Why wear our "Sunday best" to church?

[XianGothDude]

Ya know I'm reminded of a time not too long ago, when my parents and I went to Colorado for a vacation of sorts and to look in general for a new house or housing track, anyway, when Sunday roles around we had already looked up Churches in the Denver-ish area and we went to this REALLY REALLY REALLY large MEGA CHURCH , being my typical point-making self, I wore a shirt that quoted Jesus' words to the Pharisees, about them being White-washed tombs, also wearing my black trench and boots and armwarmers. NOT ONE PERSON said hi to me, at all, no one even talked to me, As we were leaving (myself feeling especially dejected) I saw this goth girl out my window sitting on a bench talking to two guys, and I thought if only I met her and was able to talk to her. My point is, you figure out my point.

[XianGothDude]

There's a short story I'd like to quote: "It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its fullest capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today's sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for. At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered in whiskers where he had not shaved for a very long time.

When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in

respect. His hair was a long, dirty, tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled, black socks.

The usher put his fingers to his nose and glared at the old man and said, "Uh, I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that the old man had underlined. He was respectful enough and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church.

He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others.

A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing. He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was filthy and my clothes are old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is George."

The two gentlemen shook hands and George couldn't help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals upon his feet, now covered with dust and dirt.

The stranger reached out to touch George's shoulder and said, "Hello, George, don't feel bad because they won't let you in. My name is Jesus, and I've been trying to get into this same church for years, and they won't let me in either." (author unknown)". The entire article can be found here: http://www.christiangoth.com/thoughtsofsocialrubbish.htm

[Emily~Anne]

I think God is more concerned that we are there. However dressing punk or Goth does draw attention to the person and not to the one that we are there to focus on. I have worn Jeans and a nice top. There was a man who use to wear cut off and tank tops with sandals Sorry I think that is going to far. Dress so as not to draw attention to yourself.

I agree!

[Emily~Anne]

There's a short story I'd like to quote: "It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its fullest capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today's sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for. At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered in whiskers where he had not shaved for a very long time.

When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in

respect. His hair was a long, dirty, tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled, black socks.

The usher put his fingers to his nose and glared at the old man and said, "Uh, I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that the old man had underlined. He was respectful enough and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church.

He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others.

A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing. He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was filthy and my clothes are old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is George."

The two gentlemen shook hands and George couldn't help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals upon his feet, now covered with dust and dirt.

The stranger reached out to touch George's shoulder and said, "Hello, George, don't feel bad because they won't let you in. My name is Jesus, and I've been trying to get into this same church for years, and they won't let me in either." (author unknown)". The entire article can be found here: http://www.christiangoth.com/thoughtsofsocialrubbish.htm

Sounds to me like you are assuming that all churches where people tend to dress with respect for the Lord's day in God's House shun those who don't. Whoever wrote this is discriminating against churches in general and making assumptions.We are clearly called to love those who are less fortunate than us, which is why fortunately, most churches just don't shun those less fortunate than us, instead they welcome them with open arms and offer to help.

[XianGothDude]

Ya know Emily, the ONLY person ever making assumptions, is you; I have not, nor has anyone else, just because a few people try to make points you immediately jump on their backs about them jumping to conclusions, when you yourself are the one who jumps to conclusions, this is exactly why people don't want to take part in "Churchanity", we have deformed into something hideous, I mean why would ANYONE want to be a part of something that only accept people that look the same, think the same, act the same, ect. It's not me, I just wanted to make a point, and you immediately jump to the conclusion that I along with several other people have made assumptions that all churches are like this, the MAJORITY I've seen and heard about are, its a plauge, more than that we are a cult, the cult of American Churchanity...

[Fiosh]

Ya know Emily, the ONLY person ever making assumptions, is you; I have not, nor has anyone else, just because a few people try to make points you immediately jump on their backs about them jumping to conclusions, when you yourself are the one who jumps to conclusions, ...I just wanted to make a point, and you immediately jump to the conclusion that I along with several other people have made assumptions that all churches are like this,...

So I'm not the only one who picked up on this............

[asap]

I share living space with a nice older couple that have taught me a lot about being a saint, I say that because they are saints.

I am coming off of disability, going back to college and ultimately into the mission field. I used to make GOOD $ and dressed really sharp, I don't have the resources for that any longer so I go to church clean and in good spirits about having the oppurtunity to worship with the body. Sometimes jeans and nice blouse, always modest, occasionally dress or skirt but usually not in the winter, they don't look real well with felt pack boots. This is a story she shared with me.

Nyda was raised in the Assembly of God church. She played piano, taught sunday school and helped with fellowship. She was taught that it was a sin to wear pants if you are a woman. She stayed home took care of the kids and her husband worked. They have never had a lot but always enough to give away if there was a need that presented itself. Well she was outside hanging clothes up on a windy day and her dress would keep blowing up over her head. She was motified. She was trying to hang clothes with one hand while holding her dress down with the other and get her work done, just not very sucessfully. She prayed to God, " Lord I can't believe that you would want me to be exposing myself to the world so if it is okay with you for me to wear pants please let me know" A little while later her hubby comes in with 2 pairs of womens pants under his arm, it seems he was at work and they had a sale of clothes that were from a derailment, he worked on the rialroad, so he just grabbed 2 pairs and brought them home, they fit perfectly. She started wearing pants and has never felt it was a sin again. She does wear dresses to chuch most of the time but that is a personal choice.

I guess He just wants us to be His.

[Fiosh]

D'ya think Jesus had a "Sunday best" tunic ???????

[XianGothDude]

I think this topic is a rather silly one, I mean why do we care so much about appearance? God said to look upon the heart, not the outside.

[Giaour]

I think this topic is a rather silly one, I mean why do we care so much about appearance? God said to look upon the heart, not the outside.

Direct and to the point.

Great post!