Comments on: I wear jeans to church

By: snap crackle pop | solbar - napa valley

snap crackle pop | solbar - napa valley — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 03:50:34 +0000

[...] where I come from–but so do ”git’er done” ballcaps, popped collars, and jeans in church. But in our constant effort to bring soul food to California (solidarity, Fremont Diner!), I [...]

By: Spencer

Spencer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:05:06 +0000

Yes, Jesus wants us to ‘come as we are’ but we should not stay as we are. Christianity is useless if it does not produce any fruit. In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) it is considered a Holy (sanctified) day. Therefore we do things differently on that day. We eat differently we speak differently, we dress differently. Our Church in general has not embraced cultural relativism like the other churches, and yes I’ve even worn Jeans to church (and the only time i wear those jeans is when I go to church) it is not so much the fabric that is the issue but the issue is how much does being in the House of the Lord matter to you? Is it just one thing on a checklist or something more? Should it require any special effort on your part? The main thing here are intentions. And people like to see when someone made a special effort at church.

By: Cyril

Cyril — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:38:57 +0000

On the other hand… I know some people who have a very good reason as to why they usually come all dressed up to church.

What would you do if you had an appointment with the Queen or the President for that matter. You would most probably try to dress up the best you can. So much more these people want to dress up when they come into the house of God to present themselves to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That sounds very reasonable to me. They should come all dressed up in their best.

The problem only arises when others are forced to do the same.

By: phillygrrl

phillygrrl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:30:15 +0000

Cyril, I think you have the best argument so far, haha.

By: Foreign Desi

Foreign Desi — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:59:34 +0000

hmm, Interesting to see how it’s such an issue. At my temple I generally wear whatever I wan’t. If I happen to be in jeans, so be it. Generally I like to pair it iwth something Indian like a kurti, because I can :P. I definitely fit in regardless.

There’s not much judging going on.

In my defense, god is omniprescent right? If I wear salvar/ dress pants to temple, then I should be wearing it everywhere!

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:19:39 +0000

OK, so this is a great topic.
First off, yes–most churches across cultures have some sort of formal dress that is “understood.” We have to remember, however, that this is the Western Church ideal, church as a social event. Technically speaking, people should wear what they normally wear day to day to a service of worship, unless that service involves some sort of sacrament, like baptism (and usually the church, according to the tradition, will often provide some sort of “special” dress). People were never expected to change to “church clothes” in the early church after Jesus’ death. This concept, once again, is a phenomenon of Western ideals and goes as far back as Romanticism. Ouch.
So it sucks for younger people who hate things that force them to “respect” something their parents and elders are quite ignorant about anyway. I am an ordained minister and have worked in various denominations. I will always tell people to come to worship wearing whatever they normally wear. God, at least in my view, doesn’t ask for respect, but love and compassion. If God sees the heart, why do we care so much about what we wear on the outside?

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:34:49 +0000

I like to wear a tie and jacket, sometimes even a suit, to church. I see it as a sign of respect, rather than an obigation (and, when I get home, I usually don’t change, which gives me an excuse to do minimal chores on Sundays).

Most of the persons who attend my little Methodist church dress up, at least some. Men usually wear ties and jackets, women skirts or nice slacks.

But, if someone shows up in jeans, no one thinks twice about it.

When I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, everyone in my little country Baptist church wore their Sunday go to meeting clothes to go to Sunday meeting. They would even dress up for the quarterly business meeting and club meetings.

In contrast, when I attended Catholic churches (I was married to a Catholic), persons commonly tended to wear “business casual” or even jeans. I have read (but I do not know how true it is) that this dates from the urban working class immigrant heritage of the American Catholic church. In its earlier years, many of its members just couldn’t afford Sunday go to meeting clothes.

Frankly, I don’t think it matters all that much. Church is for the person, not for the wardrobe. Respectful behavior exists just as easily in Target jeans and in Mens Wearhouse pinstripes.

By: Cyril

Cyril — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:50:30 +0000

lol…. to wear jeans or not to wear jeans. Why are things like this even an issue in Churches? Should be just happy that people that ppl wear clothes :)

By: ZR Mommy

ZR Mommy — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:15:58 +0000

Nice Blogg (Really appreciate it)
One thing is ,that Jeans & America go hand in hand…. so go ahead & be proud of it. Its not that getting all tied up in Saris,Shalwar Kameez & atleast 2 kilograms of jewelary,will make u more near to God in Some way…
So ,Next Time u wear Jeans to Church ,just Trust in Ur Heart ,that God doesnt go by ur Garb

By: thab00ger

thab00ger — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:04:11 +0000

i wore jeans to church in Cali. even shorts and a tall tee. but i guess here jesus wants u to dress up. whatever happened to “come as you are”?