Ministerial dress on sunday nites

Fine!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

But lets just suppose you get caught for speeding down the Interstate. The fine officer comes up to your side window, ticket book in his hand. "Good day, Sir! Can I see your license?"--Now, there he is in his Royal Blues--starched to where you would cut your fingers along the britches creases--and you say,

"Oh, Officer! It would make me feel a whole lot more comfortable if you were to dress more like me! I would be more acceptable of this here speeding ticket if you would just snatch your tie off and do away with those wing-tip shoes--get you some sandles or something!!" Its his form! His profession! He dresses to meet a public! I dress to preach! I am God's Executive with a planned sermon--the sermon is top notched prepared, manicured to the tee! Why should I not dress like my sermon feels--and have my staff do the same! I run a church--not a pub or a beach house! I'm gonna dress on Sunday mornings like I am in control! "You see that man up yonder in that suit and tie!! He's the "man of the hour!" Now, you go on and dress like you want--and I'll dress like I want!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

What you wear has nothing to do with the worship that comes from the heart. Is clothing the focus, or is God? When you demand someone needs to dress up for church, you leave out certain people in our society, those who seem to be the least, and sorry to say even in some churches they are the least, as they seem to be excluded by those who lawfully demand certain clothes or you shouldn't be there. "Wear your fancy coat and tie or don't come to our church", seems to be popular.

 

There is such a thing as a plain clothes cop.

Besides, it isn't what you have on the outside that makes you a policeman. It is your credentials and your calling that do.

 

I think that the trend to dressing down for church both by the congregants and preachers has promoted an attitude of laziness and slothfulness! I realize that not everyone will agree with me but I am expressing my opinion here!

Just look at the workplace these days with companies going to "business casual" which could be translated American lazy!

What is wrong with dressing nice and wearing a suit/coat and tie for church??

When people dress down, some of them lose their common sense and look like they are going to a sporting event rather than a reverent worship/preaching service.

[ October 27, 2002, 12:58 AM: Message edited by: tlange ]

 

The treads subject is "Ministerial Dress on Sunday Nights"--thats ministerial, boys and girls! It doesn't have anything to do with what the congregation wears. I ain't gonna bar anyone from coming into our worship services just because he doesn't happen to dress up like the preacher--he can come with shoes or without! He can come in shorts, tanktop, shoes without sockes, holes in his shirt, or no shirt at all. That ain't the issue here. The issue is what does the preacher wear! What should be HIS dress ethic on Sundays! And I believe he should dress like he is God's executive for the hour.

I seriously doubt if anyone will get up and walk away from the services just because the preacher is dressed up in with a coat and tie and nobody else is. And I don't feel bad or stupid when and if I'm the only one out of two hundred men who is wearing a coat and tie--if I'm preaching for 'um that day--I'm gonna keep what I have on. That's my dress code!

Now, if one of the guys at church invites me to the dairy parlor to help him milk--the Monday afternoon "milking"--I am going to dress appropriately--lots of big ole animal accidents happen in the parlor--and 9 times out of 10--when the dairyman comes to church--he's not going to be dressed like he just got out of the parlor--he's gonna be dressed like Sunday Church! BUT--if he wants to come to church straight from the parlor on Sunday--its his choice! It isn't a lovely choice--but its a choice! And I'll preach to him just as if he were the Governor wearing Tomm McCann's!!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

I tend to agree with and understand Blackbird's viewpoint here. The I consider where I am coming from and the era.

In this sense, I appreciate it is a personal thing, and allow others such freedom. As for me, I will always dress fully. I don't lose respect for preachers based on what they wear, but by what the preach.

I am acquainted with one preacher who wears outlandish ties. I mean they are loud, colourful and wide. He is a great preacher, and soul-winner, so who am I to do other than just smile at what he wears?

God bless all,
Jim

 

Blackbird,

If your last post was intended as a reaction to some of my points, then I would simply say that I never argued that what the pastor wears should depend directly upon "what the congregation wears" so much as how they are affected by what he himself wears. As I pointed out to Jim, my decision to dress as I do on Sunday evenings was one made in submission to the wisdom of my fellow elders with regard to our particular congregation and locale. I personally don't have any real preferences about such things, so long as whatever is worn is appropriate Christian attire. I think it depends a great deal upon the people one is ministering to as Tom has already observed. In my view, this whole issue is a matter of conscience in which the freedom Jim has described should be graciously allowed. I think that is a point upon which we both might agree.

Pastork

[ October 29, 2002, 01:28 AM: Message edited by: Pastork ]

 

When people dont care what they wear when the come to church can also mean they dont care about personal hygiene,one only asks to give christ their best,That's all he asks.And for those Christians who dont wish affend others,think about it, cleanliness is next to Godliness.