Why wear our "Sunday best" to church?

[Giaour]

It was more of a "I thought you could use these".

I smiled and thanked her but my feelings were hurt.

I never have worn them.

I'll stick to what I have.

[Emily~Anne]

You know what? I believe God provides. If a person does desire to dress nicely for church, God will somehow provide for that. Know what else? Many who dress immodestly or goth, care a great deal about how they look, and are quite willing to spend the bucks to get the look they want. So do those who dress to prove their financial status. Those who desire to go the extra mile simply to give God their best in how they dress also are usually satisfied with a skirt or dress from the Salvation Army. You'd be surprised what nice things can be found in second hand shops. Also, when I was a punk and had nothing to wear, people from church started to donate me clothes. Though they dressed nicely, they did not pass judgement, rather they did what they could to help me. THAT is letting your light shine! Any way we can let our light shine is a good thing! Either by making everyone feel welcome in our church regardless of how they dress or/and also by choosing to dress up for church, or by donating nice clothes to someone who would appreciate them very much. (These ideas are pertaining to the theme of the thread, there are endless ways to let your light shine! )

you have yet to show that dressing Goth is wrong. Additionally, what's wrong with a person coming to church dressed in goth clothes if they wear the best goth clothes they have? Or what if the Goth clothes are the best clothes they have period? That, I think, is what this tread is really about.

Regarding your church providing you with nice clothes, did you express a desire to dress in better, more "normal clothes"? If so, then I'm glad to hear that your church gave you nicer clothes. if not, then why could they not just accept you as you were?

You know what? I believe God provides. If a person does desire to dress nicely for church, God will somehow provide for that. Know what else? Many who dress immodestly or goth, care a great deal about how they look, and are quite willing to spend the bucks to get the look they want. So do those who dress to prove their financial status. Those who desire to go the extra mile simply to give God their best in how they dress also are usually satisfied with a skirt or dress from the Salvation Army. You'd be surprised what nice things can be found in second hand shops. Also, when I was a punk and had nothing to wear, people from church started to donate me clothes. Though they dressed nicely, they did not pass judgement, rather they did what they could to help me. THAT is letting your light shine! Any way we can let our light shine is a good thing! Either by making everyone feel welcome in our church regardless of how they dress or/and also by choosing to dress up for church, or by donating nice clothes to someone who would appreciate them very much. (These ideas are pertaining to the theme of the thread, there are endless ways to let your light shine! )

I really think that church members and Christians shoud dress Modest. Nice or sloppy I personally do not care. I think modest clothing that is not sexually provocative is a must for church, past that I am really neutral.

I agree, modest dress is preferable, if for no other reason than to try to prevent your brother from stumbling.

Just last night, my son's best friend stayed over with us. We invited him to church with us this morning. He declined because the last time he went to church with a friend, he was asked to leave for not being dressed properly. I've known this boy a long time and he doesn't dress "poorly" on any day. But, he does usually wears nice blue jeans.

Nothing I said could convince him that he would be accepted just as he was at our church. We will keep inviting him, though. We won't give up.

Have you condemned someone's soul to Hell because you judged them by their clothes?

That is very unfortunate. If someone in my church was asked to leave based on how they looked, i would get up and leave with them to make a statement, and probably never come back to that church.

I'm glad to hear you say that. The question, however, is would you make this person welcome? We have presented at least two stories of people who are ignored because they dress and look different, one of which was a one time event (XianGothDude's story), one of which happens every week (my friend Sarah).

Guess I missed the one about your friend Sarah, I haven't read every single post as this has been a very active thread and today is Christmas Eve. So your friend Sarah every single week tries to go to church and is shunned every single time? Yikes! Has she thought of trying a different church? I wouldn't want anything to do with that church anyways. As far as Xiangoth's story, that was a fictional story which quite frankly I think should not be allowed to be posted because someone may read that and think "Gee! I'll never go to church! Churches are horrible if they do that!" I have shown up in many, many churches in jeans and never ever once have I ever been asked to leave. I would most certainly accept someone dressed in goth and make them feel welcome, however, I would never go to a church where the pastor is goth nor would I dress goth myself. For myself personally I prefer to dress in a way that represents light, not darkness. For you see, when I dressed punk, I lived in darkness, and I was dressing in a way that represented that. Once the Holy Spirit came in and illuminated my heart, the punk clothes just did not fit how I felt on the inside and I felt compelled to change how I dressed. I have no desire to dress in a gloomy depressing way. I want my testimony to be as clear as possible and one way I do that is expressing myself in a positive way through how I dress. There is a reason people often wear black to funerals. Black generally represents death. BTW, dressing in all black for it's slimming effect is not really goth, it's just trying to look slimmer. Whole different thing. Like it or not, when someone sees someone in all black and tears tattooed to their face, etc., many people will assume that person is not very happy, because well, often that IS the case, as it was the case with me. The Lord calls out to come out and be seperate.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

[Emily~Anne]

Also, please read my signature.

[CSLewis]

Before I became a christian - I dressed very grungy and was lazy in my appearance. ( I was a hippy) I have three kids now and I have to get up early to get everyone dressed and ready- I iron, shave, comb hair, get the kids ready, tie ties, knot shoes, and get there early.

When you go on a date- do you go in your pajamas?

When you get married do you wear blue jeans?

How much more important is going to worship the Lord and commune with our Maker?

What does that communicate to my kids? Church is important. The sacraments are sacred.

But I would never judge someone else based on what they wore.

[WillingToDie]

Guess I missed the one about your friend Sarah, I haven't read every single post as this has been a very active thread and today is Christmas Eve. So your friend Sarah every single week tries to go to church and is shunned every single time? Yikes! Has she thought of trying a different church? I wouldn't want anything to do with that church anyways.

Yeah, I'm not sure why she continues to go to this church. i think it's because her parents go there and she hardly gets to see them anymore.

Either way, it breaks my heart, because she is a wonderful, beautiful girl. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to bother her too much; it seems to bother me more than it does her.

As far as Xiangoth's story, that was a fictional story which quite frankly I think should not be allowed to be posted because someone may read that and think "Gee! I'll never go to church! Churches are horrible if they do that!"

The one in which he went to a megachurch and was completely ignored? Somehow I doubt he made that up.

I have shown up in many, many churches in jeans and never ever once have I ever been asked to leave. I would most certainly accept someone dressed in goth and make them feel welcome,

glad to hear it, if only all were so lucky

however, I would never go to a church where the pastor is goth nor would I dress goth myself.

good thing you don't have to then, huh?

For myself personally I prefer to dress in a way that represents light, not darkness. wub.gif For you see, when I dressed punk, I lived in darkness, and I was dressing in a way that represented that. Once the Holy Spirit came in and illuminated my heart, the punk clothes just did not fit how I felt on the inside and I felt compelled to change how I dressed. I have no desire to dress in a gloomy depressing way. I want my testimony to be as clear as possible and one way I do that is expressing myself in a positive way through how I dress.

But Punk does not represent darkness to everyone, for you it may have, but that doesn't necessarily hold true to everyone.

There is a reason people often wear black to funerals. Black generally represents death.

But only in our culture. I'm told that in China, it's the other way around.

like it or not, when someone sees someone in all black and tears tattooed to their face, etc., many people will assume that person is not very happy, because well, often that IS the case, as it was the case with me.

Just because people assume something doesn't make it true. You may be able to make a case on the black clothing, I'll let XianGothDude handle that one, if he so desires. As for tattoos, people get them for different reasons, very few of them have to do with unhappiness.

[Emily~Anne]

Guess I missed the one about your friend Sarah, I haven't read every single post as this has been a very active thread and today is Christmas Eve. So your friend Sarah every single week tries to go to church and is shunned every single time? Yikes! Has she thought of trying a different church? I wouldn't want anything to do with that church anyways.

Yeah, I'm not sure why she continues to go to this church. i think it's because her parents go there and she hardly gets to see them anymore.

Either way, it breaks my heart, because she is a wonderful, beautiful girl. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to bother her too much; it seems to bother me more than it does her.

As far as Xiangoth's story, that was a fictional story which quite frankly I think should not be allowed to be posted because someone may read that and think "Gee! I'll never go to church! Churches are horrible if they do that!"

The one in which he went to a megachurch and was completely ignored? Somehow I doubt he made that up.

No actually it is fictional, go back and read it, someone wrote the story to make a point, not necessarily a lie, just a fictional story, read at the end where it says "My name is Jesus and they wouldn't let me in either."

I have shown up in many, many churches in jeans and never ever once have I ever been asked to leave. I would most certainly accept someone dressed in goth and make them feel welcome,

glad to hear it, if only all were so lucky

however, I would never go to a church where the pastor is goth nor would I dress goth myself.

good thing you don't have to then, huh?

For myself personally I prefer to dress in a way that represents light, not darkness. wub.gif For you see, when I dressed punk, I lived in darkness, and I was dressing in a way that represented that. Once the Holy Spirit came in and illuminated my heart, the punk clothes just did not fit how I felt on the inside and I felt compelled to change how I dressed. I have no desire to dress in a gloomy depressing way. I want my testimony to be as clear as possible and one way I do that is expressing myself in a positive way through how I dress.

But Punk does not represent darkness to everyone, for you it may have, but that doesn't necessarily hold true to everyone.

There is a reason people often wear black to funerals. Black generally represents death.

But only in our culture. I'm told that in China, it's the other way around.

I don't live in China (am I smarty pants? Think of my poor, poor husband, lol! To see how many white hairs I have given him, look at my member picture.)

like it or not, when someone sees someone in all black and tears tattooed to their face, etc., many people will assume that person is not very happy, because well, often that IS the case, as it was the case with me.

Just because people assume something doesn't make it true. You may be able to make a case on the black clothing, I'll let XianGothDude handle that one, if he so desires. As for tattoos, people get them for different reasons, very few of them have to do with unhappiness.

BTW, MerryCHRISTmas!!!!!!!!!!! :24:

[RGR]

I am REQUIRED to wear dress slacks, shirt and tie to work every day as a Dpt. Mgr. at a well known retail store, something that I absolutely hate, lol!!!! When Sunday rolls around, it's a clean pair of jeans, nice shirt, and Nike's for me! Sometimes, I don't even shave! My skin breaks out really bad even though I've tried different shaving preparations, etc. (I actually find dry shaving w/o cream works best! ) and I'll go with some stubble on the ole cheeks, lol! I suppose to some I look slouchy, but after I've worked all week the last thing I feel like doing is trying to iron clothes on Saturday night and get all suited up! One time I dressed all out for church and before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed my name tag to put on!

[CSLewis]

I personally am not a christian because it feels good. I sing hymns not because my voice is awesome (I'd rather be silent sometimes)

Some sundays I'd rather be in bed than on a hard wooden pew. I'd rather keep my money all to myself rather than give any to help the poor or tithe. Some sundays I'd like to wear blue jeans and a raggedy shirt. But that would shift my focus off of God and onto what makes me feel good.

[abbershay]

THe scripture i gave is about salvation in my thinking, however it does leave one wonder how could someone get in without salvation wedding garment , its not like you can just get in on your own.

[RGR]

I personally am not a christian because it feels good. I sing hymns not because my voice is awesome (I'd rather be silent sometimes)

Some sundays I'd rather be in bed than on a hard wooden pew. I'd rather keep my money all to myself rather than give any to help the poor or tithe. Some sundays I'd like to wear blue jeans and a raggedy shirt. But that would shift my focus off of God and onto what makes me feel good.

So are we taking podshots at people now because they don't wear what you think is right? If it weren't for my job, I'd probably own a couple of dress shirts and slacks and a tie or two. Dress clothing is too constricting as far as I'm concerned and if I'm sitting thinking of how UNCOMFORTABLE I am, I'm certainly not going to be in a worship mode!