Silly "church" rules

Briguy · Feb 26, 2003

Do your local churches have any rules that you think are just plain silly, or stupid even. Please share them here. Maybe we can all get a laugh.

At the church I go to, which is non-denominational we have a couple silly rules. To be an usher and collect the offering you MUST be wearing a tie. To hand out the bread (crackers) and wine (juice in cups) you Must not only have a tie but have a sport coat. I was called a couple weeks ago to fill in for our communion service but when I told my fellow church member that I did not own a suit or even a sport coat he said that I would not be able to help.

This is particularly funny in light of the fact that I lead worship on a regular basis and wear a shirt with no tie or a sweater. I am up front and even talking and reading scripture and am way more visable then taking the offering or passing out communion. Anyway, those are two silly rules that really bug me

Does anybody have any things like that to share??

In Christ,
Brian

Bro. Curtis · Feb 26, 2003

I have to wear a tie and coat when I perform.

Our ushers have to be in ties & coats.

The pastor likes short hair on the men that serve in the church. (No problem here

)

He also made me take my earring out before I joined the choir.

He wants our visitors to know that we take our service seriously, and I really have no problem with the rules. I submit joyfully.

Doubting Thomas · Feb 26, 2003

Funny you should mention that. Our pastor just told me on Sunday that he was going to "suggest" getting rid of the "requirement" to wear a coat and tie during the Lord's Supper at the next deacon's meeting.

ONENESS · Feb 26, 2003

We have alot of standards where I go. But I have no problem with them. They are just things we get to do.

Our Pastor likes for our men to shave.
Men wear pants and woman wear skirts/dresses
Women dont cut their hair.
Does not like men to have long hair.
Woman dont wear makeup
Men and women dont wear jewelery except for a wedding band and a watch.
We dress modest
We have to wear dress clothes with tie to be on platform during a service.

And there are many more.

For the most part our standards are scriptural based. I know for some it is just prefrence. Men shaving would be one of the prefered things.

I did not list these so we could debate, just wanted to mention somethings we do.

Now for the silly ones

We chain our doors at the beginning of each service
We have to ask what we can buy
We have to bring our on snakes the first sunday of every month to help with expenses
We have to sacrafice our first born
We have to circumsize our goats
And once a month we have to empty our saving into the offering basket.

Ok, dont take a single one of those serious. I was picking about all the ones on the second list. Just wanted to add a little sarcasim.

God bless

Abiyah · Feb 26, 2003

I am trying to think of some silly rules where I go
now, but I can't. I don't think they have any rules,
other than what is in the Bible. Perhaps I have not
been there long enough to discover the silly rules.

HOWEVER! Regarding were I used to go, shall I
write a book?

When I left
Ministers must wear a white shirt,
tie, and dressy suit or sport coat &
pants
No pants on women in church
No wedding bands or other jewelry,
other than watches, tie tacks, and
dress pins
No going to movies
No going to games
No going to theaters
KJV only
No use of literature other than what
they wrote

Up to @ 15 years ago
The above rules, plus:
No pants on women, period
No makeup
No women wearing sleeves above
their elbows
No dying one's hair
No TV

Up to @ 40 years ago
The above rules, plus
No women cutting their hair,
except for bangs
Women's clavicles must not show
No facial hair

Up to 45 years ago
The above rules, plus
No women's shoes that allow the
toes to show
Nylons must have seams

Out of these 18 rules, 9 were rules specfic for
women, 7 included both genders, and 2 were
specific to men. All were made by men. I always
wonder at these things.

Singer · Feb 26, 2003

Good topic Briguy !!

I have no qualms over silly rules as I don't attend
a regular church. I just stay home with my full beard
and read my bible, lean on my internet friends, email
a few, preach to my wife and kids, admire God's creation
and play Gospel music on the piano. Course I do that
every day.

I guess some silly rules that most churches are guilty of:

1/ They require physical attendance
2/ They only worship on Sunday (Saturday in some cases)
3/ Are reluctant to talk about Jesus at church socials

What happened to the John the Baptists who do their
crying in the wilderness ?

Briguy · Feb 26, 2003

Abiyah, That was quite a church you went to, wow.
Hard to imagine people putting up with all those limitations for to long. It's hard to imagine that church leaders would think that by creating "rules" that that in itself will make for better Christians. Jesus was clear that the intention of the heart is the important thing.

BC, I admire your willingness to submit without a fuss. I need to learn from your example.

I just can't figure out what difference in the grand schemes of things it could make whether I collect money with a tie on or not. I can see standards. I have never worn jeans with holes or anything like that. Where to draw the line is difficult. Certainly, the Bible warns us in James 2:1 not to judge a person by there clothes (status, etc...)

Keep the examples coming, I like to hear what other "churches" are doing!!!

In Christ,
Brian

show me · Feb 26, 2003

"To hand out the bread (crackers) and wine (juice in cups) you Must not only have a tie but have a sport coat."

I'm with you Brian, I'm not sure this is what Jesus had in mind.

ONENESS · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by Abiyah:
I am trying to think of some silly rules where I go
now, but I can't. I don't think they have any rules,
other than what is in the Bible. Perhaps I have not
been there long enough to discover the silly rules.

HOWEVER! Regarding were I used to go, shall I
write a book?


When I left

Ministers must wear a white shirt,
tie, and dressy suit or sport coat &
pants

No pants on women in church

No wedding bands or other jewelry,
other than watches, tie tacks, and
dress pins

No going to movies

No going to games

No going to theaters

KJV only

No use of literature other than what
they wrote

Up to @ 15 years ago
The above rules, plus:

No pants on women, period

No makeup

No women wearing sleeves above
their elbows

No dying one's hair

No TV

Up to @ 40 years ago
The above rules, plus

No women cutting their hair,
except for bangs

Women's clavicles must not show

No facial hair

Up to 45 years ago
The above rules, plus

No women's shoes that allow the
toes to show

Nylons must have seams

Out of these 18 rules, 9 were rules specfic for
women, 7 included both genders, and 2 were
specific to men. All were made by men. I always
wonder at these things.

Just a little curious, Why did they change so much over the years?

Brian P

MEE · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by Abiyah:

Out of these 18 rules, 9 were rules specfic for
women, 7 included both genders, and 2 were
specific to men. All were made by men. I always
wonder at these things. [/QB]

You know Abiyah, I have wondered about rules and regulations that men put together about women that makes them less attractive.

Then they want their wives to be pretty. How can she be pretty (most all women want to be pretty or at least as attractive as possible) when she isn't allowed to bring out the best in her apprearance?

I believe in modesty, when it comes to dress, but every Christian woman should know her limits, if she let's the Holy Ghost guide her. He does have a way of doing things, through His word. Know what I mean?

MEE

Wisdom Seeker · Feb 26, 2003

I don't know if the standards at my church would be considered silly, but I would consider some of them to be rigid.

Woman and girls to wear dresses that are below the knee and no lower than two finger widths below the colar bone.

Woman must wear nylons to all services even in the summer time when temps are characteristically over 100 degrees.

Men must have a "man's haircut" which means hair must not touch their shirt collar or the tops of their ears.

Ties are always to be worn with dress attire to services and when serving in a ministry.

Ushers are required to buy a suit coat that is destinctive to Ushering. (They are burgundy) with a tie and dress cloths and neat haircut.

No movies

No dancing

No drinking

Music to be limitted to traditional christian, and classical.

Attendance to all service. On average there are 4 services a week. In revival weeks, or conferences this number goes up to 6. There are an allowed 3 absenses a year that must be for illness. Church should be notified of all vacations.

Mandatory soul winning weekly.

Mandatory service in at least one but encouraged to serve in 3 ministries per person. (Choir, baptistry, usher, nursery, teaching, greeters, hospitatliy, care-group leaders, etc.)

Tithing of at least 10% weekly plus special offerings to have children in the Christian school.

King James Version Bible only.

No clapping. Or hand raising. (clapping is allowed when children perform) No speaking in tongues.

Woman are to be silent in the services. (singing is allowed, but no talking of any kind.)

No leaving a service once it's started except in the case of emergency. Once you leave you are not allowed back in.

No children under the age of 5 allowed in the service. No children allowed in the front sections of the church.No children allowed in the balcony without a parent.

Teenagers must sit with a parent.

A written contract is to be signed to show agreement of all these rules before anyone is allowed to serve in any ministry of the church or have children in the school.

editted to exclude some of the rules and my commentary.

[ February 26, 2003, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: Laurenda ]

stubbornkelly · Feb 26, 2003

Wow. The church I attend now has no rules like these. Show up sober, maybe, but I think that one's understood.

The SBC church I used to attend did have some rules for its ministerial staff and Sunday school teachers. In fact, my father refused to sign a document that stated that he would not do a whole bunch of things (that he doesn't do anyway), and the church lost probably the best SS teacher they had. It wasn't that he wanted to do the things on the list, just that he objected to having to sign a document to that effect.

I don't think I could attend a church with outlined rules like some of these here. Basic standards of dress and behavior? Fine and dandy. But to sign a contract? To have your service refused because your hair touched your shirt collar? Nope. Can't see it.

I certainly understand wanting the more visible members to set the stage, so to speak, for the other members, but I don't see why the expectations for them should be any more strict than for the rest of the laity. If it's not okay for an usher to have hair past his collar, then why should it be allowed of anyone else? And if it's not sinful, why would it be included in a list of "don'ts" at all? And if it is, then why would we just not follow the method for church discipline if a certain behavior does not stop?

WPutnam · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by Bro. Curtis:
I have to wear a tie and coat when I perform.

Our ushers have to be in ties & coats.

The pastor likes short hair on the men that serve in the church. (No problem here )

Hah! Seeing your picture, I understand completely!

Go to my profile and click on my web site. There, you will see me in my active duty days (as the one you see in these forums) but when you go to the other, more recent photo (holding an infant grandson) I am not far behind you.

Well, maybe you have to view the "St francis crown" from behind!

He also made me take my earring out before I joined the choir.

ROTFLOL!!

He wants our visitors to know that we take our service seriously, and I really have no problem with the rules. I submit joyfully.

Me too!

I lecture at Masses, so I likwise have to wear a coat and tie.

My wife likes me to dress up once in a while, thus I am not the complete slob she sees lying around the house...

God bless,

PAX

Bill+†+

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!

NateT · Feb 26, 2003

I'm not sure we really have any that would be classified as silly or superfluous. Definitely not anything like some of the ones mentioned above.

We don't allow non-members to lead a class/ministry (we have a few people who are 5+ year attenders that will not join). We also make sure that someone has been a member for more than 6months before teaching a SS class (at least on a regular basis). This is just to have time to get to know them.

I'm wondering about the churches mentioned above with stringent rules. Perhaps someone could answer this. One of the above churches said something about weekly soul winning required.

I have a hypothetical, if you came to my house, and witnessed to me, and I was saved. Then the next sunday, my wife, my 14 month old daughter and I came to church. Would my daughter be required to go to nursery? Would someone say something if my hair was too long? or my wife didn't wear a dress? I guess all I'm wondering is, are these guidelines something that are expected of everyone, or just members?

I'm not against standards, sometimes I think our church is too lax, or just doesn't communicate what it expects...but I see the danger of the other side.

Jeff Weaver · Feb 26, 2003

Wow, I am completely amazed.

I am a PRimitive Baptist, and we have no rules for dress, etc. Ladies wear pants if they want. Men can have their hair a little long - no problem. Lots of us have beards, including me.

If you want to come to meeting and ain't naked, come on.

If you need to get up and stretch, or go to the restroom, go ahead.

If you kids get fussy, take them over to the fellowship hall, come on back when you are ready.

If you are intoxicated, come on in, and as long as you are respectful, that won't be a problem either. We do have a couple of men in the community who are alcoholics who come once in awhile. We are the only church in the community that will even talk to them. We try to get them sober, but that's another thread.

We have one rule, be respectful, other than that, we expect folks know how to dress and behave in church and in the world at large. We make no rules about it. If your church doesn't trust it members to do the right thing, why have them on the books?

Jeff.

Abiyah · Feb 26, 2003

Oneness --

Becase the things that were sin in my early years
quit being sin later, I guess. 8oD

I also forgot to say that it was a sin for women to
not wear their hair in a hairnet in my early years,
and they tried to make it a sin for them to go out of
the house without a hat and gloves on. That didn't
last long. 8oD

One pastor actually told me, when I was single,
that get was wrong for me to work on my car,
because it was "men's work." I asked him if he
was willing to do it for me, then, but he declined.
8oD

Then he told me that if I insisted on working on my
car, I should wear coulolttes, not pants. I asked
him if he was wiling to sit in his car at the bottom
of my driveway, which slanted upward. When he
thought about that one for a while, he declined.
8oD

Abiyah · Feb 26, 2003

Mee --

You betcha, I know what you mean! It is funny, too,
that all the rules put on women, when it really gets
narrowed down, are for the protection of believing
men!!! They are not, in the end, for her protection
At All!! Remind you of any particular controversial
countries?

8oD

Wisdom Seeker · Feb 26, 2003

Nate, To answer your question, these are the guildlines for anyone who serves in the church. All members serve in the church to some degree. Although regular attenders are encouraged to adopt them as well.

If you wanted to attend a service with your daughter you would be requested to sit in the back pews near the exits so that if you had to leave the service to not desrupt the service by her behavior, (like crying or any other desruptive behavior common to most normal children) The ushers would ask you to take her to the nursery or to remove her to the lobby.

Our normal services run about 5,000 people and if everyone brought all of their little children into the services, and sat anywhere in the auditorium, and they acted like normal kids and didn't sit perfectly silently still, and parents had to take them to the bathroom or out because they were restless...it could very easily get out of hand. That's why these particular rules are strictly enforced.

Overall, many visitors come in whatever cloths they want to, wear their hair however they want to. Bring their little children into the services. Get up to go to the bathroom an average of two or more times in a service. Clap when someone sings in front of the congregation. Raise their hands in praise. And talk loudly trhoughout the service. No one would ever say an unkind thing to them. In fact they are treated very friendly. But ya, if you brought your little daughter into the service and she became very loud and disruptive and you didn't take her out on your own, after a little while, you would be asked to take her out. Your hair and your wife wearing pants wouldn't be referred to at all.

editted to remove commentary.

[ February 26, 2003, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Laurenda ]

tyndale1946 · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by Jeff Weaver:
If you want to come to meeting and ain't naked, come on.

... Brother Jeff... That's the best belly busting laugh I've had all day... Man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart... Who told thee thou wast naked?... I'll save that for another thread... Brother Glen

Abiyah · Feb 26, 2003

Laurenda --

You reminded me. Another rule there: don't get
too excited about anything, because if you raise
your hands or clap them, you will stared at until
you quit. 8oD

Silly "church" rules

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