Sunday Best?

 

Many people attend the house of God attired the same way they would dress for a rodeo or a football game.

When people are to be guests at the White House for a meeting with the President, they dress up—suits and ties for the men; pretty dresses for the ladies. Appropriate dress indicates appropriate respect. When the President speaks to a joint session of congress, the gallery guests as well as the lawmakers are all dressed in their best.  (Dr. Tassell)





I don't know Dr. Tassell "from Adam" (as some of us say)!  I DO tend to think these words of his have merit.  And he has said it better than I can. I know there are many opinions on this subject..and I know it may be a little too "King Jamesish" for many...but here are more words from a post of his:

I know the Lord looks on the heart, and clothes don't necessarily make the man, but how we dress when we go to a worship service ought to indicate how much we honor our Lord. We do not have to be fashion models, but we should "dress up" for our Saviour's special day at His special house, the local church. The spirit of what I am saying is captured in the words of Malachi:
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Master, where is My fear (reverence)? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests (Malachi 1:6).
"Just as I Am" is an invitation for sinners, not a description of how the saints are to attend a church service. The Prodigal Son came home in rags. As soon as his father accepted him, however, he was dressed in a fine robe; shoes were put on his feet and a ring on his finger. Before Joseph went in to have an audience with Pharaoh, "he shaved himself, and changed his raiment" (Genesis 41:14). So should we look our best when going to the house of God to worship the Lord of the Church.

I am not pleading for barring anyone from a church service because of the way he or she is dressed.

Let's not allow our local churches to become sanctuaries of the sloppy and temples of the tacky. Let's respect our Master, minister and message.

God's Holy and Special Person requires reverence on the part of those who know Him and who seek to honor His Name. "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him" (Psalm 89:7). He is the great and awe-inspiring God who demands our worshipful respect, not only in the way we dress, but also in the way we sing.

We dress in a proper and special way on the Lord's Day because it is a special occasion and we are meeting with a special Person, even the God who is to be feared and revered. Because of this special occasion and special Person, we want to sing in a manner that is appropriate and befitting such a worthy and glorious God. It is a time of worship, not entertainment.

The dressing, the singing, the bending of the heart before God in humble worship—all of this is but the preparation of one's heart attitude for the glad reception of God's Holy Word. The One who is high and holy is looking for those who will tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:1-2). He is looking for those who will bow before the authority of His Word. "Speak Lord, for Thy servant is listening." 

...some jewelry I wore with my simple "black and white"...
As I said, I know this is a controversial subject--but one which deserves some thought and attention.  I don't even own fancy clothes.  The pictures above show how simply I dress for our Sunday morning gatherings.  And I KNOW that what is inside my heart is more important than what I wear.   There.  I've put some of my thoughts on the screen.  God knows my thoughts - both on the screen and OFF!

19 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more. That's not to say that someone should stay away from church because they have nothing they consider appropriate. As you have said, the Lord knows their heart.

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  2. Amen Rebecca!!!

    I also agree with Donna's comment above!

    Beautiful photo of you Rebecca.

    Blessings!

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  3. I'm in agreement with you...but I thought it was just my age!
    Actually, not only do I feel that way about chruch...I feel that way about being in public. Leave the pajama pants at home.

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  4. Pat, It probably IS a little of that (my age) with me, too. However, I think this might be the first generation that has been so casual in this respect. I'm sure it may be traceable to a certain amount of hypocrisy among us "older folk"...but when inward and outward appearance COMBINE and are consistent with the worship God is worthy of, it makes a POWERFUL statement!

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  5. We have some young ladies in our church that I would love to have the nerve to place a sweater around their shoulders to cover the top half of their bodies. It's so inappropriate...but what can I expect when some of their Momma's dress pretty much the same way? I totally agree, Ms. Rebecca...we have to show respect to our Lord and to HIS house...and how we dress is a big part of that. AMEN to your post!!!

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  6. This IS a very controversial subject. My personal preference (and I really do feel it is ONLY my personal preference, because it was the way I was brought up and the way we brought up our own kids) is to dress up rather than dress down. And this man's point is well taken. I think it really boils down to the attitude of the heart...are we just "fitting in" our hour at church and then off to spend the rest of our week doing all the usual things, and therefore don't want to be bothered with putting more into that short, sacred time? Even at fairly nice restaurants where I would "dress up" a little, others are present in casual clothing. So in part, don't you think it's a reflection of our culture at large, not just what we wear to church? (And like Pat said, PLEASE leave the pajamas at home!!) I do have to think about my great grandmother who, after arriving at the shores of our country dirt poor at the turn of the last century, rarely went to church, and the reason that has been passed down through the family is she didn't think she had the "proper" clothing. That pains me to think that there was so much pressure to dress properly that she felt she didn't measure up. So while I personally don't like the current trend, I'm trying to let God judge the heart...

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  7. Jacque, I DO "hear" you. And certainly and THANKFULLY believe that God knows the heart. And I DO think it is culture - but there's a LOT about "culture" that I don't acquiesce to just because it's culture.

    I think there was a day when people had only 2 outfits--a Sunday outfit an outfit for "everyday".

    "Proper" clothes doesn't mean expensive - it means clean, modest, and "special" or set apart from one's casual/"everyday" ones. Most of us have SOMETHING that falls into that category.

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  8. A very thought-provoking post, Rebecca!!! You always write such profound things...I so love reading your thoughts!!! Thanks for this! ~Janine XO

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  9. Rebecca; I love this post. So well said. I thought it was my age too. Dress and clothing are an important thing to me as I sew and wish I could have been a designer. I'm shocked at the latest trends of immodesty and downright sloppy dress. I did a few posts about modesty in the past with suggestions and plan to do more. Cost of clothing is not the issue in our culture when people will spend big bucks on almost everything and anything else they want. However, truly, finding modest things is a problem. If you really want to, you can find them, but it's becoming more of a chore and if you're hard to fit it's even more difficult. Sewing for myself is one of my best options. We've been to
    Africa and though very poor in the area where we went those people enjoy dressing up to go to town or church--it's a matter of dignity. We've lost that sense that our clothes make a statement. Thanks for the bravery it took to post this. Blessings!

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  10. Amen to not acquiescing to a lot in our culture!!

    I'm with Deb also on the lack of modesty. It's embarrassing and disrespectful!

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  11. Well some Sundays I dress up and some Sundays I wear my jeans and a tee shirt. It just depends on my mood. I wouldn't want to go to a church where people looked down on me because I can't afford what they can. And quite honestly, I'm not there to impress the congregation. Most Sundays I wear my best jeans and a blouse, but sometimes I just don't feel it.
    I was raised believing that God accepts us no matter how we look.
    Now this is not to say that I would ever dress disrespectfully. I am always clean and presentable but if I had to worry about how I looked to walk in church to praise my God, I don't think I'd go.
    Love Di ♥

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  12. I so agree with this post...thanks so much for sharing it...have a very blessed week...

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  13. Another thought. Yes there are some people who dress a bit racy at church, particularly the younger generation. But I think with low attendances amongst the younger generation, we should welcome them with open arms. Isn't that what Jesus would do?
    Love Di ♥

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  14. Di, Like the man - whoever he is - said, the father WELCOMED the prodigal, but quickly gave him new clothes. (I KNOW those represent righteousness to replace his sinning.) Yes, we welcome ANYone no matter how they are dressed. But once you meet Him, you want to DO your best for Him! I THINK that's the point the man made.

    Once again, it's not a competition or a spur to get you to the mall...it's showing your respect - not being "good enough" or "keeping up" with what someone else is wearing... I think this is something we OLD folks can teach the younger generation (when our own motives are good) just as we can learn from THEM.

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  15. Lori, I'll have to look back and see if I can find your posts on modesty. I've noticed a great # of bloggers in the fashion/clothing genre who incorporate "modesty" in their blog titles. (Most of them young gals.) When I've looked closer, I find that many of them are Mormon. Interesting!?!

    Time for grandmas and mothers in "evangelical" Christianity to be modeling and instructing OUR daughters and granddaughters!

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  16. Well, I don't think anyone needs to 'dress up' for Church, but it would be nice if they didn't dress as if they were going to the beach.
    Dress neat, clean, and modest. That's just my opinion.
    Another pet peeve of mine is brides in strapless gowns at a Church ceremony.
    I always say a silent prayer to help me not to be 'judge and jury' but no matter how much I pray about it, it stills feels inappropriate to me.
    I guess I should just try and picture how Jesus would judge their hearts and not their dress.
    I'm sure He's welcoming with open and Loving Arms a great many of the people that I am frowning on. I am judging their love and respect for God based on the way they are dressed.
    Very thought-provoking post, Rebecca.
    I think I've just had a change of heart!
    "Look and see with Jesus' Eyes"
    Love to you,
    Eileen

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  17. I think when you attend church that clean modest attire is best whether it is jeans ora dress. If people attend that do not know better or do not have the money to dress appropriately...then we are not to judge them but to lovingly show them through God's word.. I find that in my church most of the one's who attend in beach clothes or with it all hanging out each Sunday...do not fall in that category..they know better but feel it is ok.

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  18. I agree, Dee. Clean, modest, and respectful - which (to me) means you make a thoughtful decision based upon the occasion.

    Even some public schools have dress codes knowing the distraction that sloppy and immodest clothing promotes and the attention, focus, and self-respect that uniforms foster....(NOT saying we should wear UNIFORMS to church....)

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  19. You got a good discussion going Rebecca!

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)