Wearing a Suit and a Tie

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

This may totally be true for some, or even many... but I would discourage you from using that broad brush to paint us all. My views on how one should dress for church has nothing to do with any of that, but more of a societal respect that I think the way you dress gives. To me, when we gather, in any kind of corporate/community gathering, it is disrespectful to myself and those around me if I just slap on whatever feels comfortable to wear. I wear a suit and tie when I go to church, and when I'm in the pulpit. But I also do for funeral home visitation, and the funeral home. I also wear slacks and a nice shirt at the very least for hospital visits, or visiting someone's home.... but I've never thought I was being spiritual by doing so, or somehow keeping some Biblical viewpoint.

I was doing it out of respect for the community I was gathering with, my parents who raised me a certain way to what is appropriate and not, and respect of myself. So I'd appreciate you realizing not everyone falls under the broad brush you just used because some of us feel it's appropriate to dress up for church.

There are others who feel exactly the same way you do as you've just described (including myself).



And I know you have no idea who these people are, but most here do.

[Michael The Disciple]

I have never liked the "suit and tie" thing. It reminds me of politicians and salesmen. When I was marrying people I wore them and used to wear them to funerals. Never wore them to Church just for a gathering of saints.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

There are others who feel exactly the same way you do as you've just described (including myself).

Those two are brilliant, when it comes to helping people dress in a way that suits them and makes them look their best. I also love that they're into tasteful choices--which we would usually call "modest." I cringe when Stacey says "Shut the front door." I always think she's going to say something else.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Those two are brilliant, when it comes to helping people dress in a way that suits them and makes them look their best. I also love that they're into tasteful choices--which we would usually call "modest." I cringe when Stacey says "Shut the front door." I always think she's going to say something else.

You are right. Both of them HATE it when they feel someone is showing too much skin -usually meaning "the girls".

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

This may totally be true for some, or even many... but I would discourage you from using that broad brush to paint us all. My views on how one should dress for church has nothing to do with any of that, but more of a societal respect that I think the way you dress gives. To me, when we gather, in any kind of corporate/community gathering, it is disrespectful to myself and those around me if I just slap on whatever feels comfortable to wear. I wear a suit and tie when I go to church, and when I'm in the pulpit. But I also do for funeral home visitation, and the funeral home. I also wear slacks and a nice shirt at the very least for hospital visits, or visiting someone's home.... but I've never thought I was being spiritual by doing so, or somehow keeping some Biblical viewpoint.

I was doing it out of respect for the community I was gathering with, my parents who raised me a certain way to what is appropriate and not, and respect of myself. So I'd appreciate you realizing not everyone falls under the broad brush you just used because some of us feel it's appropriate to dress up for church.

I have no problem with maintaining the standards of a professional. I wear suit and tie for weddings/funerals. I wear business casual typically to church. I may be business casual if visiting the hospital. I went to a hospital the other day in jeans and flip flops and a short sleeve shirt. The sister of the woman I visited (late 50s tom early 60s years of age) told her sister later that she thought it was so cool that a preacher would come as a minister in such casual attire. I didn't wear those clothes for any reason than it was hot and it was a day I usually dress comfortably.

I would venture to say that the people that care the most about suit/tie are older and it's because of the generation in which they grew up. If you watch older movies from that era most of the men are in suits and ties, even if just to go to the grocery or gas station. Every man owned a suit typically for church and special occasions. Today many young men don't even own a suit or know how to tie a necktie. We had one man who would come to church in his work uniform and told us later that ours was the first church he attended where he didn't feel judged for the way he dressed. I have had people tell me that they couldn't come to church because they didn't have "church clothes". I'm happy to tell them that they can come to our church as they are with no fear of being judged because we have all kinds: Sunday Best, Business Casual and strictly casual. Our platform has a diversity of attire. I just think it's important that we think about how the world lives and the unspoken message we send to guests and visitors about what's acceptable at church.

Dressing up to keep up appearances is more for the churched than it is for the unchurched. We have to decide if the church is supposed to be designed around the members and the tithe payers or is the purpose of the church to reach the unchurched and outsiders.

Speaking in general, not judging you specifically. I don't think embracing a professional mindset is wrong per se. God knows your heart and I'll leave the judging to Him.

[Bro. Robbins]

I think you and I will just have to agree to disagree on some points. I have a very different view point on most of it. I frankly despise that we are so geered in our culture about "comfort". I don't expect to be "comfortable" anywhere but the house. I don't expect to be comfortable at work, civic or social gatherings, church, etc. I actually despise that outlook and how prominent that it is today. Comfort is of the very least of my considerations when planning how I dress, where I go, what I do, etc outside of my home.

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I have no problem with maintaining the standards of a professional. I wear suit and tie for weddings/funerals. I wear business casual typically to church. I may be business casual if visiting the hospital. I went to a hospital the other day in jeans and flip flops and a short sleeve shirt. The sister of the woman I visited (late 50s tom early 60s years of age) told her sister later that she thought it was so cool that a preacher would come as a minister in such casual attire. I didn't wear those clothes for any reason than it was hot and it was a day I usually dress comfortably.

I would be too embarrassed to dress in jeans and flip flops anywhere but at home. I won't weart them to the grocery store, much less on a ministry visit.

Originally Posted by deacon blues

I would venture to say that the people that care the most about suit/tie are older and it's because of the generation in which they grew up. If you watch older movies from that era most of the men are in suits and ties, even if just to go to the grocery or gas station. Every man owned a suit typically for church and special occasions. Today many young men don't even own a suit or know how to tie a necktie. We had one man who would come to church in his work uniform and told us later that ours was the first church he attended where he didn't feel judged for the way he dressed. I have had people tell me that they couldn't come to church because they didn't have "church clothes". I'm happy to tell them that they can come to our church as they are with no fear of being judged because we have all kinds: Sunday Best, Business Casual and strictly casual. Our platform has a diversity of attire. I just think it's important that we think about how the world lives and the unspoken message we send to guests and visitors about what's acceptable at church.

Again, your using a pretty broad brush there. I am in my 30's, and most of my friends (most of whom are not Apostolic or even Pentecostal) or in their 30's/40's. I would say about 70% of them lean much more heavily in my direction according to public dress... and not do the casual thing at all outside of home. Granted, all of them are conservative people, but very few are Pentecostal... so it's not a standards thing, and not an age thing.

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Dressing up to keep up appearances is more for the churched than it is for the unchurched. We have to decide if the church is supposed to be designed around the members and the tithe payers or is the purpose of the church to reach the unchurched and outsiders.

Speaking in general, not judging you specifically. I don't think embracing a professional mindset is wrong per se. God knows your heart and I'll leave the judging to Him.

I don't believe the church is to reflect the current day culture. Of course it has to, to some degree as far as having a/c, chairs to sit on, etc. But when it comes to our music, our dress, our fellowship, our recreation... the very culture we have.... then I believe the church is to be a culture all to its own, looking nothing like the world around us. When studying church history, the church always dictated and set culture until the mid 20th century... it was only then that the culture started affecting the church to the degree it does today. I believe we are to be thermostats of culture, not themometers. I do believe the church (the people) should stick out like a sore thumb in our conversations, our recreation, our music, our love, our compassion, our peace, our joy, our dress, our families.... all of that.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Sam

Tonight I taught midweek Bible Study wearing jeans, an Ohio State tee shirt, and gym shoes. I did wear socks also. Like I said, it is an informal church. Our Pastor does not wear shorts on Sunday mornings but does during the week. He does not wear a tie. Shorts, tee shirts, flip flops, jeans, are OK for the folks on the platform.

Ok, the only thing obscene about the get up you just described is the Ohio State T-shirt!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I believe that Christians should care about what God thinks AND what others think. Yes, there are limits to how much we can please others and there should be limits to how much we allow that to affect our personal choices, but at the same time we aren't to deliberately offend. I wear a wedding ring and gold watch, but when I go to certain churches, I take them off. It's a matter of being inoffensive. Why would I want to offend anyone? When we purposely offend with our personal liberties, our attitude needs a check. Furthermore, if I'm in any position of teaching or ministering to others, showing up in something I know will offend people stops my ability to teach them or minister to them from the get-go. Right, wrong or indifferent, people will not listen to someone who offends them. That's human nature.

Man does look at the outward appearance, because that's all we have to go on. Since we know that, we should care about how we present ourselves to others. It isn't a criticism of human nature to say that man looks on the outward--it's a statement of reality. Wisdom says that we deal with people according to their nature. Can we expect them to be God and see into our hearts? No. They're going to act like people and they go by what they see.

That doesn't mean I agree with the pastor and his opinions, but again--if you know you're dressing in a way that will offend others, why do it?

Slight correction, Miss B- outward appearance is not the ONLY thing we have to go on, we really should be getting to know people for WHO they are, not HOW they look.

However, I will concede that it is the FIRST thing we have to go on...........and I agree with your points.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

I think you and I will just have to agree to disagree on some points. I have a very different view point on most of it. I frankly despise that we are so geered in our culture about "comfort". I don't expect to be "comfortable" anywhere but the house. I don't expect to be comfortable at work, civic or social gatherings, church, etc. I actually despise that outlook and how prominent that it is today. Comfort is of the very least of my considerations when planning how I dress, where I go, what I do, etc outside of my home.

I would be too embarrassed to dress in jeans and flip flops anywhere but at home. I won't weart them to the grocery store, much less on a ministry visit.

Again, your using a pretty broad brush there. I am in my 30's, and most of my friends (most of whom are not Apostolic or even Pentecostal) or in their 30's/40's. I would say about 70% of them lean much more heavily in my direction according to public dress... and not do the casual thing at all outside of home. Granted, all of them are conservative people, but very few are Pentecostal... so it's not a standards thing, and not an age thing.

I don't believe the church is to reflect the current day culture. Of course it has to, to some degree as far as having a/c, chairs to sit on, etc. But when it comes to our music, our dress, our fellowship, our recreation... the very culture we have.... then I believe the church is to be a culture all to its own, looking nothing like the world around us. When studying church history, the church always dictated and set culture until the mid 20th century... it was only then that the culture started affecting the church to the degree it does today. I believe we are to be thermostats of culture, not themometers. I do believe the church (the people) should stick out like a sore thumb in our conversations, our recreation, our music, our love, our compassion, our peace, our joy, our dress, our families.... all of that.

I just really don't get this. Why wouldn't you want to be comfortable? Do you equate comfort with sin? I get the whole shirt and tie thing, and wanting to dress professionally, but you can do all of that and still be comfortable!

I keep going back to my original premise - based on the comments you make, it really seems that you are trying to punish yourself for something. You seem bent on self-flagellation, making yourself uncomfortable intentionally, I'm sorry, I just don't get it.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

I think you and I will just have to agree to disagree on some points. I have a very different view point on most of it. I frankly despise that we are so geered in our culture about "comfort". I don't expect to be "comfortable" anywhere but the house. I don't expect to be comfortable at work, civic or social gatherings, church, etc. I actually despise that outlook and how prominent that it is today. Comfort is of the very least of my considerations when planning how I dress, where I go, what I do, etc outside of my home.

I would be too embarrassed to dress in jeans and flip flops anywhere but at home. I won't weart them to the grocery store, much less on a ministry visit.

Again, your using a pretty broad brush there. I am in my 30's, and most of my friends (most of whom are not Apostolic or even Pentecostal) or in their 30's/40's. I would say about 70% of them lean much more heavily in my direction according to public dress... and not do the casual thing at all outside of home. Granted, all of them are conservative people, but very few are Pentecostal... so it's not a standards thing, and not an age thing.

I don't believe the church is to reflect the current day culture. Of course it has to, to some degree as far as having a/c, chairs to sit on, etc. But when it comes to our music, our dress, our fellowship, our recreation... the very culture we have.... then I believe the church is to be a culture all to its own, looking nothing like the world around us. When studying church history, the church always dictated and set culture until the mid 20th century... it was only then that the culture started affecting the church to the degree it does today. I believe we are to be thermostats of culture, not themometers. I do believe the church (the people) should stick out like a sore thumb in our conversations, our recreation, our music, our love, our compassion, our peace, our joy, our dress, our families.... all of that.

I have much the same situation, although my best friend will go to almost any church service wearing jeans, boots, and a button down shirt. I have spoken to many people, some of whom (they are ladies) frown upon women wearing pants to church. This has made for many interesting conversations.

I also agree with you about thermostats vs thermometers. The problem has been this way for many years. Denominational and especially Mainline Christianity have become reflections of the culture. Thus they approve gay clergy after the culture celebrates the gay lifestyle in books, movies, and television. They have also turned wishy-washy on the issue of abortion, the inspiration of Scripture, and many other things. Then they want to tell us how we should dress and conduct ourselves in church lest we be seen as out of touch with the culture.


I do not look good barefoot, and you will find my feet wearing nothing shorter than a calf high sock unless in a great hurry (and even then the socks are likely to be applied in the car). I would never be caught making a call in a pair of sandals. However, if caught by an emergency, it would be expected that the first priority would be to get to the hospital.


$10 ties. I would like to know where you buy yours as I rarely pay less than $30 or so (sometimes). I generally only buy a new tie if I am buying an entirely new outfit. This generally means that I am spending about $200 total for a suit, shirt, vest, and a tie or two. This is of course me buying from JC Penny's, which only happens once a year or less. I really need two or three suits, but I only have one.