more fun

[joemama]

hey what do you think of it when your pastor makes a remark like "Brother so and so will look so nice when he gets a suit --When I was younger I had to go to Goodwill to get a suit and I've moved up some in the years and now I can get suits at the store, ..." over the pulpit. These kind of comments are made enough to know that the general gist is that the brother should get a suit as soon as possible. Sometimes they are followed up with that we should look our best for Jesus and that if the president was coming to town we would dress up. The result of this remark was that the brother has decided that he would buy a suit and get it tailored. Which I have no problem with but he has told his wife he wouldn't participate in church (ushering or singing on the platform)until he had the suit because it just wouldn't be right.Also, this brother is in financial debt and fails to pay regular child support.I guess my point is that his money could be better spent elsewhere.(He is the husband of my best friend so that's how I know about the debt.)Does everything bother me now because I am bitter or am I bitter because everything bothers me now?

[jane]

doesn't sound like bitterness to me at all, sounds more like righteous anger.

We heard comments like that too!

My husband was in the hospital for over a week with an infection in his leg. Istayed by his side because they thought that he might die, it was MIRSA (sp?). untreatable by antibiotics, they were watching the infection to see if it was going to go into his organs (98% fatal at that point). I was terrified. I stayed with him, brought no change of clothes. A friend ran to Walmart for me, picked up a pair of shorts, flip flops and shirt. On Sunday, I felt guilty about missing church, so I went, in those clothes (HEHEHE).

That day, a guest speaker was there and people were being slain in the spirit. All the ushers were men and because I was on the team and women were falling, I grabbed some throws to help cover the women's legs.

BOY WAS I IN TROUBLE! Being in the front with shorts and flip flops on, HOW DISRESPECTFUL! The poor leader of the ushering team that day heard it too!

NO, HEY how is Tony doing? Can we offer any prayers? I am sooo glad you came to church against all the odds.....just,

HOW COULD YOU IN THOSE CLOTHES!!!!


The more time goes by, the more abuse I realise. I am going to go put on a pair of shorts and flip flops right now!

Jane

[jane]

Our church actually had some of the same legalism in the opposite way; I have heard churches where no one wears make up. Our pastor would talk against those legalistic churches and say things like,

"IF YOUR BARN NEEDS PAINTING< PLEASE PAINT IT!"

I would cringe because it was so shovenistic and I knew women there that were in bondage to the fear of how they looked. They would worry for hours about make up and hair and never feel adequate....he just perpetuated their insecurities.

Jane

[Jerry]

Dear joemamma,,,
I think you are angry with them because you know that God grows "Noid" at their foolishness ;)
Love Jerry

[joemama]

the women are supposed to be properly attired as well. Recently,(last month) before a church conference for ladies,there was a ladies meeting where the subject was (no joke) don't wear jean skirts to conference or flip flops and fix up your hair-don't wear it down.Since I had no intention of going to the conference I didn't attend the meeting. Later, people wanted to know why I wasn't there and when I said that I wouldn't be going to the conference they tried to encourage me to go. There was only one other sister in the church that wears flip flops to church and she (the same friend I spoke of earlier) thought that they were trying to "subtly" (her word not mine) tell her that the way she dressed was unacceptable.I think (personally) that the meeting was not for her alone but for me as well, but since I wasn't there they couldn't achieve their agenda.Maybe I'm paranoid

[joemama]

jane, I really appreciate your posts as well as Jerry's --I keep reading and think that there is really the possibility that I am still sane.

[DLL]

the same thing happened at my "old" church
every year in the spring the whoile church would go camping for 3 days. we had services and chapel and devotions but also fun and games and activities. everyone was given a list of dos and donts and we were encouraged to not invite other churches. if any women showed up in pants or any men showed up in shorts, they were not allowed to participate and asked to leave. it was always video-taped. since no one was allowed to wear pants but expected to participate, this one year some of the women "bared" it all for the camera.
needless to say, instead of accommodating the dress code and still having worship time and a time of refreshing in the LORD, the camping trips were cancelled for good. havent had one in 5 years now. seems to me that someone has priorities out of whack!!

i personally think GOD looks more on the motive of our dress than the dress itself, whether it be a suit, shorts, flip-flops or a brand new expensive wardrobe!!

[butterfly]

Hi, I Know Alot Of People Who Do Not Have Enough Money To Buy Cloths. That The "church" Sees As A Must Wear. So The People Stay Home. I Wondeer What The Pastor Would Of Said If The Brother Stood Up And Said " Well The Lord Has Not Supplyed Me With A Suite Pastor He Knows I Have To Spened My Money On Familey Needs. I Wear What He Gives Me Has He Spoken To You To Buy Me One. I Was Woundering Where That Blessing Was Coming From Thank You Pastor." Butterfly

[Voyager]

I haven't wore a suit in the last four years except to a funeral. I could care less if I ever wear one again.

It's sad how much emphasis churches put on wearing suits. I wonder how many child molesters and wife beaters are sitting in the pew on Sunday morning wearing a suit and singing the hallejiah chorus while getting an nod of approval from the head dictator.

:cool:

[Hesed]

A friend of mine who has been a minister for many years and who I respect immensely said to me yesterday that his guide for pastoring people is that he wants to show them that they are dignified adults who can make their own choices.

I think that's a good rule of thumb. And it's quite easy to see that preaching to someone from the pulpit on the topic of "get a suit" doesn't fit. It's public humiliation for a start and it's hardly treating this man as an adult. Where in the bible does it say that God wants only a few people to decide what others do?

[Reg]

Thankfully I go to a church were dress is not an issue. Some come in suits, some in jeans and some in their native dress. In fact, I hardly notice what people wear any more.

You are all welcome to come in the dress that suits (no pun intended) you and yes Jane, even in your shorts and flip flops. :D

[Doug64]

Hi:

The example in the Bible seems to be that learning about the Lord is the important thing - not what you wear. The story about the man in shabby clothing is often used as an example, but it seems to me the point was his spiritual "clothes" (condition), not his physical attire.

Our former group frowned on shorts in church stating that we should appear before God in proper attire out of respect to Him. They used to allow us men to remove our suit coats during the service if the hall was not air conditioned.

Like Voyager, my only suit wearing in recent years has been to funerals. And then, I rarely wear a tie because they make my neck hurt. Those miserable Frenchmen and their ties. LOL!

My wife wears slacks to many functions which is often frowned on by churches. Women like to be comfortable too.

Doug

[Jerry]

Hmmmmmm Christ wore "Flip-Flops",,,,,,,,,,,,I don't believe He had an "Armonti" suit either,,,,,,,I could be wrong though :confused:
Love Jerry :D
Oh Yeh !!!,,,,,,,,,Benny Hinn has some pretty nice "Duds",,,,cool hair too :D

[Kerrin]

:D One of the benefits of having lived in the States and been married to an American is knowing what "flip flops" are!!!

Here?
Thongs!!!! :D :p

( And I know what THAT means over there!!!!)

So many subtle interpretations to the "English" language!
Just imagine if in Australia we said thongs were ok in Church ( Hypothetical , just for "fun's sake" :p :D !!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!)

Love,
Kerrin :D

[molehills]

My parents left a job at church like that. The SS superintendant took my mother's SS class away because she wore pants at home to scrub the floor.

I understand that it's important to honor God, but people weren't made for Sunday services, Sunday Services were made for people.

I think God is much more concerned about whether the pastor is honoring the man made in God's image by respecting his economic reality. Feel free to quote James on that one.

You aren't paranoid. They are.

[pblondeau46]

I haven't wore a suit in the last four years except to a funeral. I could care less if I ever wear one again.

It's sad how much emphasis churches put on wearing suits. I wonder how many child molesters and wife beaters are sitting in the pew on Sunday morning wearing a suit and singing the hallejiah chorus while getting an nod of approval from the head dictator.

:cool:

Amen and Amen!!!