The shift to contemporary

The clothes are not the big issue to me

Sorry. I assumed you meant what you said in your previous tirade.

it is the attitude of disrespect that I see as a problem.

So now those who differ from your preferences disrespect God? Hmmm ... the deeper the hole you dig - the more interesting it becomes.

haven't we been here before,SBC? You know what I am talking about.

Yes we have been here before: you make faulty accusations and de-spiritualize those who disagree with your preferences -- I call your bluff and ask a few questions for the sake of consistency -- you fail to answer them, fade out of the conversation, or miss the point.

The vicious circle never ends

Yet I still consider you a cyber-friend

 

BTW, its not the dress for me, either: I'm usually more casually dressed than I am for work, which requires me to wear a suit every day. My problem is the atmosphere, which is too loud and too "lite" to promote real worship.

 

I like 20 mintue sermons myself.

 

I agree Dr. Bob!

I believe in giving my best to the Lord and that includes the way I dress. I have seen people dress better to go to a ball game or out to eat than when they go to church. If you have no "good" clothes, then by all means, wear what you have...but if you do have good clothes; thank God because He is the one who gave them to you and wear them to honor Him.

It has been proven over and over again that people (especially children) will act according to the way they dress.

In answer to another post...Yes, we are to give our best to God 24/7; but I don't think God expects me to ruin my sheets (not to mention being a very real danger to my husband) by sleeping in a dress and high heels.

Sue

 

Somepoeple believe that every church that doesn't wear suits ties, high heels, and play dress up and has contemporary or blended worship is not a christian church and none of the peopel there are christiasn, not serious about worship, and have comprmisred scripture, without even looking to see what tey teach about scripture. Making judgements based on personal opinion, and personal preferences. According to some if I die without my dress up clothes I might not see Jesus. Somehow if I don't dress in the finest clothing available to man and worship hymns older then 100 years I'm not a christian and my churchs doctrine is false. They haven't even bothered to see what my church teaches, it's just that if you sing contemporary music ever then your doctrine has to be bad.
Good grief, give me a break and show me some scripture.

 

You know the bible talks about worship many times and I don't recall once it telling us what the peopel wore. You think those shephares in the field went and bathed and changed clothing before they personally went into the presence of God in the stable?

 

Michael,

The high priest and other priests in the OT were to dress in special clothes when entering the Tabernacle or Temple (later).

Showing respect and honor to God outwardly does indeed mean something. It is not a matter of 'personal conviction' regarding respect and honor to God when going to church, it is something one does because He is God.

And while immodesty any day of the week is wrong, the fact that specific honor and respect is shown to God on a day of worship should not come as a strange thought! This is a high and holy God we worship. And while we have no right to look down on anyone coming to church in modest but daily clothing, our respect and honor to God should clearly be seen by others, especially on the chosen day of worship.

 

I read the remarks all the time about doing things according to New Testament times. New Testament principles, yes, but New Testament times?

We are living in the modern era, and we worship, generally on Sunday, and in buildings designed for public meetings. These conditions are such because they fit into society at the time. It was customary to dress up in our "Sunday best" on Sundays, even if we were not going to church. It was the thing to do.

I have a difficult time adjusting to this fast-changing world, and I admit that is my problem. On the other hand, I have seen families struggle in poverty. I have heard them remark that they couldn't afford to go to church....referring to what they had to wear.

These are circumstances, and not the norm. Should we dress in our best to be seen? Should we dress to show respect for where we are going? Perhaps we should be reaching out to those families surviving in poverty, rather than dressing down.

I see the rockers on the telly wearing their ragged bluejeans, knees and other body parts hanging out, and the first thing that comes to my mind, is the disrespect they have for their audience.

Now, if someone should come to a service wearing bluejeans and an open shirt, I should not object, but be happy that they came. Can they worship the Lord in bluejeans? Certainly they can. Casn they honour the Lord as much as me in my 3-piece suit? Certainly....maybe more so...I cannot judge their heart.

As the singer says, Times, they are a-changing....and we change along with those times. Just be patient with us old blokes who can't make the changes so readily. We still wear our "Sunday best" and we still sing the old hymns and we still like the Old Fashioned Gospel Hour.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I missed that portion of Jesus' story in Luke 18 where Jesus was concerned about anything other than one's heart condition when entering the temple.

Since God is concerned primarily with the internal and not the external, what is wrong with a church seeking to create an environment (in something as simple as their dress) that is professional and yet at the same time an environment where neither a sinner, seeker, nor saint feel isolated? To do so helps one avoid both extremes (pajama atmosphere -vs- tuxedo requirements).

Dress is a very cultural issue so trying to create universal practices regarding appropriate dress for "worship" is a mistake (IMHO).

 

This is off the subject, but I remember of hearing of a "songleader" in one of the mountain churches who kept his plug in while leading the singing and would have to spit between songs.

No wonder outsiders make fun of us hillbillies.

 

With all due respect, I think you have stated some unconnected things. We dress differently for different occasions. The point is not "who I am" but "what am I doing." For instance, do you where your everyday clothes to bed? Of course not. Why? Because the occasion is different. Your probably dress differently to go to work than you do to go the beach. Why are you decrying that as being "phony" or hypocritical?

The reality is that the way we dress is not about being hypocritical. It is about dressing for the occasion. Everyone accepts that it is an appropriate thing to do in the secular world. No one accuses others of being phony.

I just can't see that your argument really applies.

 

Dress is definitely just one avenue for breaking down barriers. It is the aim of our church to create an environment of excellence and professionalism where believers can a) worship God, b) hear the truth spoken in a relevant fashion, and c) be so excited about what is happening at the church that they want to invite the unbelievers around them b/c they know that person will hear the gospel w/o being isolated.
And that is true "come and see" evangelism.

 

Pastor Larry, I think they are very connected to each other. I don't dress up when at home, or when I go out. To dress up and try and be something I'm not just becasue it's Sunday would not be right. And unbeliever is much more unlikely to listen to me talk about JEsus, I'd be called a hypocrite. I dress just about the same no matter what the occasion. I'm not about to tell poor people they can't go to church with me until they get some good clothes, and living in this area thats exactly they way they see it. If people go to church dressed fancy, they say they can't go becasue they have nothing fancy to wear. Why? Becasue christians have communicated to them all their lives you have top dress fancy for God to want you. Not to mention I myself can not afford to wear those kinds of clothing you all keep saying that if I don't I am not respecting God. I've seen many people dress up and not respect God, that has to be from the heart or no amount of clothing is going to make it true.
Thank God He doesn't care what I wear, only men do.

 

It is not just the clothes,it is the overall attitude of the church that concerns me....why make all these changes in dress(this seems more hypocritical to me,dressing down to appeal to others) Clothes are NOT the issue....is the church biblical? Is it teaching the Word in depth to the believers or is the focus totally evangelistic so that these changes are made *just* to make church more appealing...these are the important questions....I'm glad you brought up being hypocritical,Katie,it goes both ways....

 

In terms of dress, I think it is more important to look neat and clean than to worry about a three piece suit vs. sports coat. Really though I think dress is much less important than preparing our insides for worship.

As for contemporary vs. traditional services, this is one area in which I am grateful for diversity among denominations and individual churches. I have some Christian friends who find more formal services stifling and others who feel uncomfortable in a more laid-back situation. I think the main thing is to find somewhere where the worship style fits so that you can grow closer to God.

Personally, I prefer more formal services. This is one issue I'm seriously considering as I research various denominations and their practices.