Dressing up for church

[Keystone Phil]

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.

[Keystone Phil]

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.

[Keystone Phil]

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.

Well, I'm not lecturing anyone what to wear. That was kind of my point. I can suggest something and find that more appropriate than some of the stuff others wear but you don't see me giving anyone nasty looks or sending rude remarks their way.

I'm all about making people feel welcome. It still irritates me a bit that my church is packed on Christmas and Easter with people that just show up to say that they were there. Amazing how so many of them get seats and some of us that are there every weekend are left standing. But you know what? I grew up and that doesn't bother me as much now. So I have to stand. Big deal. I'm not entitled to a seat. Now I'm not set on kissing ass with these people to make them come back but it's my duty to make them feel welcome.

My preacher growing up would heckle kids and people doing things like that during the service.  Few things are as alarming as having the preacher yell at you in the middle of a sermon on Sunday morning.

Haha, well, I have a pretty big church and I was standing in the back near these kids. They were loud but not loud enough for people in the front/by the altar to hear.

The best was when this one priest who was with us for awhile heard a cell phone go off right before Communion. This guy is a real character and was very popular with our parishoners so this was sort of normal behavior. So he hears the phone and says, "Tell my wife I'll be home in a little bit." It was great. He also told the ushers once, "All right, boys. Shake 'em down" right before they went around for the collection. He's great. I have to start going to his new parish for some his masses or to my Grandmom's parish (where he isn't even a priest but stops by anyway to get fed by my Grandmom).