Dressing up for church

[Techbot]

Sorry if I beat you to this thread tulc! Tulc and I were discussing some off the wall stuff in another thread and the topic of how to dress in church came up. How do you dress in the house of God? My church is laid back. Sure, we have some who dress up, shirts and ties, but a lot come in jeans and T shirts. Sunday and Wednesday nights you'll see people in shorts, T shirts and sneakers.

Some churches teach that this sort of dress is wrong...what do you think?

 

[Kelly]

I personally think that one should be able, and feel comfortable, to dress as they normally would in day to day life. If church is to be part of our everyday lives, why make someone feel uncomfortable by forcing them to wear a suit? To many, dress clothes feel restrictive, hot, etc. This may cause them to praise less than they would in comfortable clothes.

Not to mention the social/financial aspects and competition that may arise from trying to look better than the next person.

Matthew 11:8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses

 

[Techbot]

Too true. I myself can't stand wearing a shirt and tie. It gets too hot and feels like I'm choking.

 

[Talcos Stormweaver]

I have been wondering about the same topic as well. The entire point of dressing up is not meant as much to respect God (at least in this day and age), but to make others think better of you. Studies have shown that people tend to judge people by what they are wearing at first sight. Although this is a perfectly acceptable social behavior, it seems unnecessary to make it a habit. If Jesus knows that you care about him and you follow his teachings (being God), would it really matter if you dressed up (on the basis that the clothes are restritive as stated earlier)? Today, it seems to be an unofficial but widely accepted mentality that on the basis that to others you will appear better, you will appear better to God as well. I agree with Kelly, such clothes are restrictive and as a result make attending church more of a hassle. God loves you, and if you love God in return, there is no need to alter your appearance. Although an attempt to keep the sabbath day holy, by wearing such garments in rememberance, it seems unneccessary on the basis that God does not judge purely on appearances.

Sorry if I have interupted anything, just my point of view. I tend to watch more than post in such arguments.

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

So long as you're decent (no really low cut tops or itty bitty shorts) I don't see a problem. I'd think God wouldn't care what's on the outside but about what's on the inside.

 

[Havoc]

There are some Witches who undress for Church

 

[Techbot]

There are some Witches who undress for Church

Huh??

 

[Havoc]

There are some Witch Trads (like denominations) that conduct their services in the nude. It's called skyclad.

 

[Techbot]

There are some Witch Trads (like denominations) that conduct their services in the nude. It's called skyclad.

Interesting! Do they consider themselves nudists or is that just part of the ceremony?

 

[Havoc]

For these Witches Nudity represents the innocence and purity of Birth. Also being Naked allows them to come before the Gods and Goddesses each the equal of the other. It's hard for a rich man to feel superior without clothes to prove his wealth.

Of course Pagans in general don't have the hangups around false modesty that plague our NAmerican society so being nude isn't a big deal.

 

[Techbot]

Very interesting!

 

[Blessed-one]

i don't think it really matters, anyway, we were having a discussion on how to dress the other night at church, and some of the girls were saying that it matters, because people see you first by your appearance, and since we're representing God, we should dress nicely and at least, decently.

wearing jeans isn't indecent, so that's ok, especially for high school students, since that's their usual wear.

and no, we don't have sermons on how to dress in church, um, it's just normal (common sense?) to dress accordingly.

oh yeah, one observation though, pastors, pianists, welcoming party and ushers all tend to dress more formally (women have to wear dress, men in black and tie...) is it really necessary?

 

[admtaylor]

Ok, I heard this joke a couple of weeks ago before church. This would be an appropriate place to share it and would convey my feeling on this.

There was a man who walked into a church off the street. He was dressed kind of shabby and a deacon of the church noticed this. The deacon got the ministers attention after the service and talked to him about it. He said "Maybe you should say something to him about it, pastor." The pastor said "Good idea. I will."
The pastor approached the man and said, "You know I noticed the way you were dressed today and thought I would come by and talk to you about it. Maybe you should pray to God and ask Him what you should wear next week." The man said, "Ok, I'll do that."

The following week the man returned to the church and the pastor saw him before the service. The man was dressed shabbier than the previous Sunday. The pastor approached him and asked, "Didn't you pray to God like I suggested you should?" The man said, "Yeah, He said 'I don't know what you should wear I've never been there' ".

 

[Blessed-one]

lol! good one.

 

[Bean]

I think the only thing that should apply to what one wears in church is modesty. No very low cut blouses for women, or young men in jeans that are hovering around their knees exposing their underwear.

 

[BInC]

I agree. As long as it doesn't distract anyone, i think it is fine.

 

[Rae]

I go to a Unitarian Universalist church. We're pretty laid back, but not to the "come naked if you like" state. Though if you did, you'd probably get at least twenty people asking to get you clothing.

 

[Godzman]

Ok I feel it is based on your conviction but I do like the minister and the singers to look nice, I mean if you are speaking don't look shabbie, I just feel that is to much of a distraction for some people.

Look nice when you are presenting the gospel, don't look too tacky

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

oh yeah, one observation though, pastors, pianists, welcoming party and ushers all tend to dress more formally (women have to wear dress, men in black and tie...) is it really necessary?

Those in a ministry position should dress with a higher standard because their dress could be a distraction to some. A person who has a problem with jeans in church can probably ignore the person in jeans sitting in the congregation, but ignoring the pastor's jeans would be impossible.

 

[Techbot]

It also depends on the church itself. Right over in Crosby Tx there is a cowboy church. It's not unusual to see the pastor himself up on the stage in jeans and cowboy boots preaching the gospel.