Letter from Ingrid

I know Zenas mentioned sandals, but his post ended, "So if you put on your very best to visit the President, shouldn't you at least do as much to honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?" If sandals are the only footwear a person has, they are his/her best. God knows the heart. If someone goes to a church service in the clothes they wear for digging the garden or cleaning the car, thinking to themselves, "I know I have got some cleaner, less damaged clothes, but I just can't be bothered to get them out of the wardrobe. God doesn't care what I wear, anyway!" that is quite different to someone whose only clothes may come second best to Columbo's raincoat but they cannot affor to buy anything better.

 

True, because nobody who's ever worn a suit to church ever hated God. It's an amazing gift you have, brother, to be able to just look at what somebody's wearing and instantly know if they're in rebellion against God or not.

I'm curious about something, though. How, exactly, does what somebody else wears to church, whether you think they're being rebellious or not, have anything to do with your worship of God? And, if it does, should it?

What's your beef here? Is it because you think songwriting is so very easy and that songwriters don't earn the money they make? Or, maybe you just want a piece of the action? Maybe you should give songwriting a try and see how easy it is. Maybe it would help to take a walk in somebody's shoes and gain some perspective before insulting them about things that you may know nothing about. And, if you do know something about songwriting, would you be so kind as to explain who gave you the right to insult songwriters?

Of course, we all know that song writers of old never did things like you described. They never wrote a song called "Holy, Holy, Holy", or "Praise Him! Praise Him!" and they never used the method of writing 4 different verses of a song followed by using the exact same chorus after every verse. Oh, wait, that's right. They did exactly that.

 

These verses come to mind regarding this subject:


2Cr 13:5 Examine yourselves [as to] whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

I don't think God loves us more or less depending on the clothes we wear. But we should examine our own hearts as to why we wear what we wear or sing what we sing, or do what we do.
Does that make sense?

 

All those in favor of letting JD determine what is appropriate and what is offensive raise their right hand. Now raise your other hand. With both hands in the air, you can't type on the keyboard unless you get REALLY creative... and well, that might not be appropriate.

 

The only part I see valid is in regards to the music. No one should attend church to have their eardrums bashed in. Once you do anything except the raw singing of hymns, everyone's musical preferences come into play. The fighting begins, and the worship of our Lord ends.
Everyone's opinions vary, and sensory systems are different, so it only invites trouble.

Never met a soul who can't worship to raw hymns. I can worship to some rock music (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Def Leppard) depending upon the song easier than CCM. I like some CCM, but otherwise, we need to respect our Elders. They are usually the ones, imo, who have a harder time with the music. Just my two cents.....

 

I don't merit your kind remarks, but thanks! I'm sure if you knew me better, you wouldn't wish you were like me.

 

From what I see in scripture, dressing up for church is far from biblical.
If anything, we ought to dress down for church, not try to "adorn ourselves" for our Lord.
Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array…” (1 Tim 2:9 heart be also." Luke 12:3

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

James 2:1-9
Favoritism Forbidden
*1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
*5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
*8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers[/B]

Prov. 29:7. The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern

In our area, most everyone can afford decent clothing, it's not a poor area. The problem comes with the richer kids & adults who can afford the designer clothing, thus wearing it to church looking more hip, thus making others feel bad. We have some foster kids who just don't have the money to compete.

To come in your Sunday best is all too often a way to put down your neighbor imo. With that, I will admit I have attended many times in designer clothing etc..but it is not a habit. Our yard sales here often have hip, brand new looking clothing for very inexpensive.

If I am riding with a group, and don't have time to go home to change, I will show up to church in my bike uniform. I remain in the back, and leave on my bike before everyone departs but I try not to miss church.

 

Right Skypair, I have heard and used some of Joshua's stuff, and it is good stuff... so don't paint everyone with the same brush....

Seems like David liked to repeat stuff too... "His mercy endureth forever"

 

Sorry, I must have missed where you actually answered my question. Maybe you could try again?

Is that what's happening here, or is this just an example taken to a level of silliness designed to show how I supposedly have some sort of problem?

I would hope that a dairy worker, an adult who acts like an adult, presumably, would take into consideration the other people around him and not wear something that might stink to high heaven, if I understand what you mean by cow-caked work boots. Further, I would think that said dairy worker wouldn't wear cow-caked boots and wind up smearing whatever is on his boots all over the carpet.

 

And the Lord has appointed J.D. the "minister of appropriateness."

 

So...a church that utilizes modern music (along with old music and ancient music) yet does require its people on stage to look clean, neat, and modest...you wouldn't have a problem with that, would you?

How about a church that evaluates every song in light of Scripture? (bet you can't find too many--traditional, contemporary, or blended-and all of the relative in-betweens--that do that)

I bet, even, with those issues addressed, you'll still have problems with "the modern church," whatever that means.

 

Ladies and gentelmen, may I present to you a case of eisegesis: Bringing your biases to the text, and conforming the text to your biases.

JD, Tim gotcha on that one. Admit it.

 

This letter is more proof that our churches are not intended to reach everyone. Different churches for different folks.

We can't be all things to all people all the time on all our Sundays. Each church should discover who they truly are and pursue that identity with exellence.

I know of tremendous churches across the board on ecclessiology, methodology, formation, structure, and polity. If we do all things consistently with who we are and pursue exellence in them we glorify God.

Random accusations and mud throwing have no place in a follower of Christ's life. Rather we should identify our differences and celebrate our agreement.

 

She sounds rather obnoxious to me. Of course, given the Ken Silva-related source, I wouldn't expect anything else.