
I don't agree. The church should not allow behaviors in the church that could cause someone else to stumble. For an adulterer to come to church is good but not with his mistress.
 
Upvote 0

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Upvote 0

Quid est Veritas?

In Memoriam to CS Lewis
Feb 27, 2016
7,319
9,272
South Africa
✟316,433.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
I don't agree. The church should not allow behaviors in the church that could cause someone else to stumble. For an adulterer to come to church is good but not with his mistress.
I am not saying it should be deemed acceptable, but people who have fallen into sin require our help even more. He who is without sin cast the first stone.
Jesus Himself let the woman caught in Adultery depart with "Go and sin no more".
 
Upvote 0

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Heck, just about anything.
Just not anything you can think of right now? It shouldn't be too hard to list off a few if there are so many.

Ho many people actually wore PJ's on the day in question?
Only a couple, hello kitty pajama pants or whatever. Pink and white are their colors right? T-Shirts and flip-flops are the most common offenders though, quite a few numbers of those. A guy a met recommended a church tomorrow and I can't try and keep a tally if you think some statistics would help.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Hank77

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 26, 2015
26,368
15,457
✟1,099,338.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Here I quoted it for you since you appear to have trouble:
And the response to what you were talking about, what people wear, not adulterers and their mistresses.

Who is the 'they' in his response?
 
Upvote 0

Hank77

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 26, 2015
26,368
15,457
✟1,099,338.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I am not saying it should be deemed acceptable, but people who have fallen into sin require our help even more. He who is without sin cast the first stone.
Jesus Himself let the woman caught in Adultery depart with "Go and sin no more".
Go and sin no more means to an adulterer, get rid of the mistress.
 
Upvote 0

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
So where does he scold someone for not dressing up enough?

Oh and it's not about what prostitutes wear either. Think about the typical Roman and Greek attire and hair styles.
According to strong's dictionary the word used in 1 Timothy 2:9 means both modesty toward men and reverence towards God.

Strong's Greek Dictionary - Bible Software by johnhurt.com

Of course it doesn't give explicit dress code instructions, but if you're dressing up for dates and for work, but not for church, then I'd say that's a pretty definitive example of not dressing in reverence for God.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Tallguy88
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Zatek

Active Member
Mar 5, 2015
274
141
✟26,958.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
And the response to what you were talking about, what people wear, not adulterers and their mistresses.

Who is the 'they' in his response?
You can click on the little arrow in the quote and it takes you right to his full reply. Don't be lazy, and ironically that's what this thread is about.
 
Upvote 0