Should there be a dress code in Church?

On a more serious but practical note

My church has many new Christians, and there are more all the time, it is exciting to get excited with people who are learning things for the first time that are "old hat" to me, and humbling.

Our philosophy is not to start the indoctrination right away, you know, "well sister, you really ought not wear that skirt to church, I can almost see the bottom of your knee"

"Sir, You really should trim that hair that is within 2 inches of your collar, when you look up, it might actually touch it"

The goal of discipleship is to begin the Biblical training, and those things will follow, now obviously there may be some things that need to be dealt with, but sanctification is a process, and you have to lay the foundation, or the "rules" will not be accepted at face value. Its exciting to hear a new christian say "I was studying in ... and I was really convicted about this habit, or activity" instead of "Brother so and so told me I was a vile sinner for going to the bowling alley in my polyester shirt"

interestingly enough, some of the same processes that should be followed when raising kids, the rules will not cut it forever, you have to deal with the heart, because eventually you will not be able to control them, and from the overflow of the heart, comes the behavior! Hence, a church should be teaching the scripture, and the dress code should be a very minor issue, if an issue at all

Not even going to start in on cultural considerations!

Just my 47 cents (2 cents adjusted for inflation)

 

But you are going to church to worship the king ! Do dress up (modestly), but not overdressed ... I do try to wear my favourite shirt on Sundays though ...

 

Amen and Amen! I could not have said it better myself.

 

I am Blessed 16 and Sherrie,

I would love to wear a Camels hair garmet to church. Im not to sure where they are sold In AUstralis we have heaps of different take away foods, I wonder if I could get a plate full of specially prepared Locusts Probably could if I tried hard enough.

When I first began going to the Salvation Army as a teenager, I used to typically wear Jeans and my treasured "Def Leppard" T Shirt. Never once was any mention made of it, I was accepted by the congregation, and within three weeks was out the front at the Mercy Seat, giving my life to Christ. It seems weird that people mention churhces here that would have turned me away. I guess that would be one of the reasons for the empty spaces in the pews in those churches.

 

Ben; I didn't say that you would be turned away. I said I didn't KNOW what would happen and that is why I thought YOU should be the one to do it instead of me!

If you DO happen to find some 'take out' locusts. Keep them!

Blessings,
Sue

 

You're basing your arguement on heresay?

Dress codes are not for visitors. They're for the ministry. (aka people in service to the church) Dress codes never apply to visitors. Visitors are never told..."What you are wearing is unacceptable" I find what you said you heard second hand...too sensational to be true.

 

How many here have to dress a certain way at work? If you violated that dress code what would happen? I have never really heard some one complaining about a dress code on their job or at school. Why do we honor the dress code at work? I think it is because there is an element of respect for our coworkers, the place of employment, and our boss. Why cant we do the same in the house of God. The church is structered much like a place of employment. You have work enviroment, coworkers, and a pastor. In the local church the pastor is the authority over that church as long as he is in the book.If he would like for his members to dress in a certain way, that should be respected and honored. For those who stand strong against a church dress code, look at Paul for an example. He said certain things do not bother him, but if it offended others he would not do those certain things. Just because we may not agree with a dress code doesnt mean that we should not honor it. Let's be like Paul on this matter.

 

I don't think anyone mind if a place of worship has
a dress code for members, as long as it does not
exceed what the Bible says. I think the problem is
that many different ones want to reinterpret the
Bible to make it say what they think it ought to say.

A legitimate dress code could be created by
simply copying Scripture straight from the Bible.
No one would ten have a leg to stand on if they
wanted to fight that.

Without reinterpreting the Bible, perhaps a good
exercise here would be to simply write out
Scripture to see what our Bibles really say.

 

Willow,
This pastor may think that he owns the church. He does not. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ belongs to Him and Him alone. This man, I do not think that he, in anyway should be called a pastor, only owns land and a building.

You said you send your children to his church. My advice is to run as far away from him as you can. Anybody who has the audacity to claim to own a church certainly does not deserve the respect due a real man of God.

 

I'm sorry Willow..in your words that I quote here...you said that you heard someone say they heard. That's not the same as hearing the pastor say this to a visitor yourself. Didn't mean to offend you. But when you say that you heard them say they heard...that's heresay.

If you have attended a church that tells visitors "Dress this way or we don't want you here" sounds like a church that has lost it's way. If they are turning everyone away who isn't wearing the accepted attire...they should have a sign at the door saying "No Shirts, No Shoes, No service" Or in this case "Woman not wearing dresses, not welcome"

 

Should there be a dress code in church?

Yes.... and I should be the one to decide how we'll all dress each Sunday (in MY church) according to how I feel like dressing that day or if I've ironed the day before.

Now... that's it. Blackbird? SheEagle911? Can I have your votes?

 

I hope you have some sense of style ir you're going to do that Diane.

Have you ever noticed in Church that ladies through some sense of female telepathy (I'm kidding) seem to dress the same anyway? Wear a Navy blue dress...and see the half a dozen other woman you know...for some unknown reason...decide to wear a Navy blue dress too.

 

Someone said that the pastor should set the rules and the congregation should respect that. Couldn't disagree more. The church is a community of people. I do believe in the authority of leadership. The pastor sets the vision and guards the values of the congregation. The deacons manage the resources. These two leadership functions work hand-in-hand.
Those who think the pastor is supposed to tell the congregation what to do should convert to Roman Catholicism. Baptists believe in congregational government. And those who think the Pastor has the right to enforce his opinion on the congregation also belong in Rome. Baptists believe in the final authority of Scripture.

 

I live in Australia and at the top end the temp. gets to 140 deg.f. often. What would you wear to church.
John

 

Willow 2, at the top end of Australia the highest temp. that I know of was 146 Deg.far. and that was at a place called Marble Bar.When it rains they measure it in feet, not inches.The Church???? has a roof no walls its to hot to have walls, and the floor is dirt and you sit on what ever you can find.From November to March of each year is the Monsoon season, they call it the big wet .Its not possible to travel because of the water.A ranch in Australia is called a cattle station and some of them are bigger than Texas. This is a fact.To round up the cattle most use hellicopters and trail bikes.What would you wear if you were going to Church? bathers and flippers?
No not quite, but it is very humid.Homes cannot have carpet because of mildew.Sorry to ramble on.
John