Pants wearin' women--where do you draw the line?

[freeatlast]

Interesting thread so far.

We have a good mix in our church. Lots of dresses and lots of ladies in pants if they desire.

Since the bible makes no requirement one way or the other we don't either.

I'd personally rather have a women come wearing nice pants tht a frumpy dress.

I did not say all dresses are frumpy....but I've seen a few.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

There is an assumption made here that people don't wear jeans to a $50.00 a meal restaurant. This is funny because rarely do I see anyone 'dressed up' any more, for church or a nice restuarant...don't understand this world much any more.

This is true.

Society as a whole is very "dressed down" for all occasions. I was surprised at how some were dressed recently at my daughter's wedding.

[POWERUP]

I would have to agree. Things are a lot more casual these days. I think its your own preference. I wore a suit since I was 10 going to LA Youth Camps. Always wore a suit to church.

But, hey I may be preaching in a suit this Sunday, and and Tucked out shirt and Jeans, the next.

However, I do agree that if your leadership requires a suit. Then thats what you need to do.

I will say this tho. Some people are intimidated by a suit. Go ahead and laugh, but it is true.

A few years ago, our Pastor started dressing down(sportcoat, shirt untucked, and jeans) when he went to the same places of business, restrauants, etc. It was unreal at the people that started saying, Hey Pastor, How are you doing.

These were not church people.

But 90% are now. Just a thought.

God bless you all.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

There is an assumption made here that people don't wear jeans to a $50.00 a meal restaurant. This is funny because rarely do I see anyone 'dressed up' any more, for church or a nice restuarant...don't understand this world much any more.

In a conversation once, I was told that if you go to a very nice restaurant, you can tell the folks that can't really afford the meal- they're the ones who are dressed up.

There's a restaurant called FOGO De CHAO about 5 blocks from the White House in DC. Fancy, shmancy, expensive restaurant. I took my parents there and we were dressed up. No one else was dressed up like we were and we were dressed in church clothes.

I went back a few months later and people were looking at me funny with my jeans and a tucked t shirt. Oh well.

[U376977]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

I would agree. PERSONALLY I prefer women in dresses especially in church.

As to the issue of casual attire of ladies behind the pulpit, is it not possible they are merely taking the men's lead?

More and more I see men standing behind the sacred desk in jeans.

Praise and worships leaders with their shirt tails out.

While I understand your lamentation I would not lay charge solely at the ladies in that regard.

Jim, True, many men are in jeans in the pulpit. I see shirts hanging out, even on television. The GodTV crowd, (Bentley, and others) wear T-shirts as well.

So if you were a pastor, would you draw a line? Where? It seems that in many churches and TV ministries that a line is non existant!!

I answered prayer lines a few times at Morris Cerrillo when he tried to take over old Jim Bakker PTL, we could have been seen by TV cameras and he said all women in dresses and all men had to wear jackets. He still wears a coat and tie.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by U376977

I have gotten over the dresses/skirts only--pants issue long ago. I admire people like my wife who wear only dresses as a dedication to the LORD and as a sign of submission to me. It does not have anything to do with heaven/or hell; just a personal dedication.

BUT.......

I have noticed a trend in the TV, WOF and Charistmatic preachers. Their wifes started to preach in the pulpits, (Gloria Copeland, Taffy Dollar, Paula White, Sheryl Brady, Bynam, Myers, etc. etc.) and, GENERALLY, when they first started they wore dresses, then pants suits, then dress slacks.

YESTERDAY....I saw a woman on GodTV teaching/preaching in tight--very tight---jeans. I have seen othe women on other Christian Networks wearing tight jeans in the choir, leading worship......

So if we accept that there is not dress "standard" that it is personal......do we accept women in our pulpits looking "any ol' way" ????

What is next? Shorts? Is there no good taste left?

Why do people seem to think they can come to church dressed worse than they would to go out and eat a $50 meal?????

I certainly prefer ladies to wear modest clothing, but all you have to do is look around, the dress culture in the world is more causal or comfortable. I have no problem with a modest dress code in places of leadership. However, to judge a lady based on what you feel is appropriate apparel is very inappropriate. Men who have such an awareness of every lady's apparel may have an inappropriate awareness of the ladies.

Message to believing men: Get in relationship with your God, and with your wife, and lose your acute awareness of every lady that walks by, she is not thinking about you.

[POWERUP]

When my conservative Dad first saw me preach in jeans and shirt tail untucked. I wondered what he would say. Being he had pastored in the upc, the last 30 years. All he said was, why should I say anything, looks comfortable, and if you saw it on TV, so what, we've(UPC) talked about others(anybody other than UPC) for years, but, we continue to read their books, sang their songs, and buy thier materials.

So, Go and tell someone about Jesus. They will probally listen better if you got your Jeans on.

Think about what Jesus wore. There was some fancy stuff back then. But, what did he chose?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I certainly prefer ladies to wear modest clothing, but all you have to do is look around, the dress culture in the world is more causal or comfortable. I have no problem with a modest dress code in places of leadership. However, to judge a lady based on what you feel is appropriate apparel is very inappropriate. Men who have such an awareness of every lady's apparel may have an inappropriate awareness of the ladies.

Message to believing men: Get in relationship with your God, and with your wife, and lose your acute awareness of every lady that walks by, she is not thinking about you.

LOL!

Great admonishment!

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by POWERUP

When my conservative Dad first saw me preach in jeans and shirt tail untucked. I wondered what he would say. Being he had pastored in the upc, the last 30 years. All he said was, why should I say anything, looks comfortable, and if you saw it on TV, so what, we've(UPC) talked about others(anybody other than UPC) for years, but, we continue to read their books, sang their songs, and buy thier materials.

So, Go and tell someone about Jesus. They will probally listen better if you got your Jeans on.

Think about what Jesus wore. There was some fancy stuff back then. But, what did he chose?

Your dad sounds like a wise man!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by U376977

I have gotten over the dresses/skirts only--pants issue long ago. I admire people like my wife who wear only dresses as a dedication to the LORD and as a sign of submission to me. It does not have anything to do with heaven/or hell; just a personal dedication.

BUT.......

...
What is next? Shorts? Is there no good taste left?

Why do people seem to think they can come to church dressed worse than they would to go out and eat a $50 meal?????

The sources that you describe appear to involve a rather broad sampling and since it's "TV" - you're going to see things intended to be attention getting to begin with.

My own feeling is that anyone - man or woman - who is "up front" leading a choir, singing, worship leader, teacher, preacher - whatever; that they should dress modestly and in such a fashion so as to NOT be making themselves the spectacle.

There are plenty of venues for that sort of expression - and not all of them are "evil," per se. However the church is for worship, and that worship is to be directed toward the Lord. Anybody who dresses to get in the way of that worship is tacky at the very best - but idolotry does come to mind as well.