I know some can't afford to dress up much, but if they are neat and clean that should be all that matters.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
From my personal experience, the only time church members have been ridiculously over dressed (kids, but especially adults) it has been at the camp services. I've always compared evening services to a Hollywood red carpet movie premier. While the women appeared like they were going to some formal pentecostal ball (except with lots and lots of poofs), the men also went all out and would typically put the "Fab 5" (Queer Eye) to shame.
Why do some dress there kids in a suit and tie to go to church.. I have only noticed this in the upc church also. In my opinion kids grow to fast for suits I know I have 2 kids myself and always by the end of sunday school the tie is off and the shirt is untucked so why even bother dressing them up... TGIF everyone.
I dressed up when I was a kid. Through about half of my teens, in fact. That was AofG, 35+ years ago. How far behind is the UPC?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Of course neat, clean and clothes that fit is most important! LOL!!! We apply that to all clothes, both dressy and casual. There are times when dressy is appropriate, like weddings, funerals, business meetings, and some church services. There are times when it's okay to be casual, ultra casual, or maybe just business casual. Children need to learn how to be appropriate for any occasion. That's just as important as teaching them to be courteous and use proper etiquette at the dinner table, IMO.
Not everything children learn should be just about their immediate comfort. Many things need to be about teaching them to interact successfully in society and in their culture.
Also, I think we SHOULD care what others think of our appearance, to some extent. Men look on the outward appearance--that's just human nature--and first impressions are lasting impressions. Our attire should be inoffensive. We should be neat and clean. If we put someone off with our appearance, they're probably not going to give us a chance to form a friendship with them. (talking about unbelievers here)
Look at the people in the polygamist sect...their appearance is very off putting to the general public. I doubt they get many opportunities to witness to the average unbeliever. To some extent, we need to fit in. And dressing sloppy or TOO casual is not always the way to do that.
I don't want my children to feel that it doesn't matter how others perceive them, or that they can dress however they want anywhere they want, because it DOES matter how others perceive them, and it is offensive and selfish to always do things "my way."
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Of course neat, clean and clothes that fit is most important! LOL!!! We apply to all clothes, both dressy and casual. There are times when dressy is appropriate, like weddings, funerals, business meetings, and some church services. There are times when it's okay to be casual, ultra casual, or maybe just business casual. Children need to learn how to be appropriate for any occasion. That's just as important as teaching them to be courteous and use proper etiquette at the dinner table, IMO.
Not everything children learn should be just about their immediate comfort. Many things need to be about teaching them to interact successfully in society and in their culture.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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Posts: 1,676
Re: Kids dress in church
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBrattified
Of course neat, clean and clothes that fit is most important! LOL!!! We apply that to all clothes, both dressy and casual. There are times when dressy is appropriate, like weddings, funerals, business meetings, and some church services. There are times when it's okay to be casual, ultra casual, or maybe just business casual. Children need to learn how to be appropriate for any occasion. That's just as important as teaching them to be courteous and use proper etiquette at the dinner table, IMO.
Not everything children learn should be just about their immediate comfort. Many things need to be about teaching them to interact successfully in society and in their culture.
Also, I think we SHOULD care what others think of our appearance, to some extent. Men look on the outward appearance--that's just human nature--and first impressions are lasting impressions. Our attire should be inoffensive. We should be neat and clean. If we put someone off with our appearance, they're probably not going to give us a chance to form a friendship with them. (talking about unbelievers here)
Look at the people in the polygamist sect...their appearance is very off putting to the general public. I doubt they get many opportunities to witness to the average unbeliever. To some extent, we need to fit in. And dressing sloppy or TOO casual is not always the way to do that.
I don't want my children to feel that it doesn't matter how others perceive them, or that they can dress however they want anywhere they want, because it DOES matter how others perceive them, and it is offensive and selfish to always do things "my way."
I dress up for funerals and formal dinner night on cruises. Now my funeral, that's another story. Don't care what the 'guests' wear, but I will be in a tee shirt (maybe the Cancun one), shorts, and sandals. And sunglasses. I'm insisting.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I dress up for funerals and formal dinner night on cruises. Now my funeral, that's another story. Don't care what the 'guests' wear, but I will be in a tee shirt (maybe the Cancun one), shorts, and sandals. And sunglasses. I'm insisting.
Oh wait, not a tee shirt! That would just be tacky.
Gotta be something like this:
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Perhaps it was somewhat judgmental, and I'm sorry for any offense I may have caused, but we can only speak from our own experiences, right? I was part of a large (approx. 1000) UPCI church that was very much like this. It was a weekly thing to see whose kids could out-dress the other, and who would send their kids to Sunday School with high-water pants or dirty ruffle dresses. I didn't participate in it for long because the Lord convicted me of it. But it still goes on today.
Was this your perception, or was it stated somehow that there was a dress competition? When my girls were little, they had some of the frilliest little dresses imaginable, mostly gifts from grandparents. I wasn't dressing them in those beautiful clothes to compete with other parents. They looked pretty, and I was trying to get use out of the clothes. Most of them they only wore once or twice.
I'm just wondering why you have the idea that the parents were deliberately trying to outdress other parents' kids. Do you know that for a fact, or did you just think it was that way? Or were a few people doing that, and you applied it to the whole group?
Quote:
My experience has been that, in general, once children get past infant stage and no longer want to be held, the boys usually don't appreciate being forced to wear fancy clothes that are uncomfortable. And really, as long as they are presentable (clean clothes that fit and look nice), why force the issue of the neck tie and little suit? Kids clothes are REALLY expensive for as long as they are able to wear them.
My son is 6, and he likes to dress up. He also likes to wear his jeans and heelies. Given the chance, he would wear his superman costume to church, because that's his favorite. LOL!!!! My job is to teach him what is appropriate, when and where, and let him have as much fun as possible in the process. Which is why he has his own little container of hair gel, and gets to style his hair however he likes for church, even if it ends up in a faux-hawk!
My middle daughter has ALWAYS liked to dress up--for everything, even playing outside. She had a tinkerbell dress with chiffon leaves for the skirt, and I did end up letting her wear it to church several times, simply because she wouldn't take it off, and I didn't pick that battle.
My oldest has never liked anything frilly. She shunned the color pink for years. She's FINALLY getting "girly" and trying to convince her Dad to let her buy heels, and I am personally breathing a sigh of relief.
Kids are all different. Some like to dress up, some don't. It doesn't really matter what any of our personal preferences are--the fact is, society has different rules for different occasions, and good parenting includes preparing your child to play by those rules. Or allowing your child to reap the consequences of burping loudly in a five star restaurant and wearing jeans to his first board meeting at his new job at the bank.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Oh wait, not a tee shirt! That would just be tacky.
I think it's fair to wear whatever you want to your own funeral.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
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