Too old to be here?

[Arrabon]

I've been her  for a while, but find that my views of Christianity and what it means to be a Christian are many times out of date and antiquated compared to what people see Christianity as now. What people believe now is many times so foreign and out of place for me, and where I came from in my faith.

I come from a time when we all dressed in suits and women in dresses, even hats sometimes, to always look nice for God. My parents spent much money on clothes for church and for certain church functions. It wasn't to show off what you had, it was to show God respect for what He meant to us.

It was a time for respect for God, as well as a time for worship in songs that drew us into the Spirit and the word.

I would never go to meet the president of the united stated in the clothes I see people wear to church, to worship God. 

To me there is no respect for Him as our creator anymore, in the way we live in relationship to who he is as our creator.

To go to Church was an honor and a gift from God, to be allowed to sing Praises and worship Him, and bring Him Glory in the beautiful old hymns we sang that lifted up our spirits, raising our hands in praise, and becoming lost in the Spirit, as we Glorified His life that brought us such blessings, and was so forgiving of our lives as we were trying our best to live for Him.

We came to church to totally give our lives to Him, in a time that reminded us so beautifully that we are his, and did it with the deepest respect.

Not any complaints here, or criticisms, just observations, as people have a right to choose for themselves how they will relate to God, and respect Him.

It's just an observation from someone who comes from a different place, and different time in my faith, and nearly 80 years old.

 

God bless you all. I hope you don't mind me sharing my thoughts.

Edited September 9, 2021 by Arrabon

[ladypeartree]

I too remember the time when it was " Sunday best " to go to church ( and at the time we ladies would have been rebuked had we dared to go to worship without a hat of some sort on )  Since I attended a brethren church we were not even allowed to speak ( sing yes speak no ) during a service unless it was at our own baptism  . My son was one of the rebels, a very much loved rebel  but he would not ( at least at his " home " church )  conform to what he saw as silly rules and often wore neon teeshirts to service but always wore a suit when he was asked  to go with an elder to speak at another church ( which he very often was even though he was so young )  He would tell everyone that God saw the inside of his heart and life and saw him when he was naked so why would He love him less for being in comfortable clothes ? 

He died when he was 22 and our church couldn't hold the people who all came to say goodbye to him, I remember not being able to see beyond the crowd who stood in the cemetery that day ..about half from what I remember were in black suits and the rest in casual clothes but ALL with sadness at his loss to us and joy in thanking God for the time we had with him.

Over 20 years later he was still remembered by his nursing colleagues when I went into hospital and by many when I visit other congregations yet not one was worried about his choice in clothing just remembered the love he showed everyone from small children    to ancient ones he could bring a smile to anyone's face and brought many to know God no matter what he wore . Sometimes I regret having him buried in his suit but since the clothes like the flesh will just have rotted and it is his soul that is set free I know it doesn't really matter at all .    Outward  dressing can disguise a lot of evil  ( look at all the scandal with the catholic church ) but God sees and knows the inward thoughts of us all 

 

( and I still miss the more solemn forms of worship instead of the modern trend here of turning it all into a  " joyous noise " )

[R. Hartono]

The kingdom of God is not found in church buildings or religious sanctuary or a site but in the hearts that forgive and share happiness.

Edited September 9, 2021 by R. Hartono

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Arrabon said:

I've been her  for a while, but find that my views of Christianity and what it means to be a Christian are many times out of date and antiquated compared to what people see Christianity as now. What people believe now is many times so foreign and out of place for me, and where I came from in my faith.

And here you are involved in an Internet Ekklesia.

[Arrabon]

4 hours ago, ladypeartree said:

( and I still miss the more solemn forms of worship instead of the modern trend here of turning it all into a  " joyous noise " )

@ladypeartree

The music in Church for me isn't a "joyous noise", but a circus of a concert like situation, and I want to reverence God in awe and respect, and, yes, with the music that allowed that at one time. Not so much solemn words , but words and music that drew me into a preparation for communion and a message with the lights turned down, and with a message of communion that reminded me of the price Christ paid, and then hearing Gods word spoken from the pulpit, that spoke to my heart and helped me grow.

 

I know that some churches in the past, went as far as 2 services. The first more traditional for the folks like me, and then a second service for those more of the modern persuasion.

 

For me, the situation isn't just the church and how it functions during service. 

Its the entire package, of everything I mentioned in my first post, plus not hearing the truth as I know in my heart to be the truth.

It breaks my heart to hear a pastor say things to those who came to hear the truth, and hear a new kind of meaning to things I know in scripture to be the truth, not wanting to hear a twisted version, and see a twisted version being acted out.

When I say it's heartbreaking, it really is, because my feelings aren't just about me, but about the others in church, and most of them, not knowing they are being fed a lie. It just tears me apart in my heart.

But I have to do what's right between God and me, and put all that in His loving hands.

He called me out and showed me the error of the churches ways, and He will do the same for others, like he did for some in my own neighborhood, that are such a blessing to me in my faith and my life.

I'm not trying to be negative in the least, or discourage people in the least from going to church themselves, but I do have to be realistic, as I always have been, and for me church just isn't church anymore, with the truth I want to hear, but thank you God, that their is still a remnant of believers as scripture says, and God knows His own, and will call them out too, as he did call me out through the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I do hope I haven't offended anyone by my heartfelt post. 

Posted by Arrabon with a Loving heart and Godly kind intentions. May God bless you all, as we travel this sometimes difficult road of faith together. Sometime our faith is hard, and we must struggle in our heart.

Edited September 9, 2021 by Arrabon

[ladypeartree]

The truth may sometimes hurt but no where near as much as NOT hearing it will hurt  The " joyful noise " to me is often just wannabe rock stars  making it all about them not about God and yes I too have left the building when it becomes more of a social club than a place to learn and praise God not ourselves 

[Arrabon]

27 minutes ago, ladypeartree said:

The truth may sometimes hurt but no where near as much as NOT hearing it will hurt  The " joyful noise " to me is often just wannabe rock stars  making it all about them not about God and yes I too have left the building when it becomes more of a social club than a place to learn and praise God not ourselves 

@ladypeartree I apologize if I sound in anyway negative in the least. I don't want to be a stumbling block for anyone.

Many decades ago, reverencing God in my heart became such a deep and meaningful place in my heart with the Lord, and still is to this today.

There is something so meaningful about that to me, that I can't fully explain it.

I feel my heart changing about how much I care deeply about people and, and the things they are being lead to believe now.

Love for others is sometimes very, very painful, when God has taught you to care deeply.

Edited September 9, 2021 by Arrabon

[Dennis1209]

I'm just a decade younger than you, and I too remember those days. As a young boy I was dressed in a suit with a 'bow tie'. My mother wore a funny looking round hat with a little veil, and white gloves; normal for the time. Like you plainly address, it was reverence for the Lord. Times and customs seem to continuously change, but:

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

I remember a little story about a church usher. A well dressed man enters through the church door, and the usher leads him and places him in the front row. A second person enters through the church door, ragged clothes, poor, withered, and rough looking. The usher leads this person as far back and out of sight as possible. 

I'm a member of a Baptist church. Except for the Preacher, for Sunday morning worship service wearing a suit and tie; seldom does anyone wear a suit and tie; the dress is casual. I've had probably four suits in my life time, for church and funerals. It didn't take all that long to out grow them all [belly and weight]. 

I really should get fitted for another suit, as I've always believed an outward appearance of 'respect' is important; but not as important as what is inside of you; love, praise, honor, fear of the Lord, respect and attitude.

Yes, times have changed, I guess I'm old fashioned and traditional. In worship service we sing only traditional old hymn's. On occasion in the past, we tried to sing some of the Psalm's. I'm not criticizing some of the new modern Christian worship songs in many churches of today; using drums, guitars and beats. I will not delve into the particulars but, beats can be dangerous. But at my age I'm just not comfortable with that change. Perhaps this modern worship music draws the younger crowd into church and fits their taste? 

I once asked myself, what praise and worship music does the Lord like, and is acceptable to Him? I think the Bible tells us in the Psalm's worship music. 

There's many worship hymn's that really stir my heart, in appreciation for what the Lord has done for me. One of my favorites is, "It Is Well With My Soul', and the heart wrenching story behind the words of it. There are many such inspired examples in hymnal's. 

Great topic.

[Starise]

As cultural norms about dress have shifted both in church and in the work place it has the effect of making those who are older feel less comfortable. Might not necessarily all be tied to age. It is a cultural shift. My background was attending a very traditional Baptist church years ago in the south eastern US. I went back there not too long ago and it was if time had stopped. They were still singing the same songs and they still held a fairly strict unwritten dress code. Front and center of the music is a pianist and a choir. No guitars, no keyboards, nothing else. It really is beautiful in it's own way and something I admittedly miss at times as I've been involved in the 'progression' of Christian music over the last 30 years.In some cases I think it's a reverse of progress.

So far as dress went most men wear suits and ties. I was NEVER keen on this even when I went there, so I might wear a button up with no tie. We are talking southern Georgia where it routinely gets to over 100F in the summer with very high oppressive humidity. A tie can feel like a hangman's noose. I wasn't anti establishment. I just hate suits. That church was against women wearing pants because they seen it as a man's garment back then. Women all wore dresses of decent length. I can understand women presenting themselves decently in the Lord's house because not to do so is a distraction to the men and not a good distraction. I think this should be anywhere a Christian woman goes, not just in church. If you put out the honey you'll draw the bees in. Church is NO place to put out the honey.

I was the odd man out there at that church back then in not wearing a suit. I must have been somewhere in the middle because I wanted to dress nice enough to be in church without wearing a suit. Wearing old beat up work clothes would not have been something I did. I'm still the same today at my church. I usually wear a decent button up shirt or a crew shirt with decent shoes. I haven't changed but the times have changed. Our worship team show up in shorts and dock shoes or similar. When I'm on the team I feel like the 'old guy' in the way I dress compared to them. We have sometimes had women up front with pants on that looked like they were sprayed on. College girls who's mothers were probably gritting their teeth. I see this as another potential distraction to worship. Think about it. They are on a stage and their mid section is at eye level. What are we all looking at? TBH I'm about ready to request I not be put on worship teams any more. I'm tired of all the things that go on. 

I see many churches as endlessly working on things that don't matter. One day when things get real for Christians in some of these churches they will be like the seed that fell on hard ground and withered for lack of deep roots. They will look back and realize almost none of what they thought was so important mattered. A certain look, certain songs, a modern vibe, a sermon series with a hook? Are these the things that matter? 

What is going to hold up under scrutiny? " Lord we wore suits and only played traditional music", " Lord we put a coffee bar out front", "Lord, we concentrated on building asthetics", "Lord we .................fill in the blanks. Does it glorify God? Does it further the mission of the church? How? These are the questions to answer.

[BibleStudent100]

6 hours ago, Arrabon said:

I come from a time when we all dressed in suits and women in dresses, even hats sometimes, to always look nice for God. My parents spent much money on clothes for church and for certain church functions. It wasn't to show off what you had, it was to show God respect for what He meant to us.

I too scratch my head in dismay when I see how people and even pastors dress in church.  Out of a desire to honor God, we should dress in a dignified way for our church meetings. Granted, our dress needs to be practical and presentable and be in harmony with weather requirements, but our dress serves as a witness to others who observe us. Even the angels take note of our activity, as they did of that of Paul and his Christian associates. 1 Corinthians 4:9 remind us: "For it seems to me that God has put us the apostles last on exhibition as men condemned to death, because we have become a theatrical spectacle to the world, and to angels and to men."

In fact, we should always be appropriately attired. To some, faithfulness in the choice of clothing may seem to be a small matter, but in God’s eyes it is important.