Shorts in church service?

Maybe First Baptist should install air conditioning in the building.

[ May 25, 2002, 11:41 AM: Message edited by: rlvaughn ]

 

If I was going to meet a King I would wear the best I had. Going to the House Of God is going to meet someone greater than a King. The King Of Kings and when I go to worship in his house I wear the best I have. God knows what we have but to wear shorts is an insult to God and his church in worship service. No matter what anyone says... Brother Glen

[ May 25, 2002, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: tyndale1946 ]

 

Just a little insight to church worship attire. I remember my Dad telling me when he was a child that farmers would come to church in overralls. They would be working in the fields and quit the work in time for church. Clean up and come to church in their overralls and as soon as church was finished go back to the fields. They came to church in the best they had and that circumstances allowed. Brother Robert do you remember that or have heard of that? Shorts... NEVER!... Brother Glen

 

And here I thought that "Faith" was more important than something as materialistic as clothes??? Gosh what a sight to see all of those people in the OT & NT all dressed up in their Sunday best to commune with God. And what of the people lining the streets just to touch Jesus or the hem of his garment, they ran home and dressed up too? What is the minimum level of annual earnings before you can be saved? Tsk Tsk..

 

If the shorts are modest, fine. Some pants are not modest. Some skirts are not modest (Even long ones). Whatever is worn, whatever the style, the question is "Is it modest?" (Cf 1Tim 2:9). Some churches take the whole "dress code thing" too far. That's a wordly standard. Our standard should be the Bible, not the whims of this world.

 

I believe that attitude of the heart is very important and what we *do* shows our attitude...therefore I believe many have taken God much too casually in worship,dress,etc. God is holy and we should do everything as unto the Lord,our dress,our actions,etc. If we see God as a good ole buddy then whatever goes. I happen to think dress does matter and respect,reverence,and our best should always be our attitude!

 

Shorts in church!? Wow, what does your church accomplish for the Lord. In the Philippines it is often 90/80 with no air and we never, never even thought of dishonoring God by going to church naked. Shorts is nakedness, plus looking at some guys knobby knees is sickening. ....and lets be honest men about what a woman in shorts does to men. Notice I said be honest, don't give me this "I am so spiritual it doesn't bother me". Quite the contrary, you argue for shorts so you can ogle the women. Shame, and in the Lord's house. Hmmph!!!

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.

Picture of our righteousness in Christ, and when in Christ one wants to please him. Is it pleasing to the Lord to present oneself naked?

Ernie

[ May 25, 2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: Ernie Brazee ]

 

I go to the Second Nudist Baptist Church where we wear shorts all of the time... (LOL...heavey sarcasm intended).

I don't care what style of clothing you wear as long as it is modest and adaquately covers you, and I don't think God cares one bit either.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Agree with Joseph.

 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 

I must say, I've NEVER come across the idea that you can't wear shorts to church! But then, I know England is probably one of the greatest heathen countries on earth...
For those who say we shouldn't wear shorts: I can see your point. But couldn't you use the same argument to say women should be completely covered up (as the Muslims do)? Actually, can't you use the same argument to completely cover up EVERYONE??? I'm not taking sides - I'm just interested in why you defend one and not the other. Oh yes, and if this is so important, why does the Bible never command you to wear your best clothes to church? Or have I missed something?

Your friend and brother,

Bartholomew

 

That's corny. Show us any scripture that says a church building is the "House of God," or even any scripture that says to construct such buildings ('Church of Christ'ers need to answer this one, too). And don't we know God is 'insulted' by what He created? Finally, since underwear is also shorts, must we go without that?

 

Please show us where tyndale1946 used the word "building."

 

House-- a place of abode; residence... A building used for storage or shelter (The American Heritage Dictionary).

 

> I don't care what style of clothing you wear as
> long as it is modest...

And not absolutely frightening to the other parishioners, as would be the case with my knees!

-Neil

 

Before I was on staff, I often wore shorts to church, usually on Sunday night, Wed., and/or during VBS.

God forbid that we try to look better on Sunday, when "we go to meet God." I would hope that I had already met God, and heaven forbid that I wait to go to a building to meet him again. God is with me. Now. I could be buck naked and my love for God and his love for me would be no different than when I am dressed to the nines.

What I wear to church is between me and God. I know there are biblical guidelines, and I follow them. And, shorts are a part of my wardrobe.

 

I think there is a parallel in Mal 1 -- 6 "'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' 7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' 8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.

The point is that the Isrealites were bringing sacrifices to God that they would not bring to a governor. Many christians today think that it is okay to dress in the worship of the Almighty God in a way that they would never appear before the president or a political official.

I am not big on dress standards but I don't think this one is hard to understand. In public corporate worship, we should act like we are in the worship of the Almighty God.

 

Agreed my friend. But if the shorts (or skirts or pants) were modest (and I use these to point out that all of these can be immodest), how does that compromise our actions? Thanks

I bring up pants and the like because I can't begin to tell you how many IFB churches and a couple of other Baptist churches where women were asked to leave because they were in business style suit pants, while women in short skirts or tight skirts or skirts with very high slits were all welcomed openly.

 

I'm not big on dress standards, either (if understood correctly). When I was growing up, the old farmers wore khakis and a few wore overalls (to the church meetings). But then again that was a farming community; they probably would have looked completely out of place in a city church.

But to say that what we wear is just between us and God is quite naïve. We ought to consider our brothers' and sisters' feelings, too. For example, I can be quite comfortable in slacks and a shirt (and my suspenders, of course) - no tie, no jacket. But, if I know a church expects a suit and tie on a preacher, I would not deliberately choose to be offensive. It's not about what God sees (He sees you in the shower), but about being clothed in the presence of others, or not being offensive to others, or not giving a wrong impression to others. Though we sometimes say we don't care what others think, there are times when we should.

As for wearing shorts because of the heat, I consider that to be a cultural notion. I live in an area where we have high heat (up over 100 in the summer) and high humidity. I always wear long pants and long sleeved shirts - yet it's the people in shorts and T-shirts that are always complaining about the heat.