Pastor wears Hawaiian Shirt in pulpit

[Greg Linscott]

If your pastor showed up in a polo and khakis, would your first reaction be disgust, or would it be what it should, "Hey, preach, how was your week? I look forward to the sermon today. My heart is really open for the Word!"

I would hope my congregation would be ready to listen no matter what I'm wearing.

My concern is what is going on in my heart when I decide I'd rather be more comfortable and casual. It becomes about me, not about what I am preaching.

 

[Frogman]

Pastor wears Hawaiian Shirt in pulpit

Will somebody please send me this poor man's shirt, coat and pant size...oh, and also his address

 

[Helen]

Originally posted by Greg Linscott:
If that's our line of reasoning...

Jesus never had a church building.
Jesus never went to church on Sunday.
Jesus never attended Sunday School.
Jesus walked everywhere he went.
Jesus never posted on message boards...

That's just not a valid argument one way or another.

welcome, colorado_cop! Question for you: do you see any corresponding similarities between you having to wear a uniform in your line of work and me dressing professionally in mine (I'm a pastor)?

Jesus attended, and spoke in, synagogues. That was Saturday, but I'm sure you will excuse Him, eh?

He attended the lessons taught to young Hebrew boys in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah -- the equivalent (only harder) of Sunday School. If He had not been Bar Mitzvah'd, He would not have been allowed to speak in the Synagogue.

And at least twice, He rode a donkey: once before birth and once into Jerusalem. He took the method of locomotion available for His time and means.

He used the communication means available to Him.

He also dressed like the common folk.

So do a lot of detectives, nurses, doctors, professors, teachers.....

 

[Frogman]

Originally posted by dianetavegia:
They MAKE him wear that Dr. Bob. Even the managers of certain gas stations are told solid shirt and tie and tan or navy pants.

BTW..... the manager of Chuck E. Cheese wears a shirt and tie and I'd much rather he wear something else. He's needed a new shirt for about 50 lbs now and you can see his belly button through the gaps.

Diane

Sounds like he needs a raise maybe Or to at least realize that it is time to buy a new shirt. But this is probably not related to the fact of why the company requires him to wear that shirt, unless of course he is motivated by rebellion and making a statement.

Bro. Dallas

 

[Phillip]

I only want to make one point here. Remember, as we grow older, we become more resistant to change. There was a time in the past when hymns were not sung in church, then a time when musical instruments were finally allowed (gasp), now we have video monitors on the walls of big churches, etc. etc.

My only comment to all of this is that I am not opposed to change for the sake of change, but we must also be careful. I went to a larger church where the kids actually played rock and roll (for Christ of course ) and they even allowed them to dance, because, after all, they aren't in a dance hall and if we don't let them dance here they won't come. That's what it takes to get teenagers here today. Or, so the youth minister told me. I asked him one question that he had trouble answering.

I said, "When the kids get to where they won't come because we don't serve beer, do we start serving beer?"

 

[Mike McK]

A pastor wearing a Hawaiian shirt?

Well, it's official: you guys have finally run out of things to complain about.

 

[Greg Linscott]

He also dressed like the common folk.

So do a lot of detectives, nurses, doctors, professors, teachers.....

Even the common folk in Jesus' day understood dressing for the occassion. For instance, when Jesus tells the parable of the marriage feast in Matthew 22, the listeners would have instantly understood the significance of the guest not wearing a "wedding garment." I would guess that even though they were "common," Christ's disciples dressed differently when they were with him, or when they were teaching, than they did when they were, say, fishing or collecting taxes. In fact, doesn't John's gospel tell us that Peter actually wore very little when he was fishing after Christ's resurrection?

The point is, in every culture, certain dress is appropriate for certain times. If you want to downplay the significance of formality and respect in your service by dressing down, that's certainly your perogative. My conscience just doesn't allow me to do that. I don't feel strongly enough to mention it in a sermon, but I will lead by example.

For me personally: I question whether a Hawaiian shirt would ever be appropriate to wear!

 

[Helen]

The wedding guests in the parable were provided with their clothes by the host. The listeners knew that. That is the same as Christ providing us with His righteousness, His covering. This has nothing to do with us dressing up for an occasion.

I suppose if the congregation took it upon themselves to provide the minister with the clothes they wanted him to wear, that might be somewhat different, but it would also show the general shallowness of the congragation, and wow, would THAT minister have his work cut out for him!

I do like to look nice at church. But I would FAR rather listen to a pastor in a Hawaiian shirt and burmuda shorts who knew the Scriptures and had a close relationship with the Lord than to someone who looked like a million bucks and was totally 'right' in his dress and didn't know what he was talking about, or who knew less of the Scriptures than I do!

You will notice that the requirements for bishops and elders in Paul's letters say nothing about garments, modest or otherwise. "Modest" is something that is a general requirement for us all, I think.

Nor is your idea of Peter's fishing clothes and his clothes when with Jesus valid. I don't think anyone has been promoting the idea of the minister showing up in what he gardened, or fished, or fixed the car in! Of COURSE Peter wore different clothes ANY other time when he was not working! He put on his cloak and belt. At least then he was not half naked! Fishing, he wore only a tunic, the same as slaves wore for the most part.

These people did not have wardrobes. That is a conceit of us rich people.

 

[Kathy]

This whole discussion is proof positive that man looks on the outward appearance Thank Goodness that God looks at my heart!!

Kathy
<><

 

[Frogman]

Helen,
Wouldn't salaries paid to ministers be a show of shallowness?

Bro. Dallas

 

[vaspers]

The Hawaiian shirt thing, you all know, don't you? What that means...

...it's the Rick Warren PDL uniform.

I can't know that pastor's motivation, but it seems I recall my pastor and deacons returning from a visit to Saddleback, and wearing Hawaiian shirts was a thing Rick Warren did, and his staff, and it symbolized solidarity with the Purpose Driven Life campaign.

You all KNOW that, I assume? right?

We do not know what Jesus wore, aside from fringes on his garment, a robe that was seamless and soldiers cast lots for.

Dress to bless. If that means a black leather jacket and torn up jeans, cuz yr congregation is all bikers, then be "all things to all people."

A youth pastor may dye his hair purple and have a nose ring, I suppose. If your congregation has jeans and dress jeans, I'd say you ought to lovingly fit in with them, within limits. If they are nudist camp nudists, I guess I'd draw a line there, right? Ha!

I know diane is going to tackle me any minute now.

 

[Helen]

Originally posted by Frogman:
Helen,
Wouldn't salaries paid to ministers be a show of shallowness?

Bro. Dallas

No, but the way that salary is spent just might be...

My husband did not know what the term "Hawaiian shirt" meant, so I went to Google and typed that in and we looked at fifty or so just now. There are a number of wonderfully subtle prints which would do any minister in any pulpit justice sartorially. The only thing either of us thought of when looking at some of the more colorful prints is that something like that might distract the people's attention.

===========

Kathy -- right on! I totally agree with you.

 

[Pastor Larry]

But I would FAR rather listen to a pastor in a Hawaiian shirt and burmuda shorts who knew the Scriptures and had a close relationship with the Lord than to someone who looked like a million bucks and was totally 'right' in his dress and didn't know what he was talking about, or who knew less of the Scriptures than I do!

Why are these the only two options?? I am always confused when people argue as if there are only two extremes.iIt is like the old question, "Would you rather walk to school or carry your lunch?" Why are those the only two options? Why not expect both? Why not expect the pastor to look like a pastor and to preach biblical doctrine?

You are right that God looks on the heart while man looks on the outward appearance. But remember that man looks on the outward appearance. So make it right. Perhaps the reason why Paul didn't address dress is because it was so obvious ... who knows ...

I don't think church ought to be a fashion show. But those in positions of leadership should look like leaders. I would have a hard time taking a man in an Hawaiian shirt very seriously on Sunday morning. It would just tell me that he is not a very astute when it comes to what dress and appearance communicate. Helen mentions distraction. That was already brought up several pages ago when I and someone else commented on distraction. That is why we should dress neither too well nor too relaxed.

When I used to work in retail sales, we would have people come in often looking for a job. It was quite comical to see how people looked when they came in. At that time, we were required to wear shirts and ties. To see people coming in in shorts, jeans, tshirts, etc just showed something right off about that person.

When I was in college I worked at an airport where there was a flight school. One of the corporate pilots who flew a jet commented on the dress of flight students. He said that students who knew how to dress and wear a tie were far ahead in the job search because they knew how to dress right and look sharp.

Sometimes, it seems that the world is far brighter in these matters than the sons of light are (and I didn't make that saying up).

 

[KimS]

Originally posted by Mike McK:
A pastor wearing a Hawaiian shirt?

Well, it's official: you guys have finally run out of things to complain about.

Mike McK we can always go back to the "movie".

Kim

 

[Dr. Bob]

Wearing this tomorrow under a camel blazer. Or maybe a blue double-breasted blazer.

Waddaya think?

 

[vaspers]

I likes it, Dr. Bob, vary much sew, do I likes it. Good colors. Not garish. Not executivitied.

 

[Kathy]

GO DR. BOB!! Do your bow ties match?? hehe!! Maybe you can provide grass skirts and lei's for the congregation!! Blow up some of those inflatable palm trees too!! WOOO DOGGIE!!

Kathy
<><

 

[Greg Linscott]

I agree with your estimation, Helen, that what is said is infinitely more important than what is worn. But what is worn say something about the person inside. If someone wears jeans and a t-shirt to a funeral, it communicates something about their decorum and such.

I was not trying to use Christ's parable to justify dressing for church. I was trying to establish that even in that culture, dress meant something- it communicated ideas and such. If appearance is truly "no big deal"- Why don't we come to church in gardening clothes? What about a clean pair of coveralls?

I know people keep saying "God looks on the heart." However, man does look on the outward appearance- we can't get around that. The verse doesn't mean we go out of our way to make people "take us as we are- take it or leave it"- it means not to judge others simply by appearance. When I stand in the puplit, I am going to dress with respect and diginity.

Dr. Bob- more power to you. Up here, you'd definitely be pinpointed as being one of those tourists "from away." And tourist season is coming....

I hear there's a two-bag limit...

 

[Helen]

I definitely appreciate your attitude, Greg.

However clean overalls ain't so bad in a farming community! It's those dirty ones......

 

[Frogman]

The hogs don't mind the dirty ones either