Stop dressing so tacky for church


pam
 Share

Recommended Posts

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/19/stop-dressing-so-tacky-for-church/?hpt=hp_c2

 

Being part of the older generation I've seen a decline in how people dress.  There was a time that you wouldn't even consider going to the ballet unless you were dressed in Sunday best.  Now I see people in jeans and sandals.

 

I thought this article was interesting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wore jeans a grand total of once to church, and they were my finest pair (only because my good pants were being cleaned due to them being used for work previously, last thing I wanted to do for church was make it stink like mock chicken)

I still don't own a piano key necktie to wear lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely an interesting read.

 

I can see both sides of this. I think too much fuss can be made about dressing just so ( a pride issue ) and judging others for their inability to do the same, but I also surely agree that too little fuss can be made to dressing up ( a respect issue).

 

My personal view on the matter is that Jesus would not care so much what was worn, but that he would care that it reflected an upgrade from the norm for the individual. Styles change. That's a fact. What we wear to church now is nothing like what they wore in Christ's time which was likely different from what was worn in ancient Israel as well. What we wear does influence how we think and act to some extent, as such dressing up can serve to put us a more reverent frame of mind.

 

Of course sadly too many people I know only dress up nice to go to the club or staff party. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But would Jesus even care about the attire, if you came with a willing heart and a listening ear? The most poor have no good clothes, would they be excluded because they are poor?

 

If you came with a "willing heart" (aka humble) then you would wear respectful clothing as part of that. No one should judge someone for dressing down if that's all they have. It's when they dress lazy and disrespectfully, when they could full well do otherwise with a bit of attitude adjustment, where there is an issue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I see someone at church I am simply happy they are there.

 

That's like saying when someone's in school I'm just glad they're there, even though they didn't bring any text books, notebooks, don't bother listening, etc...

 

Coming to church is not the end all of soul-saving. We should be concerned with the salvation of people's souls. Someone who dresses disrespectfully at church concerns me because I worry about their attitude and what they're getting out of church. Yes...reserve judgement...get to know them, be friendly, don't wish they would stop coming, etc.... But no, I'm not going to wave it off as I'm just glad they're there. I can be glad they're there and still want to influence them for even greater good, greater humility, greater faith, and a greater ability to draw close to our Father in Heaven.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you came with a "willing heart" (aka humble) then you would wear respectful clothing as part of that. No one should judge someone for dressing down if that's all they have. It's when they dress lazy and disrespectfully, when they could full well do otherwise with a bit of attitude adjustment, where there is an issue.

 

Not everyone owns respectful clothing, I don't own any nice clothing and don't have the money to buy it.

I make it a point not to wear my worst clothes but I am not in dress shoes, fancy shirt, etc-my shoes for example, I only own 1 pair.

I do listen, my clothes do not reflect my intentions when I go, but if you are saying I am not wanted because I can't afford to look as nice as everyone else, regardless of my intentions, then I don't know what to tell you. It's the best I can do, and if that's the additude, then why would I want to go?

I don't remember Jesus getting all mad when the poor and the diseased came to him dressed in rags to hear him speak, but now he cares?

I understand the difference between dressing in a lousy way and in a poor way, but a lot of people don't seem to be able to tell the difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's not what this article is saying.  Most of what the article is talking about is the attitude about the way we dress and how the attitude or the norm is changing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not everyone owns respectful clothing, I don't own any nice clothing and don't have the money to buy it.

I make it a point not to wear my worst clothes but I am not in dress shoes, fancy shirt, etc-my shoes for example, I only own 1 pair.

I do listen, my clothes do not reflect my intentions when I go, but if you are saying I am not wanted because I can't afford to look as nice as everyone else, regardless of my intentions, then I don't know what to tell you. It's the best I can do, and if that's the additude, then why would I want to go?

I don't remember Jesus getting all mad when the poor and the diseased came to him dressed in rags to hear him speak, but now he cares?

I understand the difference between dressing in a lousy way and in a poor way, but a lot of people don't seem to be able to tell the difference.

 

My take is you missed the point. For some fancy clothes are in abundance and easily accessible, these people show a lack of respect for deity when they come to church dressed down from what they would wear to a nice restaurant for instance. Perhaps the best others can do is take the time to pre-clean their sneakers and throw on a golf shirt with jeans, the point being that the choices of clothes worn are an outward reflection of an inner intent.

 

Jesus didn't get mad at the publicans and sinners for being in their day to day clothes when he was out ministering to them, but this is a bit different than what they would wear to the synagogue. Now of course abuses of this idea came into play because people of worldly status became uncomfortable with those living a reality of poverty (which they didn't want to see or have those around them exposed to) so they would cast the impoverished out. Clearly this goes against what Jesus would do. He would have the rich clothe the poor.

 

I don't consider myself rich, but I can afford respectful clothes. I'd be willing to buy you some and ship them to you if you'd like. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, for the main point is everything has to be altered to fit me and my weird short/thin statue and some fabrics bother me relentlessly, but I don't see my unemployment spell lasting forever, just as long as I stay in this ruin of a town.

I thank you none the less, you are kind.

 

I get what you mean though, effort put into something shows, clothes are no different.

You make an effort to look respectable and it shows, I cut off my insanely long hair at the time, gosh that would have been last June, I don't remember... am in need for another cut actually.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wondering?  For those that do not own and cannot afford "nice" clothing for Church; would it be considered condescending to offer some “hand me downs” or an opportunity to do some "domestic jobs” for some better off members willing to give in exchange for something more conducive?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wondering?  For those that do not own and cannot afford "nice" clothing for Church; would it be considered condescending to offer some “hand me downs” or an opportunity to do some "domestic jobs” for some better off members willing to give in exchange for something more conducive?

 

Depends on the person you are offering I suppose, what their personality is like, myself I wouldn't do or accept anything like that. I would feel a sort of shame out of it, but that's how my personality goes (I don't need anything more weighing in my mind to shift the scale of depression, I very much dislike talking of my problems to anyone)-some others may be totally the opposite and consider it a lovely gesture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's like saying when someone's in school I'm just glad they're there, even though they didn't bring any text books, notebooks, don't bother listening, etc...

 

Coming to church is not the end all of soul-saving. We should be concerned with the salvation of people's souls. Someone who dresses disrespectfully at church concerns me because I worry about their attitude and what they're getting out of church. Yes...reserve judgement...get to know them, be friendly, don't wish they would stop coming, etc.... But no, I'm not going to wave it off as I'm just glad they're there. I can be glad they're there and still want to influence them for even greater good, greater humility, greater faith, and a greater ability to draw close to our Father in Heaven.

 

And that's great and commendable. Thank goodness those sandals won't affect their ability to draw closer to Heavenly Father.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What the article is saying I get that and I agree.....keep in mind it's not talking about those who can't afford church type clothing. Our area is a rural area and we do have people here below poverty. We encourage them to wear their Sunday best....if that means blue jeans and a flannel shirt and that's their Sunday best the that's what they wear. I don't believe that's what the article is saying....over all attitude is changing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's an interesting article... And do like the point that it makes that over-all standards are changing.

It doesn't mention regions (nor presents more than a fairly myopic view of history)... But that's pretty keen, too.

Fashion in Seattle vs Montana vs Chicago vs New York City... Are 4 (plus 5 or more for the Burroughs) wildly different creatures.

Fashion in LA vs Texas vs New Orleans vs South FL... Are 4 more wildly different creatures.

The standards for all 8 look very different.

Not that any of them, IMHO are wrong. But they are very different.

Just in my own travels, I've noticed that super-urban & super-rural tend to have some SERIOUS dress-up clothes.

Meanwhile suburban & medium sized cities (2milliom or so) tend to dress down. Sun dresses, and slacks.

The country was waaaaaaay more homogenized back following WWII. Off the rack clones were just catching on... And the fabric shortages were over, and off the rack were cheap. The middle class was exploding. All of a sudden "most" people, could look just like most other people. Po' folk done good,,and I buy my dresses at Sears & Roebuck just like the Jones next door. Our kids all match, and we all match, and we. have. arrived.

If one jumps back further, though, clothes were even more varied than they are now (by class, predominantly). One only has to look at photographs to see "Sunday Best" being a simple (often sleeveless) shift dress (shoes optional) on a poor girl, versus dozens of yards of silk, lace, bunting, plus boned corsets, wildly elaborate hairstyles.

So... For me... What I find most interesting about the article is how it STOPS, one generation back, in its analysis.

Yes. Standards are changing.

But they were changing in the 40s & 50s.

And in the 1840s (really 1860 & 90 are more apt).

Standards are ALWAYS changing.

What irks me about the article is the conclusion of moral judgement.

As if things are changing now in a unique way.

As opposed to in direct relation to what is going on in the world.

I wonder what he would have made of it back when women quit wearing corsets & split their skirts into "bicycling outfits", and when stockings went to the war effort, and men stopped wearing hats, and waistcoats?

If he would have taken such things similarly as blatant displays of laziness & disrespect?

Q

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What the article is saying I get that and I agree.....keep in mind it's not talking about those who can't afford church type clothing. Our area is a rural area and we do have people here below poverty. We encourage them to wear their Sunday best....if that means blue jeans and a flannel shirt and that's their Sunday best the that's what they wear. I don't believe that's what the article is saying....over all attitude is changing.

 

I agree that the point of the article is expressing a concern that people nowadays have an attitude of ease. If it isn't convenient and comfortable to go to church I just won't bother. 

 

I find it sad that churches sometimes "bribe" people in with coffee and donuts.... even more sad, we do the same for activities in my own ward minus the coffee.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that the point of the article is expressing a concern that people nowadays have an attitude of ease. If it isn't convenient and comfortable to go to church I just won't bother. 

 

I find it sad that churches sometimes "bribe" people in with coffee and donuts.... even more sad, we do the same for activities in my own ward minus the coffee.

Interesting you mentioned that.....there is a church up the street from our Ward and they serve coffee and donuts on Sunday mornings. On another note and this is in regards to youth.....I have noticed some of the Baptist churches in our area offer video games and things like that on their mid week meeting for their youth. They also have a gaming room for this. At the LDS church we don't have gaming rooms. Is that considered a bribe .....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't care what people wear to church.  But, when we go to the Lyric Opera, the CSO and live theater in Chicago I am appalled to see people dress sloppily in those places. A person can go to a resale shop and buy a dress for a couple dollars. For the same price a guy can buy a used dress shirt, pants and tie.  A person can also borrow proper attire for occasions like that from friends. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't care what people wear to church.  But, when we go to the Lyric Opera, the CSO and live theater in Chicago I am appalled to see people dress sloppily in those places. A person can go to a resale shop and buy a dress for a couple dollars. For the same price a guy can buy a used dress shirt, pants and tie.  A person can also borrow proper attire for occasions like that from friends. 

all my friends are girls lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share