Dress for Respect

F.A.L., as a conservitive I agree that we should look modest, and act respectful, as it reflects our testomony, but in 100 degree weather, a suit and tie is not modest to me, I do not wear clothes that reflect worldly values, especialy at church, but have found that a nice pair of casual dress shorts and a polo/golf shirt, or the right button down shirt still looks appropriate. I can offer no scripture that backs up the fact we can come to church looking like slobs, especialy as belivers, but have a quote and a joke that make a little sence:

" Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influance on society" - Mark Twain

Once, a Cowboy whent into First Baptist Church, wearing worn out tatered clothes, after the service the pastor went up to him and said, "sir before coming back, pray and ask the Lord what to wear to our Church".
Next sunday rolled around, and that Cowboy showed up in the same old clothes, after the service the Pastor went up to him and said , " I thought I asked you to pray and ask the Lord what would be approprate to wear to church", the Cowboy responded "I did", the Lord said "I don't know, I've never been to first Baptist Church".

 

As a old fashioned person, I have to agree with this article. I am quite disturbed by the way people and especially WOMEN are dressing in Church, especally in the Pentecostal circles, some come out of those Churches looking cheap whores at times. I can only imagine what the young men struggle with! I can tell you unashamedly, that there have been times, in the past, when I have approached a few young ladies in the Churches I have Pastored in the past, and I've told them, point blank, you're not going into that Church sanctuary looking like that. and told them to go home and change in to something more decent for God's house. I've gotten some flack for it. But quite simply, God's house is to respected, and for Christians to dress unbecomingly in a Church, is quite frankly SIN. Same goes for men in Shorts and tank tops, this was not allowed in the Churches I pastored in the past. At all, period.

and if I Pastored a Church today, it would still be that way... people come to God's House ought to dress the proper way, not like animals.

Born Baptist

 

" they make a definite statement about our attitude toward self and others"

I agree. A student will be more attentive and respectful when dressed in twill pants and a button up shirt with a belt, at school, than wearing cargo pants or baggy pants hanging off his hips and a t-shirt with a rock star on it...

Most people act up to the way they are dressed. They feel better about themselves and, in turn, treat others better.

JMHO,
§ue

 

All of the reasons to dress up a bit for church being put forth here are true. I just wish what people were wearing to church was the only thing we had to be concerned about.

At our church, in the not so well off part of the city, we're just glad they come, and pray that they get their souls ready to wear white robes in heaven as the first order of business. Then maybe the earthly clothing thing will come around, if we lead by example.

 

What a giant waste of time worrying about what people are wearing on the outside when we aren't sure what is going on inside.

 

If they're wearing short shorts and a midriff top to church, on the outside, you can pretty much guess alot on the inside is messed up...

People don't have to be rich or dress fancy, but modesty is not expensive...(neither is cleanliness)

 

I have been torn over this issue for years. Growing up, the pastor would tell people who were improperly dressed to go home and put some clothes on. Our church is in a very rural community and casual dress is common. Some of the men have never worn a tie in their life. The issue to me is modesty and looking our best for the Lord. Modesty is important for those who are in the church. Looking our best is because we want to please our Savior.

When I was dating my wife, I would always make sure that I looked nice. I did this because I wanted to please her. Now that I am married, I still try to dress nicely so that I won't embarrass her. I think we ought to consider our ways with God. Is he embarrassed by our dress in church?

 

I don't believe God is embarrassed by our dress if we are unable to provide the best for church as long as we are dressed modestly. I don't believe the Cowboy in his tattered clothing was unacceptable. However, I do believe God does not like women to dress provacatively. We are called to be different from the rest of the world and that also means in the way we dress. Conservative doesn't have to mean dowdy or old fashioned. One can be very well dressed or modern without being provacative. Some girls and women in our church dress in ways that doesn't leave much to the imagination.

 

I didn't say that the cowboy embarrased God. What I am saying is that we take going to church so casual that we dress that way also. If the tattered Jeans are all he has, fine, but not only should we dress modestly, we should dress to be pleasing to God. We should wear our nicer clothes. My kids have school clothes, play clothes, and they have church clothes. Play clothes come from the school clothes pile (when they wear out). It does not cost a lot to look nice.

 

Pastor J,
Up until 6 months ago, I would have disagreed with you. Anything to be seeker-sensitive, don't upset and lose the younger generation. BUT... that said, our church has become so low key, that even middle aged and some senior citizens are attending Sundays in shorts, sandals without socks, etc. We must draw a line somewhere. There must be a sense of awe & respect for God. There must be an example..older men teaching younger men and so forth....Wish I was better at expressing myself; please excuse me.
WallyGator

 

I deny, resent, and repudiate the notion that to be pleasing to God, "We should wear our nicer clothes." God sees us every minute of every day-- supposing He cares to look.

What you, and many others, want is for people to wear snob clothes to display the attitude you have, to please you.

 

I don't know anyone in our church who wears 'snob clothes'. No one is talking about expensive clothes here.

I buy most of my church dresses at the Salvation Army. They are always neat, clean and modest. I'm not showing off for anyone. I am trying to be pleasing in the sight of my Lord.

As someone stated, in this thread, people will wear their 'best' for a date, but not care what they wear for God.

What's wrong with this picture???

 

I answer the door exactly the way I dress for church; I stay ready for anything!

 

Alcott, I don't believe anyone is talking tuxs and evening gowns here. I have never been able to dress expensively although I try to buy my church clothes somewhere besides Wal-Mart, and mostly on sale. What we are saying is that people should be dressed in a modest, clean and neat way. I don't believe men have to wear suits unless they want to but I don't think they should wear shorts either. A nice, clean pair of jeans and a polo shirt works fine if that's the best they have.

What we are saying is bring your best to God because he deserves it. Even a poor person can have dignity. I grew up poorer than poor so I know how hard it is to dress well, but we were always clean even if our hand-me-down clothes weren't the latest style.

We must never dress to show off or cause anyone to feel bad about what they have to wear. I have a modest job as an Office Manager, live in a mobile home and can't afford real nice, expensive clothes. The couple that usually sits in front of me at church lives in a hugh house (what my boss calls a "baby mansion"), yet they dress conservatively and very unpretentiously. There is no "putting on airs" with them. I have been a guest in their house and it is gorgeous, but they are just ordinary people who are very nice to everyone and they treat everyone exactly the same; no matter what they have on.

 

Well said delly!

 

Delly you said alot with a few words. It is not interesting that we are even having this conversation at all.

What I can not understand is that husbands and fathers allow their wives and girls to dress the way they do. Men we are responsible for the well being of our families! (I know I am in trouble now with those who do not believe in the man being the head of the home... )

I go to church to worship God! I do not want to have to fight temptations of the eye because someone's wife or daughter is showing all! I get enought of that out in the world. Old Fasion, yes, put proper clothing on and have some respect for me while I worship God.

Richard

 

I find it interesting that no one has used Scripture to back up the claim that we should dress up when we go to church.

Is there any command in Scripture to dress up to go to church?

Is there any example in Scripture of a person dressing up to go to church?

 

I find it interesting that no one has used Scripture to back up the claim that we should dress up when we go to church.

Here's something from Paul...modesty seems to be stressed. I've never fallen for or bought into the "we need to wear" suits to go to church. What was proper in the 1950s doesn't seem to be proper today.

1 Tim 2:9f
9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel,
10 but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.