Blue Jeans

[The Fire Rises]

I think there's something to what seashale said. In the Old Testament, God gave His people tons of rules (ex:Levitucs), there was a certain, specific way they were supposed to act and look. Why? It wasn't just to be a jerk or be a pain in the buns, one of the chief reasons was to set His people apart, and make them unique, a nation that would stand out and be easily identifiable.

Though I am not Catholic, I have always appreciated the sense of purpose and order that comes with the priest's/deacons' clothing and things of that nature when I go with my grandpa to his mass. It reminds me that I'm not just at a social gathering, that this is the most important event(s) of my weekly life, and it also keeps my mind from drifting. It keeps me focused on the Lord and it reminds me that I am there to serve Him, not the other way around. I guess a lot of it comes down to preference though, not everyone has the same tastes, and that's fine.

 

[Fireinfolding]

To the OP, yes

Im more warry of "bling"... like Rolex watches

 

[SavebyGraceandFaith2013]

I don't find his statement insulting in the least, but rather, a critique of the casual attitude that many people have towards worship.


(I say this as someone who frequently wears casual clothing to church; this thread has made me wonder, too, about my own attitude about worship)

I would have to say that casual attire is not a reflection of attitude. I've personally witnessed hundreds of people who believe they are Christians that wear "respectable" clothing to Sunday service that are openly sinning and rebellious and I know true followers/disciples and fellowship with them in casual attire.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

Hi all,
Do you think that in a Sunday church service it is ok for the Preacher to wear jeans.

Oberland

From a biblical standpoint, yes because God looks at the heart and not outward appearances as scripture states. However, it would be very wise for a Teaching Pastor from the Pulpit to dress in accordance with the level of conservatism or freedom that the rest /majority of the particular Church Body chooses to dress. If there are indeed certain guidelines given to that Pastor when he was hired, or, was given him after he was hired in terms of what is appropriate dress (perhaps from the Fathers of the Church)...then he/she would obviously need to cooperate with that.

 

[homeofmew]

it's definitely a culture issue so it may be "right" in some places and "wrong" in others

 

[Fireinfolding]

I wonder if they were shocked at John the Baptists raiment way back. Given the Lord asks them what the heck they went out to see?

But I still think its so cool how God had the announcer and forerunner of the Messiah geared up in. Like "in your faces, " what is highly esteemed among men is often detestable in Gods sight.

God didn't have John in Kingly apparel to announce the Messiah, that type thing

 

[Angelfrog]

Depends on the church.

I'd say "no" for most congregations, but if it's one of those that openly caters to poorly dressed persons or announces that it wants worshippers to feel that the worship of Almighty God is no more special than watching a football game--then sure.

Got to admit I feel insulted.
I'm sure it wasn't meant that way- and I respect your opinion that you obviously are in favour of dressing up more for church, Albion- but I have to admit that my first thought was 'So if he walked into our church- despite all I posted about us just before this comment- he'd take one look and judge us as being poorly dressed, and belittling the Mighty God we love and worship to something mundane just because of what piece of fabric we chose to wear that day?' Even though it's still modest, clean and no-one is unkempt, you'd term that 'poorly dressed'
I worship along side some of the most dedicated, Christ-centered people I know and to think you've brushed them off in that way rankles.

I've never once assumed that those who go in their 'Sunday best' are attention seeking snobs or flaunting their 'superior' clothes- on the contrary, it doesn't really register. Why should those who dress casually be accused of being 'poorly' dressed or of shoving the worship of God down to the same status as some game?

Again, I'm sure you wouldn't actually walk in and be judgemental- but it did kind of read that way, hon.

 

[aiki]

I guess I just don't understand the motive behind dressing more casually for a time of worship of God Himself. Yes, God is our "Abba," but He is also our Creator and the One to whom we will one day give an account; He is our friend, but He is also the Maker and Sustainer of the billions of galaxies, and stars, and planets that populate our universe. I think a more casual form of dress for Sunday worship speaks to the trend among Christians to make God one's buddy and to pander to the sensitivities of the "seeker" who comes to church. In doing so, though, I think believers are as likely to send the message to the seeker that God isn't all that great, that there is some mild contempt in their familiarity with God, as they are that He is accessible and a friend. As I pointed out in my last post in this thread, I wouldn't attend an audience with the Queen of England in jeans and a t-shirt; why, then, would I do so to attend a service of worship for the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe? It would be disrespectful to the Queen to stand before her casually attired and it seems to me just as disrespectful to attend upon God in worship so dressed, too.

Selah.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

I guess I just don't understand the motive behind dressing more casually for a time of worship of God Himself. Yes, God is our "Abba," but He is also our Creator and the One to whom we will one day give an account; He is our friend, but He is also the Maker and Sustainer of the billions of galaxies, and stars, and planets that populate our universe. I think a more casual form of dress for Sunday worship speaks to the trend among Christians to make God one's buddy and to pander to the sensitivities of the "seeker" who comes to church. In doing so, though, I think believers are as likely to send the message to the seeker that God isn't all that great, that there is some mild contempt in their familiarity with God, as they are that He is accessible and a friend. As I pointed out in my last post in this thread, I wouldn't attend an audience with the Queen of England in jeans and a t-shirt; why, then, would I do so to attend a service of worship for the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe? It would be disrespectful to the Queen to stand before her casually attired and it seems to me just as disrespectful to attend upon God in worship so dressed, too.

Selah.

No,you cannot assume because One is dressed casually in Church for worship that he/she looks upon God as 'a Buddy' . The reason is : Its whats in the HEART and SOUL of a Person that governs that . We are to worship God in Spirit (internally) and in truth (who he is and treat his Word as the ultimate truth source) . That said...our clothes SHOULD be presentable looking with no stains / not ragged looking / no low tops on women or short shorts / ... in other words, modest .

I personally enjoy a casual dress approach because I don't have to have my Mind centered on how a tie is strangling my neck or how a Suit Jacket is making my body warmer as I enter into an outward expression of my love for God in the corporate atmosphere.

We should not get legalistic on casual versus formal dress.

 

[tturt]

While I'm wearing my denim, I try not to hold it against someone who has on their 3-piece suit.

 

[parsley]

I think it's okay, but I don't personally like it. The pastor will try to keep the balance of presentability --wearing new ones that look too crisp, and then it will appear self-conscious and contrived.

Why would a pastor make the conscious decision? Trying to be relevant. So in my mind, when I see blue jeans I think the pastor is trying too hard, and in a way that seems condescending. Which is the opposite of what they're trying to accomplish.

There will always be people who get something out of that gesture, and always people who will react negatively. It draws too much attention when it triggers controversy. People should not be thinking about the pastor's clothes when they're listening to a sermon.

With that in mind, the same goes for an orange shirt, a Nehru jacket, tropical prints, clown pants... it's not the jeans themselves, but the attention drawn to the clothes.

If the pastor just wants to wear jeans, then s/he has 165 hours in the week to do that. Most work environments have dress codes for business casual -- that is the expected norm for most pastors who don't wear robes.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

While I'm wearing my denim, I don't hold it against someone who wears their 3-piece suit.

Ha ha...good one !

 

[Albion]

While I'm wearing my denim, I don't hold it against someone who wears their 3-piece suit.

You're just being kind. A suit maybe, but a three-piece suit?

There are limits to everything.

 

[RDKirk]

No,you cannot assume because One is dressed casually in Church for worship that he/she looks upon God as 'a Buddy' . The reason is : Its whats in the HEART and SOUL of a Person that governs that . We are to worship God in Spirit (internally) and in truth (who he is and treat his Word as the ultimate truth source) . That said...our clothes SHOULD be presentable looking with no stains / not ragged looking / no low tops on women or short shorts / ... in other words, modest .

I personally enjoy a casual dress approach because I don't have to have my Mind centered on how a tie is strangling my neck or how a Suit Jacket is making my body warmer as I enter into an outward expression of my love for God in the corporate atmosphere.

We should not get legalistic on casual versus formal dress.

Somehow we've jumped from what the pastor is wearing on the job to "a tie strangling my neck." (Okay, first, how about getting a shirt with a properly fitting collar?)

The OP is not about everyone in the pews, it's about the pastor.

When I was in Honolulu, our pastor was one of the original "Jesus freaks" of the 60s, having been a surf bum before that. Out of the pulpit, you were normally going to find him in cutoffs, a tee, and sandals. In the pulpit, he was wearing khakis, loafers, and an aloha shirt...but members in the pews might still have been wearing cutoffs, tees, and sandals.

 

[Reborn1977]

Hi all,
Do you think that in a Sunday church service it is ok for the Preacher to wear jeans.

Oberland

If that is the style of that particular congregation then it is absolutely okay.
As long as we have modest attire that does not insight others to sin what we wear is of little importance to Jesus. If people believe otherwise, it is because they are in a bondage of “works” which requires them “to be a certain way” in order to “be right with God.”


This response comes from someone who has been in Fulltime Christian Ministry for 20 years and I long to help those who have misguided or misdirected by ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’.

 

[aiki]

While I'm wearing my denim, I don't hold it against someone who wears their 3-piece suit.

This is like a student who gets a C- on an exam saying he doesn't hold it against those who achieve an A+ on the exam. The magnanimity in such a statement is quite misplaced.

No, you cannot assume because One is dressed casually in Church for worship that he/she looks upon God as 'a Buddy' .

I have met many believers for whom this is quite true. You may not be one of them - and good for you - but they do exist, at least in my neck of the woods, in large numbers.

The reason is : Its whats in the HEART and SOUL of a Person that governs that .

Governs what? How they dress or how they consider God?

We are to worship God in Spirit (internally) and in truth (who he is and treat his Word as the ultimate truth source).

More or less, yes.

That said...our clothes SHOULD be presentable looking with no stains / not ragged looking / no low tops on women or short shorts / ... in other words, modest .

I agree. I don't think I've actually mandated that anyone should hold the view I do. I am simply expressing what I think on the matter. You're perfectly free to hold a different view.

We should not get legalistic on casual versus formal dress.

One can become legalistic about their right to dress down as much as one can become legalistic about dressing up. Care is warranted on both sides. The main thing is to seek to honor God - even in one's attire.

Selah.

 

[Fireinfolding]

While I'm wearing my denim, I don't hold it against someone who wears their 3-piece suit.

Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

 

[tturt]

just tired of "clothesline" Christianity emphasis - modesty needs to be in place for all though.

 

[OntheHorizon]

Hi all,
Do you think that in a Sunday church service it is ok for the Preacher to wear jeans.

Oberland

Absolutely.

 

[OntheHorizon]

Now if it was a female pastor shed have to wear a dress... and it better be approved by old sister Barns the day prior!! oh I forgot women can't preach to men... rats...