Pastor wears Hawaiian Shirt in pulpit

Heeeeeehaaaaaawwww!!!!

Ride 'em, cowboy !!

 

He makes a valid point. We dress up in our best for what we consider to be important. Maybe the pastors did not want to stick out like a sore thumb in their "golf" attire.

However, God is not really impressed with our dress, is he? Scripture commands us to dress modestly and nothing more, nothing less. God looks at our hearts. Suits and ties are always optional because there is no scripture that speaks specifically that we wear suits.

If you want to keep people out of your church, then make a requirement that "true Christians will want to put on a suit on the Lord's Day."

 

Reminds me of Jesus' words to the religious leaders of his day in Mark 7:8-9 -- "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition."

Anyone want to buy a suit?

 

From the day school is out until it's back in session, our church is on 'dress down'. Anyone who wants is more than welcome to come in sandals and shorts and some do!

Our previous pastor who is now in a state position in Ok. preached one sermon in a dress. Whoops! He actually was dressed as Joseph and had his son come as a young Jesus... as 'Joseph' shared what he might have thought, seen, heard and felt from the time he asked Mary to marry him until Jesus was left behind at the temple. Very touching sermon..... but I'd better write him and tell him how upset I am cause he didn't wear a shirt and tie that day! Oh Well.

Some people take the Joy out of Jesus!

Diane

 

I got a closetful of faded jeans here with artfully torn knees, anyone want some ?

[ March 11, 2004, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: Barnabas ]

 

Crucify him!!!! Oh my God the next thing we know the ladies will all be wearing pants!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If the Pastor knows that it upsets people in his congregation, why would he continue to do it? Sounds like he doesn't care as much for the flock as he is supposed to.

Would the Pastor wear a Hawaiian shirt to a job interview? How about to a funeral? There's a little thing called respect. When entering the house of God I think we should have some respect for God and his congregation.

Whether his attrie is against scripture or not is not what I'm going to argue. But, if he's going into the church, knowing full well that he will upset many people and stir trouble amongst the brethren, then he is breaking scripture.

Can anyone name someone from 100, 75, or even 50 yrs. ago who would have dressed down to go to church? As long as they do not conflict with God's word, then traditions are important.

Now if it was a poor family who could not afford nice clothes and they had to wear what they owned, then that is a different story.

Our traditions concerning apparel do not conflict with scripture, so the verse in Mark does not apply.

I think it's a shame that any pastor would want to cause strife amongst the brethren. Especially those in his own flock.

 

In addition to slacks of course, on Sunday morning, I wear a collared button shirt and a tie. I normally repeat that pattern in the evening. On Wednesday night, I wear a polo or golf-style shirt. My polo shirts say either "Awana," "CPBC," or "Center Point" - or some other Christian theme. I have, at times, worn those polo shirts on Sunday night. And once, I wore a suit with a turtleneck shirt instead of a tie. So far, no one has been offended.

I do feel that a pastor/preacher must dress appropriately and with respect to his congregation. Perhaps this pastor was dressing in accordance with a "theme" for the night.

 

This is always a valid concern. In my church, we have folks ranging from poverty level to upper-middle class. We downplay dressing up so no one feels out-of-place.

Our pastor always wears a suit because that's what he prefers.

 

I thought our authority is strictly from the bible. If so, modesty is the key, nothing more.

The Pharisees are coming out of the woodwork.

 

All that over a colorful shirt? ROFL!
I saw my daughter's heart surgeon in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I had no doubt about his capabilities.
In fact, I have more confidence in someone who is comfortable in themselves enough to not dress up to please someone else's idea of who they should look like than someone who doesn't.
Do you really think God is more pleased with those wearing a 3 piece suit every sunday while some members struggle to keep their kids backs covered, or missionaries lack proper funds, or with a Christian who doesn't waste his money trying to look like a magazine picture?
Take a shower and don't be immodest is about as far as I'd be able to go in good conscience when looking at my pastor.
Gina

 

In the world of external, identity-based pseudo-righteousness, one's spirituality is judged largely by their appearance.

As a result, things such as suits vs hawaiian shirts become an issue.

As in NT times, Jesus' standard of spirituality is never sufficient for the pseudo-spiritual b/c it is internal-focused (love God & others).

 

Yep, Terry!

Diane

 

While I am not hung up over what people wear to church, I think there is merit in "dressing the part." Many companies who went "business casual" in the 90s are now going back. When I worked in the business world, you could tell when an account exec had a client meeting by the way that they dressed. The way we dress does send a message about what is going on in our minds and hearts and about who we are. I think we need to stop short of insisting that other people dress exactly the way we do, but we also need to stop short of an "anything goes" mentality. Personally, I think Hawaiian shirts in the pulpit demonstrate a lack of seriousness, a frivolity that might work well for a youth activity or a casual get together. I think there are better options. That being said, I don't think wearing an Hawaiian shirt in the pulpit is "sinful" per se. But we need to exercise some more seriousness, or soberness, as the NT puts it.

 

What a person wears communicates nearly as loudly and clearly as their words but, at least there is room for discussion about the relative merits of what is being communicated. I am 100 times more offened by the irreverent use of the phrase, "Oh my God..." then I ever would be by a Hawaiian shirt. I was not offened in the slightest by your facetiousness in making a point, I have used that method myself frequently but I am very tired of the offhand use of "God" for emphasis. If my pastor doesn't wear a tie in the pulpit, I don't think I would even notice, and if I did, I wouldn't care but when a former pastor kept using this same phrase repeatedly I called him on it and he stopped.

 

The Pharisees were extremely serious with their wide phylacteries and extra long tassels.

Dress when preaching is totally cultural. If your culture is one of suit & tie, wear it. If it is more hawaiian shirts, go for it.

Even Warren espouses this mindset.