Dressing up for church

[Devilman88]

For most churches, yes. That's what the unwritten social rule is. I think suit and tie is a bit extreme - a nice button up shirt tucked into some khaki pants with a decent pair of shoes are acceptable in most churches.

I wear that on Sunday mornings, but on Sunday nights and Wenesdays I wear blue jeans and a polo shirt or T-Shirt if it is really nice.

[Devilman88]

Dress presentably. I get sort of dressed up (dress pants and dress shirt, maybe a tie and a sweater) for major celebrations. Otherwise, I go in shorts, jeans, t-shirt, polo, track jacket...whatever.

I think anyone would agree that wearing certain types of clothing (a beater for guys or really short shorts for girls) is just disrespectful in church.

It isn't up to us to judge what others wear to church, for all we know that person could not be saved and not know any better. We should worry about what someone wear to church, we should worry if that person is saved by the grace of God.

[Devilman88]

Dress presentably. I get sort of dressed up (dress pants and dress shirt, maybe a tie and a sweater) for major celebrations. Otherwise, I go in shorts, jeans, t-shirt, polo, track jacket...whatever.

I think anyone would agree that wearing certain types of clothing (a beater for guys or really short shorts for girls) is just disrespectful in church.

It isn't up to us to judge what others wear to church, for all we know that person could not be saved and not know any better. We should worry about what someone wear to church, we should worry if that person is saved by the grace of God.

I'm really not quick to judge...

Insert chuckles by those that think they have me figured out.

I know that some people might not have much and they go to church with whatever little they have. However, there are those that show up in the attire that I mentioned that wear what they wear to be inappropriate. I don't dwell on it. I'm at mass for other reasons. However, I still think that trying to be inappropriate is wrong.

This reminds me of the kids that were at mass not too long ago. They were about ten years old and just kept goofing off. Their mother had no control of the situation whatsoever and that annoys me to no end but I keep my mouth shut. The kids crossed the line when they started laughing out loud at the priest's Indian accent. People were visibly upset and rightfully so. When one gentleman was leaving church, he mumbled "What a disgrace" or something like that as he walked by the kids and the mother. Now I agree with the guy but at the same time, church, of all places, should not be the place to throw stones. The woman rightfully told the man to mind his own business when it comes to how she should deal with her kids. Even though I typically dislike that type of attitude (it frequently serves as a justification for having no control), she was right. She could have done more to shut her kids up and stress that they need to learn about respect but maybe she wanted to do that afterwards. Who knows?

That's exactly why I don't get visibly upset or say anything in those types of situations. If I am going to say anything, it has to be done in a mild mannered tone, not in a lecture. Saying "What a disgrace" only makes the situation worse.

I was just trying to point out, that we shouldn't tell people what to wear to church. We should make people feel welcome in the church and make sure they are saved by grace and then let God deal with the other stuff.

For example:
About nine months ago a family started going to our church. The Father wore clothes like you would wear to a bar and the Mother wore clothes that a teenagers would wear. Their kids two teen girls well wore clothes that I wouldn't let my child wear. Our church welcomed them and made them feel at home. The next sunday they came back  to church and the Father got saved then slowly after that the rest of the family got saved by the grace of God. Now today that family comes to church every time the doors are open. The Father wear a suit and tie to church the mother wears very nice dresses and the kids wear dresses and nice clothes to church.

If someone would have said to them you can't wear that in church get out or if the preacher said you have to wear this and that to church that whole family most likely wouldn't have came back and would not be saved. See once someone truly gets saved God deals with the other stuff, like what to wear to church etc.