Something Positive I can say about SDA.

[OntheDL]

Since you mentioned it, pastors wearing business suits always baffled me... I guess it's indicitive of the state of churches today, they're businesses.

As much as I don't identify with priests, the collar at least identifies them for who they are... I mean, if you were to see a minister outside of church dressed the way they do, would you say 'there's a man of God...a sheppard of a flock?'

Where did we get the idea that Sabbath or Sunday worship was ever about what we were wearing? Why didn't we take the cues from Jesus and His disciples? When my wife and I were attending our local SDA church, we wore nice, clean everyday clothes... it wasn't a fashion show for us. The doctrine of no jewelery is kind of hypocritical when you see some of the suits some pastors and laymen wear as well as the costly dresses for the woman. Not saying all, but just another indicator to me how God's people just don't get it... coming out of the world and being seperate and peculiar doesn't mean wanting to look exactly like the world.

It's true in the OT, priests wear priestly clothes. But the Catholic priests wearing the collar gives appearance of piety that I don't like. If you wear jeans and short sleeves every day, would you wear that to church? Would you wear that to see a judge or to see the president? I think we should wear the best clothes (not the most costly) to meet the Lord of the universe.

I learned something from my Jewish friends: on sabbath, they take out the best dishes(plates), they prepare special food for it, they sleep in new bed sheets... they do everything to make the day special, everything connected to sabbath special, because it's not like any other day.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

It's true in the OT, priests wear priestly clothes. But the Catholic priests wearing the collar gives appearance of piety that I don't like. If you wear jeans and short sleeves every day, would you wear that to church? Would you wear that to see a judge or to see the president? I think we should wear the best clothes (not the most costly) to meet the Lord of the universe.

I learned something from my Jewish friends: on sabbath, they take out the best dishes(plates), they prepare special food for it, they sleep in new bed sheets... they do everything to make the day special, everything connected to sabbath special, because it's not like any other day.

As far as the Jewish traditions, isn't it that kind of thing that took the Jewish worship away from God and on temporal things?

My view, is that by concerning ourselves with how we present ourselves to God in a physical sense is not what he is requiring of us. I can't recall one verse of scripture that deals with our outward appearance but many that refer to our character. I'm not saying that dressing up means you don't have a right spirit to come before God, but there is a big danger in it becoming about the appearance. I don't know about your experience but I remember lots of stress around our house growing up, around how we looked for church.

 

[Joe67]

Here is a practical guide for meeting with the Lord.

Ex 19:14-15
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. KJV

Joe

 

[Sulla]

ADRA also does a lot of good work around the world. (adventist development and relief agency)