RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (Full Version)

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HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/21/2008 11:57:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: humbleinspirit

As believers, it can swing both ways. The point is to have respect for the Lord, and whatever one does, they do onto the Lord too. If there conscious doesn't condemn one then it is ok to dress, but if it does, then it isn't instead.

Im curious. For the sake of arguement, would you meet with the president in the whitehouse with flip-flops, jeans and a t-shirt?. And if not, why not?



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 12:07:47 AM)

I'd meet the President at a function in my day-to-day dress. :) I go to church in my everyday clothes too, but my everyday dress is usually not similar to others'.



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 12:09:04 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: solo_soprano22

I'd meet the President at a function in my day-to-day dress. :) I go to church in my everyday clothes too, but my everyday dress is usually not similar to others'.

And not knowing what that is leaves the question unanswered.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:23:47 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

If you were asked to meet with the president at some whitehouse function you would dress to the nines, but for God you give him flip-flops, jeans and hawaiian shirts. Ya, thats class, way to go church. Please dont answer me about God only caring about whats on the inside, do you put as much thought about how you dress going to church as you do going to 7-11. Too many "christians" these days give The Creator of everything no more respect than they do to the clerk behind the counter. Giving God our best dosent make us better or more spiritual, it's just a matter of respect. If you dont own, or cant afford a suit and tie, or nice dress im not down on those who dont, but give him the best you have.


I highly recommend the book "Pagan Christianity." We already know that many of our Sunday morning practices have pagan origins, but did you know that dressing up for Sunday morning worship also has pagan origins? I read this book and felt validated for feeling the way I do about the whole concept of being expected to dress up for church. It's fine if you want to; I have no problem with it. It's the attitude that we should do it for whatever reason that I have a problem with. As long as I'm not dressed in a way that could cause a brother to stumble then NO ONE should be concerned with what I'm wearing.

Back when I was a Catholic I attended church just one time in shorts and a T-shirt. We were in the middle of a move, and all of my clothes except for what was on my back were at our other place. I had no time to go change and wasn't going to go to church at all but decided I didn't want to miss church because I didn't have a dress to put on. I figured most of the congregation wouldn't care so went. Very early in the service the deacon looked right at me while making an announcement to the congregation that we should be dressed a certain way while in the "house of God." I was humiliated. I wasn't dressed scantily, just casually. All I wanted to do was worship God, and I was being openly judged for something as petty as what I wore.

A few years later after I left the Catholic church, we were very poor for quite a while. I didn't have anything dressy to wear and no money to buy anything, but because I knew there would be Christians that would judge me based on my attire I just didn't go to church. I knew God didn't care if I wore jeans and a sweater, but I let my fear of what other people thought of me keep me from worshiping with other believers.

Now that I'm back in a church I dress casually, usually jeans and a sweater or T-shirt. I make no apologies for it. This is who God made me to be. I feel like a fake in dress clothes, and that's the LAST thing I want to feel like.

If you don't mind me asking you one question, what is so special about that one hour Sunday morning when we're with other believers worshiping God compared to every other day of the week when we're in the comfort of our own home worshiping God? Why is that hour so special that we feel the need to dress up? It certainly can't be for God because if that were the case we'd be dressed up all the time if worshiping Him is part of our every day life.

I hope this didn't come out harsh. It wasn't meant to be.



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:37:25 AM)

quote:

I highly recommend the book "Pagan Christianity." We already know that many of our Sunday morning practices have pagan origins, but did you know that dressing up for Sunday morning worship also has pagan origins?

And im quite sure that eating three meals a day has pagan origins as well. For the love of God, dressing nice is of "pagan origin"? Im not sure how to counter such silliness. Im speechless.....



Stronger2day -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:40:36 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

I feel like a fake in dress clothes, and that's the LAST thing I want to feel like.



cheeky_monkey

Clothes make you feel fake? Even for work, formal occasions, and the like?



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:41:55 AM)

quote:

It's the attitude that we should do it for whatever reason that I have a problem with.


[:)]



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:51:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

I feel like a fake in dress clothes, and that's the LAST thing I want to feel like.



cheeky_monkey

Clothes make you feel fake? Even for work, formal occasions, and the like?


Yes, they do. Dressing up makes me feel like I'm trying to present myself as someone I'm not, so I only do it when I absolutely have to. When I'm dressed in a way that suits who I am, my personality, it's much easier for me to just be myself. Again, I have no problem with anyone dressing up if that's what they want to do. I just don't want anyone expecting me to do it one hour a week as if there's something so much more special about that hour I spend with God than all the other hours I spend with Him throughout the week.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 1:54:29 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

quote:

I highly recommend the book "Pagan Christianity." We already know that many of our Sunday morning practices have pagan origins, but did you know that dressing up for Sunday morning worship also has pagan origins?

And im quite sure that eating three meals a day has pagan origins as well. For the love of God, dressing nice is of "pagan origin"? Im not sure how to counter such silliness. Im speechless.....


I didn't say dressing nice has pagan origins; that would be a misquote. I said dressing up for Sunday morning worship has pagan origins, you know, that one hour a week some people feel is so much more special than all the other hours we spend with God during the week?

You didn't answer my question. What is SO special about that one hour when we're around other people compared to the other hours we worship God in the privacy of our own home?



Stronger2day -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:09:46 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

I feel like a fake in dress clothes, and that's the LAST thing I want to feel like.



cheeky_monkey

Clothes make you feel fake? Even for work, formal occasions, and the like?


Yes, they do. Dressing up makes me feel like I'm trying to present myself as someone I'm not, so I only do it when I absolutely have to. When I'm dressed in a way that suits who I am, my personality, it's much easier for me to just be myself. Again, I have no problem with anyone dressing up if that's what they want to do. I just don't want anyone expecting me to do it one hour a week as if there's something so much more special about that hour I spend with God than all the other hours I spend with Him throughout the week.


OK. I suppose there is clothing better suited to your personality that may make you feel more comfortable, but I hope you never feel fake..or you'd feel fake at every formal or business event you attend. My word, what would/did happen at your wedding??? JK![:)]



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:14:34 AM)

quote:

quote:

It's the attitude that we should do it for whatever reason that I have a problem with.

I wonder, are you married?. If so, do you tell your spouse you love him/her?, because you should , if you care about him or her that is. now you may counter that you do so because you want to, if so shouldent you want to present yourself as best you can to him?. Everyone reading this forum would dress up for a job interview, shouldent God get the same respect. Tell me, is worship for us?, or is it for the glory of God, to God. The church today is too self centered, it's all about our comfort. If we really believe all this jazz about it being about who we are on the inside, then live up to that notion and come in your pj's and slippers, no showers, no brushing your teeth, come as you are strait out of bed.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:19:18 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: cheeky_monkey

I feel like a fake in dress clothes, and that's the LAST thing I want to feel like.



cheeky_monkey

Clothes make you feel fake? Even for work, formal occasions, and the like?


Yes, they do. Dressing up makes me feel like I'm trying to present myself as someone I'm not, so I only do it when I absolutely have to. When I'm dressed in a way that suits who I am, my personality, it's much easier for me to just be myself. Again, I have no problem with anyone dressing up if that's what they want to do. I just don't want anyone expecting me to do it one hour a week as if there's something so much more special about that hour I spend with God than all the other hours I spend with Him throughout the week.


OK. I suppose there is clothing better suited to your personality that may make you feel more comfortable, but I hope you never feel fake..or you'd feel fake at every formal or business event you attend. My word, what would/did happen at your wedding??? JK![:)]



Oh, goodness! I've been to only one formal event in the past five years, which was my BIL's wedding last fall. I didn't even own anything formal, so a few nights before the wedding went out to buy something. I had the absolute worst time finding something to wear that you could imagine. It's bad enough I just don't feel myself in dress clothes, but this was a rare SCORCHING day in October. You can just imagine the choices I had for that weather in the fall. Slim pickins! A few weeks after the wedding we watched a video that showed me looking extremely awkward. I would swear I looked that way because of the way I was dressed.

Thank God business events aren't a part of my life. DH has a good job, but his place of business is way too cheap to hold formal business events. I work from home, so I can work in my jammies if I please. :)



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:22:40 AM)

quote:

You didn't answer my question. What is SO special about that one hour when we're around other people compared to the other hours we worship God in the privacy of our own home


That you dont know the difference says a lot.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:29:46 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

quote:

quote:

It's the attitude that we should do it for whatever reason that I have a problem with.

I wonder, are you married?. If so, do you tell your spouse you love him/her?, because you should , if you care about him or her that is. now you may counter that you do so because you want to, if so shouldent you want to present yourself as best you can to him?. Everyone reading this forum would dress up for a job interview, shouldent God get the same respect. Tell me, is worship for us?, or is it for the glory of God, to God. The church today is too self centered, it's all about our comfort. If we really believe all this jazz about it being about who we are on the inside, then live up to that notion and come in your pj's and slippers, no showers, no brushing your teeth, come as you are strait out of bed.


Just a few things. If I don't dress up for a job interview, chances are the boss isn't going to hire me. I'm pretty sure God isn't going to kick me out of the "club" if I don't come to worship in a dress.

Again, what is so special about that ONE HOUR every Sunday where other believers get together and worship God dressed in their impressive "Sunday best" compared to the rest of the week when we worship God at random times in the privacy of our own homes? Do you dress up for those too? Does God consider you less respectful during those times than during Sunday morning worship where the ONLY people who are judging you based on your appearance are the people in the pews next to you?

The fact is, you're looking down your nose at me for not dressing according to your standards, which are NOT God's standards, for one hour a week that is, for some reason, so much more special than the rest of the time I/you/we spend with God. You can say you aren't looking down on me (judging), but you are. Just look at the word you used above. It was "classy," wasn't it? Do you honestly believe God is more impressed with your suit than He is my jeans? Do you really in your heart believe that matters to Him? Because I can't find a biblical basis for that line of thinking at all.

That stuff about wearing your jammies and not brushing your teeth is just silly.

Edited to fix a typo.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:30:01 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

quote:

You didn't answer my question. What is SO special about that one hour when we're around other people compared to the other hours we worship God in the privacy of our own home


That you dont know the difference says a lot.


She's asking you what you think the difference is.

I think many Christians dress up for show (for man's sake rather than for God). Sunday "best" is a tradition to a lot of Christians, but they think it's right to be that way only. It's fine if people want to be that way, but it's not a sin to not dress up for church IMO.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:34:40 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

quote:

You didn't answer my question. What is SO special about that one hour when we're around other people compared to the other hours we worship God in the privacy of our own home


That you dont know the difference says a lot.


What does it say? What is so much more special in God's eyes about the worship I do in that ONE HOUR than the worship I do the rest of the week? Answer the question with a REAL answer. Show me scripture that says God values that worship time MORE than all of the other worship time throughout the week.



cheeky_monkey -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 2:39:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: solo_soprano22

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

quote:

You didn't answer my question. What is SO special about that one hour when we're around other people compared to the other hours we worship God in the privacy of our own home


That you dont know the difference says a lot.


She's asking you what you think the difference is.

I think many Christians dress up for show (for man's sake rather than for God). Sunday "best" is a tradition to a lot of Christians, but they think it's right to be that way only. It's fine if people want to be that way, but it's not a sin to not dress up for church IMO.


Exactly. Look at it this way. In biblical days, people didn't even meet in a church building. They met in the homes of other believers, probably people they saw regularly. They didn't have a fancy church building, and if anyone thinks dressing in nice clothes was a part of every day life they would be wrong. They owned very few clothes, and what they owned had to be practical. They got together to worship God not to impress each other.

If I ever walked into my church and was made to feel like I didn't "measure up" based on what I was wearing, I'd find a new church.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 6:14:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish
quote:

ORIGINAL: humbleinspirit
As believers, it can swing both ways. The point is to have respect for the Lord, and whatever one does, they do onto the Lord too. If there conscious doesn't condemn one then it is ok to dress, but if it does, then it isn't instead.

Im curious. For the sake of arguement, would you meet with the president in the whitehouse with flip-flops, jeans and a t-shirt?. And if not, why not?

If that was what I wear (and I do not), of course, I would. As it stands, if required to, I would buy brand new clothes that are the same that I would wear otherwise. I would NOT buy something special.

And I would bet that you would go out and buy new clothes if called for such a meeting too. Sure you would. Do you do that everytime you go to church -- buy a new set of clothes? Your argument, then, falls flat.

And that you would meet Cheeky's statements with such demeaning speech as
quote:

Im not sure how to counter such silliness. Im speechless.....
shows your real attitude, for which you ought to apologize, as you should for your answer in 113.

Cheeky brings up a good point: there is nothing in the Bible that tells us how to dress for services, other than to be modest. If that is good enough for G-d, why is it not good enough for you?

And Solo is right -- within the Sunday afternoon restaurant crowd, I have seen the way some dress up for church, and it can fluxuate between just plain silly and obsene, with the show of obviously-fake wealth. But G-d bless those people! They are doing what they see is right, but not one of them has ever criticized me, within my hearing, for not dressing like them.

One of the saddest Sunday morning stories I ever heard was told to me by a man I take to services every week. He visited a church with someone who attended there, and he heard a ruckus and a child crying. He asked and learned that the 12-year-old, new to the church, had been told that he could sing in the children's choir on his second Sunday there, but on that Sunday, they told him he could not. Why? Because he was wearing a teeshirt and jeans. He wasn't dressed up. The child was the son of a single mother who could not afford more than what he was wearing. I asked later, and the boy and his mother had quit coming.

That is what happens when people insist that the attendees should dress up. It is a self-centered suggestion that has nothing at all to do with G-d. It has fully and only to do with the image the church wants to project, when others are told that they ought to live up to a standard that the Bible does not even suggest.



MamaPyratekk -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 6:57:00 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisFish

If you were asked to meet with the president at some whitehouse function you would dress to the nines, but for God you give him flip-flops, jeans and hawaiian shirts. Ya, thats class, way to go church. Please dont answer me about God only caring about whats on the inside, do you put as much thought about how you dress going to church as you do going to 7-11. Too many "christians" these days give The Creator of everything no more respect than they do to the clerk behind the counter. Giving God our best dosent make us better or more spiritual, it's just a matter of respect. If you dont own, or cant afford a suit and tie, or nice dress im not down on those who dont, but give him the best you have.

So does this also mean that I should be getting in my nice dressy clothes to do my devotionals at night? I don't think so! As long as I'm praising and worshiping and giving Him all that I can that is in my HEART, I don't think the outside matters. I would never go in rags, but if my church allows everyone to come in flip-flops and jeans then I'm going in flip-flops and jeans. Jesus associated with some of the lowest of the low and never did He discriminate against those who didn't dress their finest (at least not that I'm aware of). So never would I discriminate or judge those who don't dress in their finest to go to church. In my opinion, at least they are even going. How many people out there who dress nice on a day to day basis never attend? It's where your heart is at, not what clothes you wear.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 7:27:52 AM)

I went to church for a few years wearing suits.

Now I go in jeans.

God hasn't forsaken me because of what...I wear.

Respect? When does wearing certain clothes equate to respect....to God? What did Jesus wear? The disciples were in the PRESENCE of Jesus and they did not dress up for Him. The only ones who wore sepcial clothes were...the pharesees. THEY respected clothes.

My heart is the same wether I wear Armani or Wrangler. God judges my heart, not my outward appearence.

As I siad I usually wear jeans, though I do like to dress up. I wore a tie Easter to church...I think I was the only one....lol. No biggie.

I do think its...rude...to wear a hat inside but that is not biblical. If some unsaved person comes in wearing a hat...no problem. Even scantily clad women...if they are seeking and unsaved...no problem.

The thing about women's clothing is...why they are dressing that way. Some women dress....for effect. I would presume, when Holy Spirit indwellt, that reason would...fade away. Until then I try not to notice.

Imagine a first century church meeting in secret to avoid persecution...think they dressed up to go to church? Sure would "blow their cover" I think.

I usat believe dressing up for church was respecting God. Now I know I respect God by loving Him enough to be obediant....not wearing a suit. Plenty of dressed up people in church who have NO respect for God...it just...appears that way.

The church I went to that liked its ministry people to dress up...see....the pastor wanted more people in the church to enruichen himself. One way he accomplished that was making church a "holy place" worthy of "respect". His church was so special, it had "special rules". When you make something that special in people's lives, they look the other way when it comes to common sence. Afterall...its all for "god" right?

Nope its all for tradition or in that pastor's case, promotion of the church to filll the seats and his pockets.

Church is just the place we go to here preaching and to fellowship. It isn't anymore special than you and your wife kneeling at your bed praying....where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there.

I worry, not a strong enough word at all, when people start to respect their church so much.



1love1God1way -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 8:18:16 AM)

Exactly.

I don't get how dressing up is showing respect to GOD.

Is it that God only shows up in our lives on Sunday morning and we need to look our best for Him?

Because, my Bible tells me that God lives in me, that is presence is everywhere.

Shouldn't I be dressed up ALL the time?

No. Dressing up on Sunday has nothing to do with God. It has to do with other people, and presenting yourself in front of them.



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 9:01:26 AM)

quote:

No. Dressing up on Sunday has nothing to do with God. It has to do with other people, and presenting yourself in front of them.

Well, it obviously dosent in the mind of many. It is also obvious from the weak spiritual condition in a nation that still boasts that 70+% of it's citizens are christian that very little done in our churches on sunday has anything to do with God at all. Having said that, what i am not saying is you must wear three piece suits and evening gowns, what i am saying is that this trend of going to church in beach wear shows a sloppy attitude toward worship.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 9:28:58 AM)

I agree with cheeky_monkey and the others. Just because we're gathering for corporate worship doesn't mean it's the only time we present ourselves before God. And if we must present ourselves before God in our best duds, we should be consistent and do that ALL the time we present ourselves before God.

So much for 1 Timothy 2:9. [8D]



sinlessingodseyes -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 9:35:29 AM)

If you want to dress well for church, go ahead, I will not attack you. If you want to dress like a bogan when you go to church, go ahead I won't attack you. Clothing has nothing to do with the way God see's our hearts, he looks at what is on the inside. If you worship God better in different attire, then by all means wear that if it brings you closer to him. BUT to try and force your own personal clothing choices on others, is in my mind, wrong. Firstly because, as I said, God see's the interior and NOT the exterior. And secondly your opinion on what is respectable clothing is what society has led you to believe is respectable. Clothing has changed over the course of thousands of years, varying in society to society with each of them viewing different clothes better than others. What you feel about a suit and tie is only what you have been brought up to believe. Are you saying that a native to another country who's 'respectable' clothing is not respectable in your eyes at all isn't worshipping God at the same level as you?

AND if you had to worship God in certain clothes, the clothing we wear now is not comparable to Hebrew clothing back in the day. God never changes. Societies clothes do.



HisFish -> RE: Clothes you Wear to Church (6/22/2008 9:47:36 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito

I agree with cheeky_monkey and the others. Just because we're gathering for corporate worship doesn't mean it's the only time we present ourselves before God. And if we must present ourselves before God in our best duds, we should be consistent and do that ALL the time we present ourselves before God.

So much for 1 Timothy 2:9. [8D]

Question. Are there any styles of clothing you would not wear to church, and if there are why not?. If its only a matter of heart attitude your answer would have to be no, is that a correct assumption?



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