Church Dress? How should we dress in the House of God?

Well, when we go to parties or any other gatherings, we take time to dress appropriately. What more when we go to the House of the Lord? Definitely, no "daisy-dukes".

Our group doesn't believe in putting any rules. But all dress modestly, according to what their conscience dictates. If someone is dressed inapropriately, an elder will talk to them. We are all commited and trust each other that we will do what is good for the body and honors the Lord

We don't dress very fancy either though... There aren't many rich among us, and those who are don't act like it

Oh way... I guess I should point out we just meet in homes. With whatever brothers and sisters would come

If you are a member of a religious group you should abide by the rules they set or dissolve your membership.

On another note, where/ what is this "house of God" referred to in your posts?

One person said something that stuck with me.

If you truly are going to church and expect God Himself to make an appearance, shouldn't you AT LEAST dress as nice as you would for a job interview.

Well, women at my Church are required to (an do...) adorn themselves in modest appereal which is becoming to a woman and professes Godliness. Most of them look great too! Better than any ruby I've ever seen! They certainly don't wear that which pertains to men. If they do, they are corrected by the head of the Church.

As for the men.... We are required to wear garments fit for a wedding.

Heard about one preacher who used to hold Church when he was naked.... Another wore leather to Church! Can you imagine?

Back in "hippie days"...Before "mega churches" took off, Calvary Chapel held their services in a tent. After time passed, and enough money was raised, they decided to build a church. After planning, building, etc. the glorious opening day arrived. The night before...Some of the "elders" expressed concern over the issue of those dirty barefoot hippies walking into the new church and getting the carpet all dirty. The Pastor (Chuck Smith) said OK.

The next morning (Sunday), as people arrived at church, they found Pastor Chuck with a basin of water and a stack of towels washing the feet of those "dirty hippies". Now...THAT is a man of God.

Cool story!

In the house of god we are all naked to him so it does not matter how you dress, come in a hessian bag if you want but as long as you are their for the right reason that's fine but you can't be dressed in a rude way as that would be a sin.
I see people who dress up as a front just like a slick sales man trying to impress with a facade.
Children dressed up in a suit is just poor.
It would not be right to be a filthy grub who did not give a toss.

MR ROSENBERGER said:

In the house of god we are all naked to him so it does not matter how you dress, come in a hessian bag if you want but as long as you are their for the right reason that's fine but you can't be dressed in a rude way as that would be a sin.
I see people who dress up as a front just like a slick sales man trying to impress with a facade.
Children dressed up in a suit is just poor.
It would not be right to be a filthy grub who did not give a toss.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

I remember a time when, as a new Christian and very young, the hubby and I took a weekend drive. ANYHOW...We found ourselves driving by a church. Now...I was raised in Southern Ohio and whenever you saw people going to church, they had their "Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes" on. He wanted to go in for the Sunday service and I wouldn't because I was dressed in ratty jeans. In hindsight, we should have as I have a feeling the Pastor felt the same as you. A missed opportunity. The Pastor was J. Vernon Mcgee.

At our church, there isn't really any specific dress-code. It really saddens me to see what some people will wear to church, though...uber short skirts, spaghetti-strap tank-tops, stuff like that. But that's mainly the youth of the church. The older people are almost always dress nicely and modestly. I myself prefer to usually wear a nice dress and a little jewelry. Nothing overdone. Just modest. As for what the Bible tells us, there aren’t many scriptures about what men should and shouldn’t wear, but here are plenty about what woman should wear:

1 Timothy 2:9-10 - Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

1 Peter 3:3-4 - Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

I believe that some of these attributes also apply to the men, really; “...respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire”, because the way men dress can also cause a woman to lust. Men need to be careful about what they wear (or don’t wear. haha).

Proverbs 31:30 - Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Matthew 5:28 - But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Also...

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

While this verse is very true, that the heart should be first and foremost no matter what the appearance, this next verse is also true, in that we need to dress appropriately, and treat our bodies as if they do not belong to us...which they don’t. Our bodies are temples, and should be treated with such respect.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We have to remember that every time we dress in an inappropriate manner, that someone may lust after us; causing our brother or sister to stumble is also a sin. (Of course, sometimes they’re going to lust whether or not we’re dressed modestly or not; sometimes it can’t be avoided on our part...but sometimes it can. And we need to remember our brothers and sisters and God when we dress.

Romans 14:21 - It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

We are called to love one another; and to love one another is to follow God’s commandments. If we follow God’s commandments, we’ll dress appropriately for everyone, so that we don’t cause anyone to stumble in their faith...and we’ll be a good example to those who aren’t followers of Christ!

1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Hope this helps. ^^

EDIT: Also, I forgot to note, though, that all who come into the church should be accepted and loved, no matter how it is that they're dressed. They just need love and God's teachings to show them what they should and shouldn't wear.

I try to dress smart casual, some of the men wear suits and some don't but we all at least areclean and tudy, so no-one is scruffy, though many people wear their coats as it can get pretty cold in there as its an old building. I ahve been to churches wear all the men ahve been wearing suits and I have felt very udnerdressed and a bit foolish.

The women are mostly smart but don't cover their heads and very few wear trousers.

Anyone who is officiating in any way, be it the Priest, Lay readers or Acolytes are all robed up with the Priest wearing Liturgical colours that match the altar frontal. Green for ordinary time, purple for Lent, Red for Easter, White for Advent and God for Christmas.