Reverence in God's house

Hahaha! Is everyone else envisioning a pot calling the kettle black here?? That's the funniest use of hypocrisy I've ever heard on this board!!

 

I've stayed pretty much out of this arguement, but I'm gonna throw in a couple cents right here:

Keeping in mind, that you are at liberty to do all things just the way you feel God's leadership, let me ask you a question.

Do you believe that your feelings don't "rub off" on those around you? I'm guessing that you hold the attention of the less mature Christians in your church simply because you are a mature, strong Christian, even though you may not be in a position of authority. I know folk watch my conduct though at the moment I'm not serving even in the choir. But I'm watched. What that "H" woman does, well I can make waves just by copying my child's homeschool report card!

So if I go in with the attitude that homeschooling is best, I offend people FAST. Why? Because everyone from the our district superintendent to the school board president to at least 1/4 of our public school staff and admin goes to our church! I don't go in with that attitude. Instead I acknowledge those feelings and go with the attitude that homeschooling is what is best for my individual child and cast no stones at the public school system.

So if someone goes to church every single Sunday, all dressed up in the Sunday best, don't you think that the idea that folk should dress up for church, doesn't rub off on them? No offense Debbie, but you have a strong personality. People with strong personalities have to be aware every moment of what they are projecting, even unintended. And actions speak louder than words.

My entire church projects this same idea that you hold: one should dress better for church. We are a well off church. Guess what dressing up means? OF course I'm the rebel and I have to push the bounds of stuff like this, so I show up regularly in my thrift store jeans and you know what? NOT A SINGLE PERSON ever says a word about it. No one really cares. But from the outside looking in? Totally different story. We put off the community simply because we can afford to 'dress better'. Its something we as a church have to watch out for and be vigilant about.

And I have to tell you, I'm not unsusceptable to using clothing as an excuse not to go to church myself, rebel or not. These last two years have been hard, financially and healthwise(children). In this time I gained almost 4 sizes. All the "church" clothes I owned, I outgrew! I managed to keep myself in just a few pairs of jeans with a few blouses to go with, but I'm like you, I like to wear a skirt/dress on Sunday morning. And I have none to wear. So I understand this issue from both sides.

We as church members have to be aware of the image we project.

I have more to say about the behavior comment, but I've been invited up the street for coffee, so that is where I am headed!

 

when you say you reverence God by dressing up, you make an automatic judgement against those who can not dress up, that they automatically in your preception are not revenrencing God.
Get over it, I've been called a liar here, my family attacked, once I was called a lesbian by a legalist because my hair didn't drag the ground, grow up and stop whining.
I did not personally attack you, but you've been slinging more then a few personal attacks on these two threads. You just can't stand people who aren't legalists, who believe in the grace of God, and not opinions of men, seeking to satisfy the eyes of men instead, ignoring the heart.

 

Thank you, Your Most Excellent High Reverence keeper of the church building... I appreciate all the prayers I can get.

But you might want to rethink the reason I posted the passage from James.
Notice I just posted scripture...
I didn't elaborate on it...except to bold a few words...

I was going to see who was going to Yelp first.. you see, if you throw somethign into a pack of dogs, the one it hits yelps first...

Here is the reason I even posted that scripture..
That is one scripture that teaches us how to be reverent in church.
When Aaron mentioned 'exploiting the poor" in a few posts above my post, That scripture came to mind since it speaks of exploiting the poor...
I have a feeling, it was in the back of Aaron's mind as well.

I never accused ANYONE of doing what the scripture was condemning.

I just posted Scripture.. and you complained.

That means it must have stepped on your toes...

YOu know how to cure that?...

If your in church and the preacher keeps stepping on your toes.. pull them back.. if he keeps stepping on them, keep pulling them back under your seat.. pretty soon you will be on your knees... while on your knees.... repent of whatever God is convicting you of.

 

I have met so many people who will not go to church because of this, they can not dress up like the people in the church, and the people in the church by their dress and attitude about dress have in fact turned these people away from God instead of leading them to Him. their attitude tells people dress up or don't come.

sometimes the image we project is one of superiority over everyone outside the church, which turns them away. I've seen it over and over. Some people never come into contect with these types of people(the poor) and deny they exist, therefore they have no responsibility.
Seeing a lot of this on this board these days.

 

But Donna, a true Calvinist would say we can't do anything to keep people from coming to God.. if God wants them, our attitudes won't matter....

(Note to self... This may have been a very stupid thing to post.. it will turn this thread into a C/A debate)

 

So thankful church where I get to serve is a "come as you want" church.

We have people of all demographics and backgrounds dressing however they desire.

 

Agreed.

Reverence is honoring God. It isn't dressing to please others. It isn't judging others for how they dress. It is not watching others or purposely presenting ourselves so oddly different that we draw attention to ourselves and away from worshipping God or hearing his Word. It is an attitude towards God that each child of God carries within himself.... in his living and in his fellowship with others. Because many people think of the church as a building for worship... this is where most are concerned about 'reverence'. But because God does not dwell in a building made with hands..... he is either present in us or he is not.

 

Donna's a Calvinist???

:laugh:

 

Good one. :thumbsup:

 

Honey, I live in Alabama. School starts in August. You betcha I've showed up to parent/teacher meetings in shorts and a tank. Usually I toss on an overblouse in case the air conditioning at the school is set to low and usually I shave my legs too, but none of that has ANYTHING to do with what I'm meeting about. School meetings are focused on my child(ren), NOT on what I am wearing!

Likewise worship should be focused on God and not my attire!

Now, lets talk about behavior:

What behavior do you change when you cross the threshold into the church building? Does one suddenly become courteous, when they were not before? Stop cursing though its part of their daily vocabulary? Maybe leave the wine bottle in car? Just what parts of daily life do you think needs to be changed for church? Maybe it should be changed it in one's daily life.

See, I believe a Christian should behave as a Child of God in every single place we inhabit. If I don't want God hearing me curse at church, why would I think it okay to do it elsewhere? If my behavior is not appropriate for church, then it likely isn't appropriate anywhere else.

Paul says let everything be done decently and in order. You don't think he meant just at church do you? Why that would give me lisence to go out act the devil during the week so long as come Sunday I suddnely clean up my act in time for church! (reminds of some other denom out there, has a C at the begining of its name) Not so, if we be Christians then lets be Christians ALL THE TIME!

 

Interesting question. The day of my son's last parent teacher conference, I was dressed in gym attire (black workout shorts, a spandex workout shirt, and sneakers socks) because I had just come from the gym. In fact, when setting up the conference, I asked the teacher if that would be okay, and she said "of course, no problem". There was nothing immodest, immoral, or unscriptural about my attire whatsoever.

 

I didn't say being saved. But if your attitude about people's clothing is turning them away from church attendence, then your attitude about clothes is wrong and is not reverencing God.

 

Reading this thread I find it ironic that the people that don't like to dress up appear to be more judgmental of those that do like to dress up rather than the other way around.

It is true there is no scriptural support a person must "dress up" for church, but there is clearly no scriptural support against it also. Like everything else it is a heart issue, and I won't presume to know another persons heart. If a person feels convicted by the Holy Spirit to dress in a certain manner that is their business and they shouldn't be attacked for doing so. And this is a public forum for discussions, everyone should have the freedom to respond how they personally feel about a topic being discussed. People shouldn't be criticized for their views, and that should go for both sides of an issue.

 

That's true. In that respect, we should adhere to whatever the local custom of our church and community are.

 

Exactly, and when responding to the topic of a thread anyone should feel free to express their preference without fear of being criticized for doing so. Isn't that the point of sharing information on sites like this, to learn other people views?

 

Indeed, but what I see happenning is that a few who practice "dressing up" are accusing those who do not do likewise doing the same in their church of being disrespectful to "God's house". That sort of attitude needs to be addressed and admonished.

 

While I do agree with your point. There has been one person that appears to have taken a lot of grief and I fail to see where she has done what you say ("accusing those who do not do")

Matter of fact very early on she seemed to try and clarify that point by saying this.

But evidently that wasn't good enough.