Why wear our "Sunday best" to church?

[Emily~Anne]

Poor Job.

What do you mean poor Job? Did you read the FULL book of Job? It helps to read the full book. The Lord blessed Job even more than he had been blessed in the beginning.

Job 42:12-13 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.

I don't think Job would have agreed with you. He persevered in faith that God is good even through the hardest times and was tremendously blessed BY THE LORD for doing so.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

[Emily~Anne]

Poor Job.

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. Job 42:10ff

Yep. Poor Job.

We posted at the same time! Great minds think alike huh?

[MeCajunboy]

Oy, you are totally misrepresenting my position. I'm not saying that we SHOULd dress goth/punk/whatever, but that it's not necessary to dress in your best. Dressing immodestly is problematic because it could cause another to stumble, something we should not do.

Our culture tells us that we are to dress nicely for church in respect for God, but I doubt he cares what we're wearing, as you said yourself, it is about the condition of the heart.

If I may, I'd like to ask you a question? If you going on a nice 3rd date with a young lady that you were crazy about. Someone that you might like to take to introduce to mom and dad one day, and you both selected a really nice, extravegant restaurant. Would you feel comfortable wearing the same t-shirt and jeans out while trying to wine and dine the young lady you were trying to make a first real impression on? I think we all know what the correct response to that would be, all joking aside... So why would reverence for God deserve anything less? Of course, God doesn't need gaudy, jewels and extravegant costumes.. But he shouldn't have to look at your knees through your pants or your underwear protruding from under you falling pants either.

thoughts?

[Giaour]

I think maybe you should have stipulated that the blessings are in God's time.

What did Job wear to church before he was double blessed?

[Giaour]

Oy, you are totally misrepresenting my position. I'm not saying that we SHOULd dress goth/punk/whatever, but that it's not necessary to dress in your best. Dressing immodestly is problematic because it could cause another to stumble, something we should not do.

Our culture tells us that we are to dress nicely for church in respect for God, but I doubt he cares what we're wearing, as you said yourself, it is about the condition of the heart.

If I may, I'd like to ask you a question? If you going on a nice 3rd date with a young lady that you were crazy about. Someone that you might like to take to introduce to mom and dad one day, and you both selected a really nice, extravegant restaurant. Would you feel comfortable wearing the same t-shirt and jeans out while trying to wine and dine the young lady you were trying to make a first real impression on? I think we all know what the correct response to that would be, all joking aside... So why would reverence for God deserve anything less? Of course, God doesn't need gaudy, jewels and extravegant costumes.. But he shouldn't have to look at your knees through your pants or your underwear protruding from under you falling pants either.

thoughts?

Because people DO look at the outside and what we are wearing to impress them.

God does not.

[Guest shiloh357]

The issue should not be about "dressing up" as much as it should be about dressing your best, and offering your best to the Lord. Not everyone owns suits, or expensive dresses. That should not be issue. Each of us IS obligated to present our best to the Lord in every area of our lives. If all you have are overalls, then it should be the best pair of overalls you own. If all you have are jeans, they they should be the best jeans you own. That is what meets the terms of Scripture.

However you present yourself to the Lord, it should be your best. He deserves and expects nothing less.

[forrestkc]

The issue should not be about "dressing up" as much as it should be about dressing your best, and offering your best to the Lord. Not everyone owns suits, or expensive dresses. That should not be issue. Each of IS obligated to present our best to the Lord in every area of our lives. If all you have are overalls, then it should be the best pair of overalls you own. If all you have are jeans, they they should be the best jeans you own. That is what meets the terms of Scripture.

However you present yourself to the Lord, it should be your best. He deserves and expects nothing less.

[RGR]

The issue should not be about "dressing up" as much as it should be about dressing your best, and offering your best to the Lord. Not everyone owns suits, or expensive dresses. That should not be issue. Each of IS obligated to present our best to the Lord in every area of our lives. If all you have are overalls, then it should be the best pair of overalls you own. If all you have are jeans, they they should be the best jeans you own. That is what meets the terms of Scripture.

However you present yourself to the Lord, it should be your best. He deserves and expects nothing less.

I concur with that. I always make sure I'm wearing clean jeans and a decent shirt. I've even been known to iron my casual shirts before wearing them to church!

[WillingToDie]

Oy, you are totally misrepresenting my position. I'm not saying that we SHOULd dress goth/punk/whatever, but that it's not necessary to dress in your best. Dressing immodestly is problematic because it could cause another to stumble, something we should not do.

Our culture tells us that we are to dress nicely for church in respect for God, but I doubt he cares what we're wearing, as you said yourself, it is about the condition of the heart.

If I may, I'd like to ask you a question? If you going on a nice 3rd date with a young lady that you were crazy about. Someone that you might like to take to introduce to mom and dad one day, and you both selected a really nice, extravegant restaurant. Would you feel comfortable wearing the same t-shirt and jeans out while trying to wine and dine the young lady you were trying to make a first real impression on? I think we all know what the correct response to that would be, all joking aside... So why would reverence for God deserve anything less? Of course, God doesn't need gaudy, jewels and extravegant costumes.. But he shouldn't have to look at your knees through your pants or your underwear protruding from under you falling pants either.

thoughts?

Your analogy fails. We dress nicely for dates because we are trying to impress them. I doubt God is impressed by what wqe wear.

Although it has covered important ground, this topic has, I think, gotten off topic. Nobody has been able to show that it's not ok to dress goth/punk to church, especially if teh goth/punk wears their best of that particular style.

[forrestkc]

Your analogy fails. We dress nicely for dates because we are trying to impress them. I doubt God is impressed by what wqe wear.

Although it has covered important ground, this topic has, I think, gotten off topic. Nobody has been able to show that it's not ok to dress goth/punk to church, especially if teh goth/punk wears their best of that particular style.

Well there is nothing unbiblical about it at all. I have said this before, I think its just what is socially appropriate for the church you are attending. If you are attending an urban contemporary church, then there might not be anything inappropriate at all about dressing goth/punk for it.

However, if you are attending a very traditional and formal church, then dressing punk would be socially inappropriate.

My point is this is not a biblical question at all, but rather it is a question of etiquette.

Actually, there is a little more to it. It would be both inappropriate and of very bad taste to show up dressed in Goth to a very traditional and formal church just for the shock value of it.