what should the dress code be?

At our church, for example. and this is just for the members because we would never turn away a visitor for any reason, especially their attire. At our church the men wear pants (that actually fit)and a shirt. the shirt can whatever you want it to be as long as it is not see through or contains any sinful propaganda. the pants could be slacks, blue jeans, suit pants, but no shorts.the ladies wear skirts, that are not provacative, a modest blouse/shirt, or a dress that is also not provacative.also no pants or shorts. keep in mind that this is only for the members. the men also do not wear earings or piercings of any kind and wear their hair short.As you can tell, we are old fashioned. but i love it!

 

Answered my own question

[ March 26, 2003, 03:15 PM: Message edited by: Thankful ]

 

Bump

 

I would draw a line in the sand against body piercing, colored hair, and men wearing earrings. Those things really offend me to no end as I've posted on other threads.

Bill C.

 

Appropriate to me means wearing a coat when it's snowing and light cotton fabrics in higher temperatures. Wearing clothing that projects an attitude aligned with where you are.

The term modesty is something that kind of bugs me really. Many like to imply that it means to cover everything but your head. (And in some countries, the head is included)

Churches take the topic of clothing appropriateness and modesty and decide what it means because the Bible isn't specific on the subject.

I personally, never had a tough time dressing appropriately for any occassion. This is just how I dress. I mean for me... if I wear a blouse or top that doesn't show my cleavage, and a skirt that I can sit in without it showing my panties...then I would consider that modest and appropriate for church. But some people think that if you show your collar bone or arms or any part of your leg...it isn't.

And that my dear...is why this subject is always one for hot debate. Because there isn't a right answer...as much as people would like there to be. Aha!

 

In my opinion, as long as something is not provacative or too revealing it is okay.just dont wear anything that would cause a distraction.I agree with you wisdomseeker, as well.

 

First of all, our God made the first clothing in order
to cover nakedness. So the definition of
nakedness should be considered in order to
discover what should be covered.

Nakedness may be defined biblically as poorly
covered, scantily covered, wearing torn clothing, or
wearing only underwear. Nakedness intended
that one was without outer clothing, wearing only a
tunic and girdle.

So what does a tunic and girdle cover? The tunic
was underwear with sleeves, and they normally
reached the knees, although sometimes, they went
to the ankles. The necks of tunics varied slightly,
but they were sometimes round and large enough
for the head to slip through, sometimes round with
a short straight cut to accomodate the head, and
sometimes either a slit which rested across the
shoulders or a square large enough to accomo-
date the head. The girdle merely bound the tunic
so that one could walk uninhibited, although it was
sometimes used to bind the tunic and/or outer
clothing to make it possible to run (as in battle).

(Running was not done by proper adult men or
women who were not in battle, as it was deemed to
be very undignified, and one would be publicly
shamed and abused for doing so, so girding the
"loins" was for the sake of battle only. Note,
however, in the story of the "Prodigal Son," that
the father was so fixed on his son that he ran to
him, and the disciples also ran to the tomb!)

So basically, in order to not be considered naked,
what was covered had to include the torso, the
thighs to the knees, and some portion of the arms,
plus some portion more. A single garment which
covered the torso, thighs to the knees, and some
portion of the arms was not enough; there had to
be an additional garment over this.

So we live in a day when underwear just does not
cover these areas. Then it seems that at least the
outer garments must cover these areas plus a little
more.

In another thread, someone mentioned characters
in Star Wars-type movies who were covered
from neck to toe, yet they were immodestly-
dressed, because their clothing vividly showed
everything. I think this would fall under scant or
poor clothing.

When it comes to clothing type, if it is modest, as
in covering the body well, not deliberately showy
or expensive, and not against other biblical
principles of deportment, as biblically described, I
don't think we have a leg to stand on to make
demands of anyone.

The t-shirt with a dead body displayed on it, which
has been mentioned, is not appropriate, because
the shirt described glorifies death, but our God
glorifies life. Pants worn barely hanging on to
the buttocks are not modest; simple as that. Any
cleaveage is not modest. All-black clothing,
though, is mere perferrence, as are blue jeans,
pants on women, shorts that reach the knees but
do not ride up when sitting (are there any such
shorts??), suits, ties, dresses, skirts, etc.

 

You know, Kelly, I have really thought about this and you are correct. What is modest? What is appropriate?

Being the senior woman of this group, at one time, I wore hats and gloves to church. Hats were appropriate in the daytime and afternoon. Gloves were always appropriate. I am so glad that we are not that formal any more.

I think sleeveless, collarless dresses or blouses are all right. I think skirts may be long or short, but my definition of appropriate short skirts would be about two inches about the knees.

Pants are ok, but nothng should be skin tight.

Colors,I think any color is ok.

I am probably a very liberal, modest person. Most of my dresses now are long and have sleeves.

I think loose clothing is better but in my opinion, a woman's curves may show when wearing a dress.

I am opposed to see through blouses or dresses and spagetti straps. Some young girls have not learned to hide the bra strap.

As to the men, I like to see them in suits and ties and also in casual clothes.

We live in "cowboy" country so men wear boots and jeans and they look good in them.

Just my thoughts.

 

The biggest issue I have with the way a person dresses is if they are an honest hindrance to another persons walk. I had the privilege of teaching an Adult Sunday school class a couple weeks ago and was quite distracted by the miniskirt wore by a member in the class (yes, one of the ladies ). We sit in a circle with no tables separating us and every time I looked that way, this very nice lady really became a distraction. This lady has been prayerfully approached for her attire at church by several ladies in the church to no avail. My prayer is that God will lovingly convict her and she will change.

I will be very honest about something I am struggling with. I have an older deacon who gets upset because I don't wear a suit and tie each Sunday. His comment is that I should "give God my best". I am the youngest deacon at my church and dress with Dockers and a nice button up shirt and during hot summer months, even wear a polo shirt with it. I do wear suits more during the frigid winter months here in Tallahassee and he is very complimentary when I do so. I have prayed about this situation and, at this time, feel very comfortable wearing the attire I do. My concern, if I am being a stumbling block for him, should I change my attire for his sake? I'm hoping that the lady in the short, tight mini-skirts changes so I am not as easily-tempted to lust.

One of the "justifications" I have for my relaxed attire is that visitors who may not have "fancy" cloths might feel more comfortable approaching a smiling, God-worshipping man in relaxed-attire than someone who is less friendly and dressed to a "T". I might be wrong?.?

 

The only dress code for the House of God is the heart.

Pastor a church in slums to appreciate this. If they come, they will hear, regardless of what they are wearing. Whilst the natural heart is deceiving and above all things desperately wicked, the changed heart is a thing to behold.

It was once said, in Africa, when one was saved, the first thing they did was cover up their naked bodies. First, they had to come, nakedness and all.

Look in the mirror and ask, How does Jesus see me? Then come to worship without fear.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, Excellent post...really. You always inspire me. I really appreciate your ability to do that consistantly...more than I can express in words.

In Christ,
Laurenda

 

Thank you, Laurenda, it is always nice to be appreciated. You are far too gracious..

Cheers,

Jim

With the hymnist: "If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain."

 

You did it again.

Laurenda

 

Hi everyone, Now I know why God let Adam and Eve runabout so, shall we say casual . Mary Kay

ps .I was going to ad a little smiley face but counldn't get it to work oh gee there it is

 

I don't think Churches should lay out a solid dress code for the Church. Now I am not saying that people can wear short shorts and belly shirts but I am saying, I think there is nothing wrong with women wearing pants (Suit outfit is a good thing to wear to church if you do want to wear pants).

BBG

 

There does seem to be something wrong here. You want God to convict the woman about wearing short skirts, but either He has not done it or she has ignored it; the older deacon wants a similar thing done in regard to you dressing 'casual,' but likewise either God has not convicted you, or you have ignored it.

It's too bad (isn't it?) that God just does not "convict" other people according to what we want these other people to do.

 

Let God convict and will be a lifestyle change. Guaranteed.