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How do you like to dress for church?

How do you like to dress for church?

  • I dress formally or "business casual." I believe we should look our best for the Lord.

  • I wear very casual clothes, but I make sure they are clean and in good repair.

  • I don't care what I wear to church, even if it has stains or rips.

  • Other. I'll explain in the thread.


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Ave Maria

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I kind of dress up for church. I mean, I don't wear a dress or a fancy suit or anything of that sort but I do wear my best jeans and a fairly nice shirt if I have one clean.
 
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gracefulone1980

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My family dresses modestly and in respectful clothes. Once in awhile I will wear jeans with a nice shirt. Our church is very casual dress, most people dress up, some jeans.

I have to admit that it does bother me when some women (rare, this small group only attends once in awhile) dresses very provocative. Meaning with breasts hanging out and all. It's not just about church, that bothers me in everyday life.

It would not bother me at all if someone could not afford to buy fancy clothes to come to church.
 
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SearchingStudent

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I live in the desert Southwest (Phoenix area). In July/August, by 10 am (the time church starts) it's already 100+ degrees outside. Shorts, t-shirts and tank tops are readily accepted. It's HOT here! By the time we are dismissed (noon-ish), it's blazing hotter than hades! It's a pretty casual lifestyle here anyway, and the heat is not conducive to "dressing up". Once it cools off (please God let it be soon), I'll probably go back to skirts/dresses...but until then...
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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I live in the desert Southwest (Phoenix area). In July/August, by 10 am (the time church starts) it's already 100+ degrees outside. Shorts, t-shirts and tank tops are readily accepted. It's HOT here! By the time we are dismissed (noon-ish), it's blazing hotter than hades! It's a pretty casual lifestyle here anyway, and the heat is not conducive to "dressing up". Once it cools off (please God let it be soon), I'll probably go back to skirts/dresses...but until then...

I have the opposite experience, but related, here in Washington. When I lived in Texas, I was a firm believer in women wearing skirts, not slacks. Easy to say when you live in a warm climate! I had to rethink those scriptures when I moved to the Pacific Northwest. That's when I realized that slacks for women are cut differently from slacks for men. I don't know of any men who would feel right or look natural in women's slacks. Therefore they aren't men's clothing, are they?
 
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Son_Of_Tolmai

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I guess for me... it depends on how your heart is...

I see it this way: I could go to church nude, and God would still see the real me.
Because I feel that way about the subject, I know He knows the way I see it. Therefore, I don't care what I'd wear.

There's this "thing" that happens when a guy with tattoos & dreadlocks walks into a church(building) service wearing a board short and tank top with flip-flops.

That thing is called "testing their hearts"
 
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jpcedotal

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Would I dress up for my child's graduation?
Would I dress up for a wedding?
Would I dress up to go out to a nice place to eat?

If I have the clothes or I am able to purchase the clothes, why would I not dress up to go to church and worship the Lord? Is He not as important as the other social events?

I understand about the being poor angle, but to dress casual especially for Sunday morning worship is just being lazy and on some level it shows where worshipping the Lord ranks on your importance of when to dress up.
 
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Izdaari Eristikon

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Would I dress up for my child's graduation?
Would I dress up for a wedding?
Would I dress up to go out to a nice place to eat?

If I have the clothes or I am able to purchase the clothes, why would I not dress up to go to church and worship the Lord? Is He not as important as the other social events?

I understand about the being poor angle, but to dress casual especially for Sunday morning worship is just being lazy and on some level it shows where worshipping the Lord ranks on your importance of when to dress up.
Ok, I understand that PoV,but...

To wear, say, a suit and tie to church, if your church has a casual culture and you're the only one dressed that way... doesn't that violate the spirit of Paul's command to dress modestly? Because as I understand it, the idea is not to draw attention to how you're dressed, and away from worship.
 
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.Iona.

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Would I dress up for my child's graduation?
Would I dress up for a wedding?
Would I dress up to go out to a nice place to eat?

If I have the clothes or I am able to purchase the clothes, why would I not dress up to go to church and worship the Lord? Is He not as important as the other social events?

I understand about the being poor angle, but to dress casual especially for Sunday morning worship is just being lazy and on some level it shows where worshipping the Lord ranks on your importance of when to dress up.

What one wears does not reflect where worshipping ranks. I don't feel the need to dress up for certain things - it does not reflect me.

Dressing up, to me, is false - it's not me. Why would I go to church feeling uncomfortable and awkward?!

Worshipping, is not about the clothes you wear.
God knows what is in your heart. Clothes mean nothing.
 
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jpcedotal

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What one wears does not reflect where worshipping ranks. I don't feel the need to dress up for certain things - it does not reflect me.

Dressing up, to me, is false - it's not me. Why would I go to church feeling uncomfortable and awkward?!

Worshipping, is not about the clothes you wear.
God knows what is in your heart. Clothes mean nothing.

u are missing the point.

I dress up for church for three reasons:

First and most importantly, to give glory to God by taking the time to look my best for Him. To show Him that He is important enough to me to make the extra effort to look nice for Him.

Second, to show others that God is important enough to me to make the effort to look nice for Him.

Third, when I look nice I feel nice and I act nice...
 
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jpcedotal

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Ok, I understand that PoV,but...

To wear, say, a suit and tie to church, if your church has a casual culture and you're the only one dressed that way... doesn't that violate the spirit of Paul's command to dress modestly? Because as I understand it, the idea is not to draw attention to how you're dressed, and away from worship.

Casual on Sunday morning as a rule?

I have been at church camps and retreats with casual wear as the norm, but for Sunday worship? I think I would still dress up...glory to God is important to me and since I am a sinner and there is so much I do wrong in God's eyes, making the effort to look nice for God may not be a big thing...it is still a conscious act to show God how much He means to me and how honored I am that I am a child of God.
 
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jpcedotal

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btw, I do not care how others dress...this is something I personally do for God.

No judgement here, just my opinion and thoughts on dressing up for church.

EDIT: Saying that, this line I wrote is judgmental...

I understand about the being poor angle, but to dress casual especially for Sunday morning worship is just being lazy and on some level it shows where worshiping the Lord ranks on your importance of when to dress up.

Sorry about that...had a "holier than thou" moment...sorry
 
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.Iona.

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u are missing the point.

I dress up for church for three reasons:

First and most importantly, to give glory to God by taking the time to look my best for Him. To show Him that He is important enough to me to make the extra effort to look nice for Him.

Second, to show others that God is important enough to me to make the effort to look nice for Him.

Third, when I look nice I feel nice and I act nice...

Yeah, this is how you feel about it - but my points still stand in relation to how I feel about it.

I feel my heart is more important, than the clothes I wear. I do not think God would doubt my faith if I don't dress up.

Also, like I said - I feel uncomfortable and awkward when I dress out of the ordinary for me. It's good if it makes you feel and act differently. Clothes just don't do that for me.

I think, as long as people go to church for the right reasons, and with a worshipful head and heart, it does not matter what clothes layer their body.
 
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jpcedotal

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Yeah, this is how you feel about it - but my points still stand in relation to how I feel about it.

I feel my heart is more important, than the clothes I wear. I do not think God would doubt my faith if I don't dress up.

nor did I imply that

Also, like I said - I feel uncomfortable and awkward when I dress out of the ordinary for me. It's good if it makes you feel and act differently. Clothes just don't do that for me.

As long as you do not judge me and my clothes for church with the same amount of expectation you would have that I do not judge you and your clothes for church.

I think, as long as people go to church for the right reasons, and with a worshipful head and heart, it does not matter what clothes layer their body.

I agree...but dressing up is just as correct as not dressing up...that's the key.
 
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weathered

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If i may share my opinion let me say that i don't think there is anything wrong with wearing nice clothes or rags if that's what you have. Suits are not needed but nothing wrong with them either. But Paul did say something about dressing in expensive clothes. But a suit doesn't need to cost a fortune.

I think the important thing to remember is what Paul and James say about clothing, make-up and Jewelry. Paul said to dress modest, not like the world today dresses, not in a provocative manner. I think some women and men should clean up how they dress. And if you are one of those churches that demand that people dress up in nice clothing you might want to consider what James said.



1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
Jas 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Jas 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors
 
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.Iona.

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Some people advocate looking like a bum for Sunday church and use the excuse "God looks at the heart, not outward appearances". So they are unshaven, look slovenly, t-shirt and jeans or t-shirt and shorts, gut hanging out, hair not combed. What a horrible way to look and is not God honoring at all.

That's hardly what I said now was it.
 
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