Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Hi,

So, where did the fad come in that all UPC preachers wear suits? The pastors of small churches wear nice black and gray suits, and pastors of large congregations wear extreme suits with like pinstripes and stuff. Anybody know how this originated? Why do they were suits?

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Hey now theres a good discussion!

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Years ago men wore suits a lot. Look at old movies. Notice the way the men are dressed on the street, at a ball game, at a store shopping, etc. The suit has been replaced by more leisure clothing just about everywhere except at some churches.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

This is true for most denominations, and has been the norm for years. It is not new or a fad.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

:gotcha as they slid down that slippery slope from robes and sandels they brought suits from Egypt....

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

I think it has been a long standing tradition to dress up for church--not just UPC people. It seems to be fading away, but it still makes a lot of sense to some people. I have no problem with it--my husband likes to dress up on Sunday morning, and my son copies him, and feels quite happy in his Sunday "best."

On Wednesdays church is casual, and they're both equally happy with that. :D

My Grandma was Baptist, and she always wore a suit (jacket & skirt) or dress, hat and gloves to church.

I also like to dress up sometimes, so....:)

You'll get some people that say dressing up is a sign of pride, and some that say dressing down means you don't take God seriously enough. I say let people wear what they like to wear, and let God accept them just as they are--dressy or not. :thumbsup

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

When I came to the Cincinnati, OH area in the spring of 1957, a woman or teenage girl was not considered dressed for church/Sunday School unless she ware a hat, gloves, and hose along with a "dressy" style dress.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Eh...I guess you're right. Maybe it just intimidates me. LOL!!!

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Does it intimidate you when people dress in suits out in public? Or just in church? :coffee2

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

AHA!-----AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! DUUUUUUUUUUDE! HIGH-FIVE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA!


That was AWESOME! Actually, both. I remember working at a bank and hating the socio-economic separation. I mean, I don't hate people who wear suits. I like to look nice too, it's just that it seems like when I put on nice clothes I am saying "Look at me little poor wretch kid and family...I have money...I'm blessed and you...you are not! Mwa-ha ha ha!"

LOL!

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

LOL!!!! Thanks! I think! :D

I get what you're saying. I just think that judging people by what they wear is wrong on both sides of the coin. (Judging hearts and motives, I mean) We do assess people to a point by their appearance, whether they are wealthy or not, whether they are tasteful or not, whether or not they have good hygiene, etc. And from there we may even draw conclusions about their education or intelligence.

But in reality, in the church, I think there is room for the man in fine apparel, and the man in "poor" clothing. James 2:3

The point is not to treat people differently because of what they wear; not that one way or the other is preferable, at least in God's eyes.

It's foolish to think, though, that what we wear doesn't send messages to other people.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Here's the deal. EVERYBODY used to wear suits and ties and hats EVERY day to work. It was all the rage until the sixties. So, that same style of dress carried over into the church.

Until the sixties our women looked like most others, and our men dressed like most others.

Culture shifted leftward in the 70s-90s and the OP movement radicalized rightward to combat that shift.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

The problem as I see it it becomes a pride thing. I have been in church all my life and growing up we dressed in our best to go t church. when I went into the ministry I started wearing suits. Then it was who wore the best suit or drove the nicest car etc. as if this would show how well you were doing spiritualy. I started to get turned off of the whole thing when a friend went into the ministry and started to bug me about getting a nicer car because he felt I was not representing Christ well enough driving and older car. When this happened I started to see this kind of attitude was not just with him but everywhere. I now were my best jeans and a nice shirt groom myself well and represent Christ as who I am. Just another plain Joe. If one has to spend money that could be better used to further the kingdom of God just because we think we need a new suit etc I don't think this is pleasing to God. Futher more Jesus did not say the world would know us by our dress but by our love one for another.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

I agree with your statement, "...let people wear what they like to wear, and let God accept them just as they are..." However, I think that as we approach church in a casual manner it has an impact on us in a way that causes us to apply this casualness to all aspects of our life, which in the long run can hurt a believers walk.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

I prefer the casual look. I don't mind wearing a suit, but if I had my choice I would wear a nice pair of jeans and a nice button up shirt.

The suit just reinforces the "professional CHristian" mentality that ticks me off.

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Actually, mankind started out dressing pretty casually (in the beginning). At some point in time, mankind start dressing up... at some points (like Edwardian and Victorian times) REALLY dressing up.... then slowly but surely, people started dressing more casually again. So, maybe we're getting back to the good ol' (really old) days? :)

Re: Who Opted for the Suits?
 

Your friend had a real big problem and I'll bet that wasn't his only one. I had a friend several years ago who bragged that his suit was a Botney500. I bought them too but didn't brag about it. I bought them only because the store where I bought my clothes handled mostly Botney. I always wear a tie to church on Sunday, to weddings, to funerals and to work. Sometimes you may find me working in the yard or washing a car with a tie on. Fact is I like ties and I enjoy dressing up. Don't get me wrong I like my Levis and cowboy boots too.