Reformed1689
Well-Known Member
Yeah I don't really dress up for weddings actually.
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Is it important to "dress up" for church?
- Thread starter alexander284
- Start date
So some people need other people to dress up as a sign of respect?
What happened to worshipping in spirit and truth?
The odd thing is dressing up for church is a result of Victorian culture. Yes, it has been tradition since the 19th Century but make no mistake - what is being debated is human tradition and not Scripture.
Remember John Wesley's instruction, "Let your dress be cheap, as well as plain", was to avoid the idea of wearing our Sunday best in favor of being our Sunday best.
What happened to worshipping in spirit and truth?
The odd thing is dressing up for church is a result of Victorian culture. Yes, it has been tradition since the 19th Century but make no mistake - what is being debated is human tradition and not Scripture.
Remember John Wesley's instruction, "Let your dress be cheap, as well as plain", was to avoid the idea of wearing our Sunday best in favor of being our Sunday best.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
Ladies and gentlemen,
What makes a Christian a Christian...
God's work on the heart, or our "attending worship services" in a building supported by "tithes and offerings"?
God's having saved someone, or the way they dress and act on Sundays?
What's more important...
"Going to church", or having a relationship with the living God for all eternity?
Only a changed heart that leads to true repentance and the comfort of the Holy Spirit are what matters, at least to me.
No amount of "going to church" and dressing up will ever replace knowing that God loves me, and that my sins are forgiven for His mercy's sake.
Gathering together with those to whom God has shown His mercy, is something that I enjoy...
But what I don't enjoy is someone telling me that that is wrong, and that I have to do it the "institutional way", or it's not the right way.
As I recall, we've discussed this in another thread...
What is a church?
The building, or the people?
What it seems you're completely missing, @InTheLight, is WHY people gather together under one roof to glorify God:
Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Have you forgotten this, sir?
Have you forgotten what he did for you, and what it cost Him?
I truly hope not.
He's the only reason you can say that you are saved from God's eternal wrath, isn't He?
He is for me.
Assembling together has its place, and it is for building one another up in the faith...
Not for making a religious show of things.
That is what I am advocating...
Not making a "pageantry" of it all, and simply gathering together under one roof to do what He wants us to do...
Love and support one another with the truth of His word, and meet each other's earthly needs with the resources that we have.
Why does that seem so strange to you, sir?
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Nice post. Obliquely attacks me and doesn't deny what I said.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I have not read past the OP, but here are my thoughts:
Our Day is to be set apart, devoted to Christ and His ministry.
We should conduct ourselves in an orderly (not disorderly) manner and behave in a way that honors our siblings in Christ.
Wearing our "Sunday Best" does not mean strutting our fancy apparel, but should demonstrate our effort to present ourselves as to the Lord. Some folks used to bath on Saturday night, so they would smell ok on Sunday morning. Others set apart special clothing for Sunday.
It is fine to ridicule traditions based on self aggrandizement, but we should not forget the biblical basis for honoring Christ's bride.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
No attack intended, even though I admit that the thought did occur to me to reply to you in kind.
Instead, I thought it more wise to respond with something that I felt would provoke thought in those reading our posts, rather than get into a petty argument that serves no purpose and is at the least, uncharitable and unChristian in behavior.
Respectfully, I am allowed to disagree with you and give the reasons why, even though ( from my perspective ) you appear to mock and belittle me for my beliefs and opinions, aren't I?
What's more is, despite your seeming to enjoy attacking me, I do not find such things enjoyable.
Rather, I find it hurts me to seek hurt in other people.
Because of that, I choose to follow the Lord's commands to me ( Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 5:44-48 )...
After all, if I act badly towards those who hate me, I would be ignoring the fact that He doesn't want me doing that to anyone.
So, out of my love for Him, I choose to obey Him.
I encourage you to do the same.
May God bless you sir.
And I do mean it.
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Addressing the OP, I think of church as being the embassy of the Kingdom of God where I go to hear what the King has to tell us citizens who live away from the Kingdom. It seems to me to be a sign of respect to dress nicely. I don't dress so nicely as to show off, but I dress to express that I hold my King in high esteem.
Ultimately, however, God is looking on my heart and my concern to follow my King, not what I am wearing.
Ultimately, however, God is looking on my heart and my concern to follow my King, not what I am wearing.
I'm not mocking you or belittling your beliefs. I find it ironic that you are posting about how people behave in church and how they should behave in church when you have admitted you do not attend church and have not for years, possibly a decade or more. I don't think you are a credible person to listen to about church attendance. That is the extent of my opinion about you in this thread.
You are trying hard to make it about something else. I understand that, too.
I know. Someone spends thousands of dollars on decorations, dresses, and tuxes, hoping to have the most beautiful day of their lives. And, you show up in jeans. They might love you. They tolerate you. But, either they don't think you're bright or they size you up as lacking respect. Maybe both. It's the message you send.
The reason why there are very few passages that even hint at how we should dress at church is because the church we have today is far removed from the Biblical model. Christians back then, for the most part, met in houses. There were no pews. Neither were there fellowships were one person behind a pulpit faced a congregation. The idea was that, in more mature churches at least, there was more interaction in the meetings. But over-shepherding very soon in church history took the front row.
Also the idea that the church building is a "house of God" is not quite correct. It is the meeting together of Christians that is important. They could all meet in a park - our church in Texas did just that on occasion - and it would be just as much a fellowship. The dressing up for church is a cultural thing, not scriptural. And, as has been evidenced by some posters here, it is a means to judge others who do not have the same artificial worldly standards.
Also the idea that the church building is a "house of God" is not quite correct. It is the meeting together of Christians that is important. They could all meet in a park - our church in Texas did just that on occasion - and it would be just as much a fellowship. The dressing up for church is a cultural thing, not scriptural. And, as has been evidenced by some posters here, it is a means to judge others who do not have the same artificial worldly standards.
There seems to be an attitude with some that because "it's the heart that counts" (which no one disputes ) that it's totally okay to dress as slobs (dress, in reality, reflects what's in the heart). Those who object can thrash all the want, but they still fall into those two categories: irreverent or dumb. Not only is this true, the secular world knows it's true. The slobs advertise that Christians are dumb. And, the pastors who encourage people to dress as slobs decrease the success and influence of Christians in our culture (which in turns contributes to the declined of American Christianity).
Please note:
There is a discussion to be had concerning appropriate attire and expectations for worship. There is a legitimate concept of "offering your best" and of "not putting on a show". These things can be discussed.
BUT when it comes to expressing one's heart by how one dresses this is related to tradition. There is NO room to call people who disagree with one's position (either way) "ignorant" or "dumb".
The way our warnings work is four strikes (four points) and you are out until one point drops off.
So if you are a point connoisseur yet do not want an involuntary break from the board, make sure you limit yourself to three points. Everything in moderation.
There is a discussion to be had concerning appropriate attire and expectations for worship. There is a legitimate concept of "offering your best" and of "not putting on a show". These things can be discussed.
BUT when it comes to expressing one's heart by how one dresses this is related to tradition. There is NO room to call people who disagree with one's position (either way) "ignorant" or "dumb".
The way our warnings work is four strikes (four points) and you are out until one point drops off.
So if you are a point connoisseur yet do not want an involuntary break from the board, make sure you limit yourself to three points. Everything in moderation.
I agree.
A lot of this is subjective as well. I used to think that one needed to wear their best. A few years ago I had to "dress" for work. I would have considered a suit and tie appropriate as this is "business professional" (a sport coat and tie/ a suit without a tie/ a shirt and tie without a coat...all of that is "business casual"). So I wrestled with the idea of "dressing down" to a sport coat, tie and slacks to attend church. My line of thinking was if I wear it to work I should not wear less to church.
Somehow over the years, however, I have come to see the notion of showing respect via how we dress as too much based in tradition. I believe we should dress modestly. But when we start "dressing up" or "dressing down" we are emphasizing outward appearance over what is important. Sure, we want facilitate the worship of others and not be a barrier to other people (either way).
Sometimes I wear a suit (rarely), sometimes a sports coat and slacks, and sometimes (like today) jeans and a shirt. All of these are within my character and none of my clothing options are forms of respect.
You are right - what is important is the heart.
Yes, the Bible was written when the average person probably only owned 2 or possibly 3 sets of clothing. A gift of 10 sets of clothing was written about as a nigh kingly gift.
My father once told me the first time he ever owned more than one pair of shoes at a time was when he was drafted in 1953. Yet the pictures we have of the family reunions and other events 100 years ago show the men all wearing suits.
Fast forward to a few years ago, when we find out a former colleague passed away. Some of the employees were leaving work early to go to the funeral, wearing what amounted to the gym apparel they showed up in before throwing on their coveralls. These are people with a decent job, not the destitute. I was flabbergasted.
My father once told me the first time he ever owned more than one pair of shoes at a time was when he was drafted in 1953. Yet the pictures we have of the family reunions and other events 100 years ago show the men all wearing suits.
Fast forward to a few years ago, when we find out a former colleague passed away. Some of the employees were leaving work early to go to the funeral, wearing what amounted to the gym apparel they showed up in before throwing on their coveralls. These are people with a decent job, not the destitute. I was flabbergasted.
Think there is a balance (it is subjective). But I tend to like the "dress up" notion.
I remember the dress blues - bow tie in the evenings. 23 years of wearing the right thing and being in the right place has made an impact, I suppose.
At my funeral I want my pallbearers in speedo thongs. If I have to be dead I want my audience to the post-event to suffer a little too.
I'm certain that plays a part, but my upbringing had the greater influence.
When dad got home from the steel mill on Wednesdays, he'd take a shower and dress up for church. Sunday mornings were the same.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not above casual dress for church. A pair of khakis with a polo or button down is usually all I can handle in the summertime. Of course with a pair of shoes that require polishing. That's where the real piety shows.
(J/K, you people.)But beyond church attendance, the mode of dress I see at weddings, funerals, court, & etc...sometimes it blows my mind.
What about hats?
In Scripture men had their heads covered and women did not.
I see women with hats in church.
Also, today men wearing a hat inside a church is often viewed as disrespectful. But I saw an older man with a suit and tie in church. He was a flat cap. Was he being disrespectful?
In Scripture men had their heads covered and women did not.
I see women with hats in church.
Also, today men wearing a hat inside a church is often viewed as disrespectful. But I saw an older man with a suit and tie in church. He was a flat cap. Was he being disrespectful?
I remember having to polish my shoes on Saturday evening for church. I think "dressing up" helped me learn respect in a way. But the world is different too.I'm certain that plays a part, but my upbringing had the greater influence.
When dad got home from the steel mill on Wednesdays, he'd take a shower and dress up for church. Sunday mornings were the same.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not above casual dress for church. A pair of khakis with a polo or button down is usually all I can handle in the summertime. Of course with a pair of shoes that require polishing. That's where the real piety shows.
But beyond church attendance, the mode of dress I see at weddings, funerals, court, & etc...sometimes it blows my mind.
'Exquisite,' is eisegesis. The point is that it is was one piece and could not be divided without destroying it, so that the soldiers had to cast lots and fulfill scripture.
Huh? What about:
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God;
I grew up Mennonite, so I may have more knowledge in this area than you lifelong baptists.
