Do Your Kids Dress Like Bankers?

[jaxfam6]

This talk of not understanding why someone would be worried about what someone else wears or being offended or feeling out of place because they were not dressed as fancy as the others has me thinking back.

My mother could not really afford to buy me the expensive clothes that a lot of kids wore. I did not have the brand name shoes, the silk ties, the latest guys fashions, etc. My father left when I was 12 and she had to do what she could to support us. She paid her tithes and offerings, paid the bills, bought groceries, and what was left was used for gas in the car for her to get to and from work and MAYBE for us to have something we wanted, if our needs were met. I was a kid and never gave thought to these things really. I liked to dress nice and look good. ALL the kids wore suits, we were taught to. All of them had 4 or 5 suits apiece. I knew most of the kids in our group really well and know I am speaking truth and not stretching it. There were some who did not have the means to buy 4 and 5 suits and I know a few years they did not go to camp because of it.
Were we ever told we HAD to wear them every night? NO. Were we ever told we HAD to wear a different one every night? NO. This all came out of the WAY IT WAS DONE. The ones who were IMPORTANT did it so if you wanted to be IMPORTANT and ACCEPTED you did it.
I think Alex has somewhat of a point. We should be dressing modestly and APPROPRIATELY. We should not be teaching our children that it is REQUIRED, rather by word or deed, to dress to the nines to go to church, camp, or conferences. If someone comes into your assembly dressed in jeans and tee shirt they should not feel like they are not welcome. Do I think we should dress nice to go to church? ABSOLUTLEY, but I do not believe dressing nice HAS to include a suit and gown. Hair should be appropriately and comfortably styled.
We should NOT look at the outward man as a means of judging them as saved or holy. Yes somethings are going to SHOUT at you that a person is not saved, but just because someone is not dressed like a "Southern Belle Debutante" or her date does not mean they are NOT SAVED or WORTHY of HIM.
This attitude that was 'expressed" to me growing up, in deeds not words, is part of the reason I do not PUSH my kids to dress in suits and ties or even dress slacks and dress shirts. I am thankful that our church has relaxed on how they 'want' us to dress for services. It is kind of cool to see the minister in dress slacks and dress shirt and still comfortable with his son in jeans or khakis and untucked shirt, both on the platform. We have those who wear jeans and those who wear suits. IT IS UP TO THEM. Come comfortable but come to WORSHIP. That is the one thing our pastor said, he was not sure how relaxing the 'dress code' was going to effect worship. Our worship never stopped. As a matter of fact I think it went up a notch or two. People now felt comfortable and could freely worship.
Now this is just our church and other places it may not work out the same. The thing is folks, we should not ever make anyone feel uncomfortable in our services, camps, conferences no matter how they are dressed. (and I am speaking of US making them uncomfortable. If God is not pleased with them then let HIM deal with their convictions NOT US on their condemnation)
So MissB and PO you can wear your dress up clothes to our church just allow us to dress casual at yours. =) Alex, I may not be as conservative in style as you would like but allow me to be me and I will allow you to be you. =)
When you are all dressed up just be sure to still worship with the one who can not dress as nice and vice versa.

sorry I rambled so long