People Who Dress Down for Church

ooh boy!:type:

 

Something about "to each his own" is enough to be said here...

Also..."Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!"

 

I can tell, you don't listen to Paul Washer, do you?

 

Wasn't there a thread like this about a couple of months ago? Since I dress the same seven days a week, I neither dress down or up. Anyone that doesn't like it just needs to get over it.

Now you can return to beating your dead horse.

 

Why Parliament? OK, our Members of Parliament don't turn up to sessions in jeans, scruffy cardigans, and trainers, but as far as I know, the same is true of American congressmen.

As for Big Ben, it doesn't wear clothes at all :laugh: . It is the nickname of the Great Bell in the clock at the Houses of Parliament, though nowadays it is used loosely to refer to the whole clock and even the tower in which the clock is situated. Your Capitol building is impressive too, so why single out the building where the UK Parliament meets?

Surely you don't equate the Capitol or Congress with "dressing down"?

 

Just a couple of issues?

How is dressing down determined for each culture?
What standards does God's word give for dressing up?

 

Several months ago I went to a church about one minute from where I live. I know the pastor, and he is a blessed singing and preaching man. His son-in-law was there that night, and the holes in his jeans were bigger than the amount of clothing that the jeans had. But he cried, shouted, rejoiced in the Lord that night. I felt uncomfortable with his appearance, but apparently God wasn't.

 

In our church we have people wearing suits to shorts. I have worn everything from Jeans to a suit, depending on the day.

Personally, I hate dressing up. When I am with friends, I am very informal and dressing up is what I do when I absolutely have to. As a public speaker, I have not had an event in a long time where they required or strongly recommended that I come in a suit. Even in business seminars, they normally want me in business casual. The last event I did where a suit was the preferred event was a year and a half ago and it was as Master of Ceremonies of an Artist's Series. This was a very formal event.

Culturally, I think suits are from a bygone era. Since this is a cultural issue, it is not one we should ever be too worried about. The Biblical principles are for modesty. If we are keeping that principle, come as you wish.

 

I visited my daughter and son-in-law a few weeks past to see their new home in western Pennsylvania. They live next door to a Baptist church (attendance of 12) and are corner neighbors to a Methodist church (attendance of 18).

The Baptist church men all wore suits, white shirts and ties.

My daughter and SIL didn't feel comfortable and after the first visit they decided never to visit again.

Now the Methodist church "dressed down". They were percieved as more friendly and welcoming.

Rob

 

I wonder....does God think more highly of those who come to church wearing a suit and tie, or a dress than He does of those who come dressed casually?

 

French cuffs!?!:laugh:

 

Your first mistake...

It doesn't matter what you think, what does God say?

This is the way church's split... people think... and think that their opinions are more important than others...

Clothes don't make a person righteous.. Matt. 23...

 

Our church has a dress code... here it is...

WEAR some!

 

I certainly understand where you are at. Usually dressing down as you call it includes dressing in a manner by some that is tasteless and actually immoral. It probably would not hurt for some of us to take a look at how we dress, but not just when attending church.

On the other hand suits are really a cultural thing and I am afraid as our culture is changing so goes the suit in many churches. I do not know how old you are but years ago in these small rural churches some men would come in overalls and chew tobacco during the service. That was back when there was no bath rooms, the old out house was the order of the day, there was no air-conditioning, the fanning section was going strong then, and the buildings had lots of windows so some men sat near a window and just spit out the open window during the service. :laugh:

I do agree that our clothing can send a message as to how we feel about the Lord. The thing is that it does no good to cover-up on Sunday and run half naked the rest of the week. So what we are seeing many times is a reflection of how some see the Lord. Not just at church but all week long.

 

I feel that a person should were the clothing that God has supplied them with. If Jeans are their best then who am I to think they are dressing down. When I was young we were low middle class family and sometimes my parents could only afford two pair of blue jeans for my brother and myslef these had to last all school year and through the summer. My sister learned to sew and made her own dresses so when we went to church we had on jeans most of time and sometimes a tee shirt. I remember having a suit on that my parents had bought me a plaid red coat and pants, two girls laughed at the way I was dressed and I went to Dad in tears I was probably about 6 or 7 and Dad took me home and we came back with me in Jeans and a shirt. So people can be cruel in their judgement of how people dress, but we need to keep in mind that some folks aren't as well off as others and sometimes jeans are the best they have.
What get's me is the ones who wear shorts to church men and women on a Sunday morning, but again they are there to honor the Lord and answer to Him not us, we must answer to God for us and I actions so the Lord be blessed in it all.

 

The men in your home church wear dresses??? *shudders at that thought* :laugh:

 

Where in the Bible are we told to dress up for church? Where are we told to wear "our best?"

Nowhere. It's personal preference.

 

I hate suits and ties. I only wear them because people like Paul would be offended if I didn't. They are expensive(priced a tie lately?), hot, and uncomfortable. I'd dump them all if I could.