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

samir

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2015
2,274
580
us
✟18,067.00
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Private
Wait a minute. Is that real!? Like is the whole site just a joke? Can't tell!

".... beards are not allowed except with special permission from Pastor Smith himself, long earrings on women, use of tampons is strictly prohibited, men with earrings or jewelry of any kind, hugging, possession of inappropriate contentographic material (except for widowed or single men over the age of 65), failure to identify oneself to a church authority, failure to answer a call slip, witchcraft, dancing and/or skipping...."

?"hugging"? skipping? lol

Ok, this is funny, scary....

Is it actual?

It's a satire based on extremely legalistic fundamentalist Baptist churches and universities that have very similar rules. Check out Liberty University's dress code:

Body piercings (aside from earrings on girls) are prohibited.
Must be clean shaven at all times
No braids, dreadlocks, beads, ponytails, mustaches, goatees, or beards.
Men's hair must be well groomed, not bushy, above the eyebrows, not over the collar, not one length and no longer than the middle of the ears
No odd hair colorings or unnatural colors or styles are permitted (unnatural tints, pointed
hair, spiked hair)
https://www.liberty.edu/media/9910/a_august/DRESS_CODE.pdf

Their student handbook has a long list of rules and punishments for breaking those rules such as:

Hair or dress code violation - $10 fine
Improper personal contact (anything beyond handholding) - $10 fine
Failure to respond to official call slip within 48 hours - $10 fine
Attendance at a dance - $25 fine
Attendance at, possession or viewing of an “R”-rated movie - $50 fine
Failure to properly identify oneself - $250 fine + 18 hours disciplinary community service
Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages - $500 fine + 30 hours disciplinary community service

They even reprimanded and fined students for not attending Ted Cruz's speech when he was running for president.

https://www.liberty.edu/media/1216/SAC Handbook 2010-2011.pdf
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

AlexDTX

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
4,191
2,818
✟328,934.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
True worship can encompass both obedience and singing songs.
Try singing your songs of worship while in deliberate sin. No, they are not the same.
You have no idea what the format is of the Sunday worship I attend. Calling it "stuffy" is obnoxious - especially since this is a characterization that has no foundation in knowledge whatever.
True, I do not know your congregation, but after 30 years of being in many denominations, I will probably find your service stuffy, too.
 
Upvote 0

AlexDTX

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
4,191
2,818
✟328,934.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Wait a minute. Is that real!? Like is the whole site just a joke? Can't tell!

".... beards are not allowed except with special permission from Pastor Smith himself, long earrings on women, use of tampons is strictly prohibited, men with earrings or jewelry of any kind, hugging, possession of inappropriate contentographic material (except for widowed or single men over the age of 65), failure to identify oneself to a church authority, failure to answer a call slip, witchcraft, dancing and/or skipping...."

?"hugging"? skipping? lol

Ok, this is funny, scary....

Is it actual?
I knew nothing about it. This is what Wikipedia has to say:

The site was created by Chris Harper, who obtained his master's degree in English Literature from George Mason University in 1993 after being expelled from Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell) in 1989 for producing a radio show satirising the school's procedures[1] which Liberty's administration found offensive.[2] Harper responded to the expulsion by creating the Landover Baptist Church website, described by Pop Matters as both a parody and an exposé of the religious subculture at Liberty.[1]
 
Upvote 0

Ronald

Exhortations
Supporter
Jul 30, 2004
4,620
982
southern
✟111,578.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Would this not also apply to more casual clothing people wear? Yes. Yes, it would. God does not value shorts, sneakers, and t-shirts either, it would seem.
Well, we'll have to make sure the good Lord has the opportunity to try some shorts, sneakers while we play some hoops up there! But that would be fair, He would make every shot.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: W2L
Upvote 0

Anguspure

Kaitiaki Peacemakers NZ
Supporter
Jun 28, 2011
3,865
1,769
New Zealand
✟125,935.00
Country
New Zealand
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
I doubt if you are one of them.
Thankyou Sister, but I think I probably am.
It is also my experience that when we see a problem in the Church it is likely that our Father is showing us how we could lay down our lives for the kingdom.
Just gotta find a way to push through the weeds so that I can actually spend enough time in close enough proximity to them all.
Then we could bring the Love and true Fellowship of Christ into the place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Catherineanne
Upvote 0

aiki

Regular Member
Feb 16, 2007
10,874
4,348
Winnipeg
✟236,528.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Well, we'll have to make sure the good Lord has the opportunity to try some shorts, sneakers while we play some hoops up there! But that would be fair, He would make every shot.

I suspect that when you stand before God one day, you'll come to regret these flip remarks about Him.
 
Upvote 0

seeking.IAM

Episcopalian
Supporter
Feb 29, 2004
4,235
4,910
Indiana
✟931,189.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
Well, we'll have to make sure the good Lord has the opportunity to try some shorts, sneakers while we play some hoops up there! But that would be fair, He would make every shot.

While this post is humorous, I wonder if it doesn't reflect something underlying about how one views dressing for church. As I've posted elsewhere, I have often thought views about Jesus fall into two schools of thought. One I'll call "Jesus is my friend." It may be typified by the hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus. I have a friend who speaks of things he plans to talk about while having a beer with Jesus in Heaven -- sort of like shooting hoops with the Lord in Heaven. Interestingly, my friend dresses casually for church. The other view is "Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords." It may be typified by the hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (Let Angels prostrate fall...). Rather than having a beer with Jesus, this group may be more likely to spread their cloak on the path for our Lord to walk on as he walks by while they prostrate themselves. Maybe the first group approaches our Lord more casually like a friend and the second group more formally as being in awe while in the presence of the King?

Just a thought. :scratch:
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlexDTX
Upvote 0

AlexDTX

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
4,191
2,818
✟328,934.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
While this post is humorous, I wonder if it doesn't reflect something underlying about how one views dressing for church. As I've posted elsewhere, I have often thought views about Jesus fall into two schools of thought. One I'll call "Jesus is my friend." It may be typified by the hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus. I have a friend who speaks of things he plans to talk about while having a beer with Jesus in Heaven -- sort of like shooting hoops with the Lord in Heaven. Interestingly, my friend dresses casually for church. The other view is "Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords." It may be typified by the hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (Let Angels prostrate fall...). Rather than having a beer with Jesus, this group may be more likely to spread their cloak on the path for our Lord to walk on as he walks by while they prostrate themselves. Maybe the first group approaches our Lord more casually like a friend and the second group more formally as being in awe while in the presence of the King?

Just a thought. :scratch:
You are right. He is both. The King of Kings offers friendship and intimacy. As his children we respond to him both ways as any child would an earthly father. We can snuggle up to him, but we take him seriously about the things he wants of us.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom has been explained as reverence. I think respect is a better word. God wants us to love him as his children, but he also know we should respect him as our Father. I do not consider clothing, however, as the arena of respect. Rather we respect his commandments regarding sin. We respect his wishes for our lives. We respect his counsel when we need wisdom. Anyone who thinks they are showing God respect by dressing well in church but do not obey his commandments does not understand God.
 
  • Winner
Reactions: samir
Upvote 0

GraceSeeker

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2007
4,339
410
USA
✟17,297.00
Faith
Methodist
Marital Status
Married
Whether or not one is dressing like a slob is a matter of opinion, a corollary related to the concept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Might I suggest if one's eye was focused more on the worship God than the appearance of one's neighbor, this question wouldn't even come up.
 
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

AlexDTX

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 13, 2015
4,191
2,818
✟328,934.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Whether or not one is dressing like a slob is a matter of opinion, a corollary related to the concept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Might I suggest if one's eye was focused more on the worship God than the appearance of one's neighbor, this question wouldn't even come up.
Well said.
 
Upvote 0

Phil 1:21

Well-Known Member
Apr 3, 2017
5,869
4,399
United States
✟144,842.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Whether or not one is dressing like a slob is a matter of opinion, a corollary related to the concept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Might I suggest if one's eye was focused more on the worship God than the appearance of one's neighbor, this question wouldn't even come up.

challenge-workout-truth-bomb.png
 
Upvote 0

PureBliss

Member
Jan 5, 2017
23
10
42
US
✟10,156.00
Faith
Christian
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 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?
 
Upvote 0

PureBliss

Member
Jan 5, 2017
23
10
42
US
✟10,156.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Yes, I agree that it matters to look clean and good to church but decency is the best word. While there is no particular way to dress to church, modest dressing is good without wearing revealing clothing.
But in regards to the stuff / quality of dressing, people should not be judged. All hands are not equal. People belong to different socio-economic classes. Maybe there should be committees that could identify those in need and find out ways to assist by organizing forums to address the issues, may be by organizing some seminars and practically reaching out.
 
Upvote 0

GirdYourLoins

Well-Known Member
Nov 27, 2016
1,220
929
Brighton, UK
✟122,682.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I dress casually at church but ensure it is decent. Apparently that means to some I respect God less.

I feel totally comfortable in casual dress as I am with the lover of my soul. I am even comfortable praying or worshipping while on the toilet. He knows my all anyway and nothing is hidden from Him. Does that mean l love Jesus more than someone who has to dress up?

I raise my hands in worship as a sign of devotion and surrender to God. Does that mean I am more devoted and have surrendered "better" to God?

To me, all of the above statements are equally ridiculous. God calls us as we are. That means to one who feels it is important to dress formally He will put on their hearts to dress formally. Those who feel the need to raise their hands will feel the need to raise their hands.

I believe that part fo why we have denominations is for God to be able to lead peole into a church that is appropriate for different types of people, I dont judge others on their style of worship as long as they stick to the bible as the source of truth. It is not for me to judge someone elses walk with the Lord if they can justify it through proper use of scripture (but this does not mean people cannot be corrected who have wrong teaching). I seem to be the minority on this though, most are happy to judge anyone who disagrees with their doctrine.
 
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

pat34lee

Messianic
Sep 13, 2011
11,293
2,637
59
Florida, USA
✟89,330.00
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Single
Well, yes. It is very cool for the adulterers to come to church. They really need it. Jesus came for the Sinners.

Jesus went out to the sinners.
He didn't bring them to the temple or the synagogue.
 
Upvote 0

David_AB

Active Member
Supporter
Jul 30, 2015
127
52
England
✟71,876.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I haven't read through all 15 pages of discussion on this thread so I'll just say what I think.
I don't dress up for church.
However different people will have their own definition of scruffy. So there'll always be someone who will not be happy with what someone else is wearing.
It's not for us to judge and it's also a poor attitude.
Now I wore jeans t shirt (no logo's, just plain) and sweater to church.
This at a time when my faith was at a low ebb. An older lady in the church gave me such a look of disapproval it really made me think seriously about leaving that church because I needed encouragement not disapproval and judgment from another human being who is just a sinner like me.
I wasn't committing any really awful sin, just not dressing up.
Christians behaviour can often often a cause of other Christians to fall away in disillusionment.
This topic seems particularly petty and judgemental.
 
Upvote 0

Gwen-is-new!

The Lord is my rock!
Feb 25, 2016
485
209
United States
✟27,741.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
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 it's a rebellion problem. The scary thing is I know of a Pastor of a large church who refuses to tuck his collard shirt into his jeans.
 
Upvote 0

Gwen-is-new!

The Lord is my rock!
Feb 25, 2016
485
209
United States
✟27,741.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
At the surface "dress" does sound petty - but our outward appearance reflects what is going on inside as well. Refusing to dress at least casual when you know it's protocol (for lack of a better word) shows a deeper problem - pride, rebellion, disrespect, or maybe you are extremely depressed! These "slobs" need to be loved on, and someone needs to reach out to them and see what's going on in the heart. jm2c
 
  • Like
Reactions: David_AB
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

David_AB

Active Member
Supporter
Jul 30, 2015
127
52
England
✟71,876.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
At the surface "dress" does sound petty - but our outward appearance reflects what is going on inside as well. Refusing to dress at least casual when you know it's protocol (for lack of a better word) shows a deeper problem - pride, rebellion, disrespect, or maybe you are extremely depressed! These "slobs" need to be loved on, and someone needs to reach out to them and see what's going on in the heart. jm2c
Which was kind of my point. Giving someone a dirty look isn't the thing to do.
Finding out about that person is.
I know I suffer from depression, albeit mild, and often feel there's no hope and those kind of looks make me want to run a mile and stay as far away from those types of people as possible.
When you feel bad you don't want someone making you feel worse about yourself.
But I'm not surprised by that attitude.
I fell away many years ago because of some appalling behaviour from Christians. Worse than I'd experienced in the secular world.
 
Upvote 0