Is It A Sin to Not Look Your Best In Church?

[Pinkyyy]

As someone who does make an effort to wear nice clothes to church even when they are uncomfortable, I am amazed at the arguements provided by those who think you have to dress up for God.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Who is the one single person who won’t judge you by your appearance? God. Therefore, who should it matter to the THE LEAST whether you are dressed up or not? God.

If there is anyone you don’t need to dress up for, it should be God who is only interested in your heart. Do you really think God has the same sense of fashion that you in your particular culture has?

Yes, I understand what you wear might say something about your attitude. I will only dress in a suit and tie if I am forced to by circumstance. This means I only dress up “my best” to please others and pass from their judgement which is something that must be done because we as humans are flawed and judge by appearance. If I never have to wear a suit and tie again I’d be fine with it no matter how good I may look in one.

I get what you are saying, but look at those girls whose hineys (okay, obviously dont’ know the spelling for that, lol) hang lower than their skirts and their shirts are so low too. Does God not care that they come to church that way? I think he does. Used to be you had to be covered head to toe and even wear a covering on your head - now they want to show all of themselves off like they are trying to be “cool” among the other kids at church - it’s not a popularity contest. To those kids (and parents) I say grow up and wear something more appropriate.

Okay, I kind of got off the subject there a little, but that happens!

 

[mark_a]

I got into an argument with a friend over what I wore in Church last weekend today.

She said it was inappropiate for me to wear what I wore.

What I wore was jeans, a tee shirt (nothing on it but a solid color of blue), and tennishoes. For some reason she was really put off that I wore them.

But to me, as long as I am clean and clean cut, what should it matter what I wear in church? I never go to church in anything like shorts, no shirt and no shoes nor any kind of shirt that has something on it like Marijuana or a car or anything like that.

She even said that God demands that I must wear a suit, that is a shirt and a tie and slacks and dress shoes and that God demands that I must look my absolute best and that she’s getting really frustrated with me just my tennishoes, jeans and a tee-shirt.

Note, this is not my girlfriend, just a friend who gives me a ride to church on Sundays.

But I’m getting a little bit frustrated with her and think that for the next few sundays I will walk to church since it’s not more than a half hour walk away.

You have absolutely nothing to lose by dressing nicely.

 

[Newbie2]

The reason you do not wear fancy clothes for a church picnic (although you could if you like ), is because God is not physically present as He is at mass. Yes God is everywhere, but only to keep everything in existence. But when we go to mass, God is actually present, not symbolically, not metaphorically, but actually before you. As you line up to receive the Eucharist, and get to the priest holding the Eucharist up, as you stare at the Eucharist, you are looking not at a piece of bread, but God himself under the appearence of bread. God Himself! And this is not a special occasion! To come before God physically present and receive Him is not special!

This is precisely why we need to start wearing appropriate clothing, because many, many Catholics do not even understand what the Eucharist is, and what wonderful graces and powers the mass holds. We need to start being the examples, and showing everyone how special we think the mass is, not only throug clothing, but through actions. God bless.

Um…scratch head…God’s not physically present anywhere outside Church…and if all the consecrated hosts are consumed, God leaves?

OK, I guess that’s one way to explain it, but I’d explain it differently in that we’re going to his house, where he’s present in a more intimate way than at the beach.

 

[buffalo]

Where in the Bible does God make the demand that we dress in our absolute best and the most expensive clothes ever? This is just another case of people wrongly using God to support their concerns. And I suspect a sin of some sort of itself, to use God in such a manenr.

It is not a demand from God, but a demand from people.

And it does not endear me to go to church if people are going to be so petty. I do not want to be around people who are going to ahte me or be hostile to me just because it’s what everybody is doing. This is one of the big things have have always turned me off of going to church, is this pettiness of the congregation.

Why do you think it needs to be in the Bible?

 

[Starwynd]

The Bible is the basis of Christian law. Christian law can only come from the bible.

 

[kage_ar]

No one said clothes had to be expensive to be your good clothes. Wear what you can afford.

When a bum shows up at Mass, the Parish should welcome them and help them out.

I do sometimes wear jeans to Mass (and have taken heat on forums for it). These are not your lounge about kind of jeans, they are more like dress slacks made from dark denim. I have worn them to do presentations at a Fortune 500 company.

It is more about what is in your heart. If you wear jeans and a T to be a rebel, then, that might be something to talk to your Priest about.

Should it be the allergies, maybe get one pair of cotton kakhis and a cotton polo or button up style shirt, and wear that every Sunday - Like what you would wear to work in an office. God deserves AT LEAST as much as you would give your boss.

 

[jjb5985]

I get what you are saying, but look at those girls whose hineys (okay, obviously dont’ know the spelling for that, lol) hang lower than their skirts and their shirts are so low too. Does God not care that they come to church that way? I think he does. Used to be you had to be covered head to toe and even wear a covering on your head - now they want to show all of themselves off like they are trying to be “cool” among the other kids at church - it’s not a popularity contest. To those kids (and parents) I say grow up and wear something more appropriate.

Okay, I kind of got off the subject there a little, but that happens!

I agree with you, but I think that example deals more with an issue of modesty.

 

[otjm]

Neat and presentable should be the rule.

Weed is a bit out of the way, in terms of a large metropolis; on the West Coast and in the larger cities, there is a distinct tendency towards the casual. Most people do not show up in a suit and tie, or a formal dress any more for Mass - or for much of anything else, for that matter.

Without staying to the issue of modesty (that is a given, and let’s not get side-tracked trying to define it), it may be that Weed, being somewhat removed from the larger cities (how far is it to Redding; you aren’t even up to the summit yet?) may be a bit more formal in general, as the farther you get from the big cities (and I am being kind in calling Redding a big city - it is somewhat relative), it is possible the more formal people may be.

What is inside matters far more than what is outside. Having said that, those who tend to be more formal, tend to “require” that of others. And if they were not incensed about that, they would soon find something else of which to be critical. Perhaps your friend should judge a bit less of appearance, and learn to read the heart. And if she is a cause of anger, or a serious disturbance to your ability to focus on the Mass, you might wnat to find another means of getting to Mass.

And if you come to my parish to Mass, you will fit right in; but then, we are in the suburbs of a rather larger city (Sherwood, and Portland).

 

[Newbie2]

The Bible is the basis of Christian law. Christian law can only come from the bible.

Can you give us a quote from the bible where it says this?

Of course not. You’d think something that important would be in there, right?

 

[buffalo]

The Bible is the basis of Christian law. Christian law can only come from the bible.

UH NO!

 

[donalddon5]

No one said clothes had to be expensive to be your good clothes. Wear what you can afford.

When a bum shows up at Mass, the Parish should welcome them and help them out.

I do sometimes wear jeans to Mass (and have taken heat on forums for it). These are not your lounge about kind of jeans, they are more like dress slacks made from dark denim. I have worn them to do presentations at a Fortune 500 company.

It is more about what is in your heart. If you wear jeans and a T to be a rebel, then, that might be something to talk to your Priest about.

Should it be the allergies, maybe get one pair of cotton kakhis and a cotton polo or button up style shirt, and wear that every Sunday - Like what you would wear to work in an office. God deserves AT LEAST as much as you would give your boss.

I agree with your post…I try not too be judgemental towards’ others, but I think these earrings that guys wear today is an insult toward Christ. I even said so too one that wanted too shake my hand during mass.
As far as dressing…well maybe sandals would be okay with his casual style, that is what Christ wore and for sure we do not want to throw stones at The Lord.

 

[Ankabaranka_87]

She said it was inappropiate for me to wear what I wore.

What I wore was jeans, a tee shirt (nothing on it but a solid color of blue), and tennishoes. For some reason she was really put off that I wore them.

But to me, as long as I am clean and clean cut, what should it matter what I wear in church? I never go to church in anything like shorts, no shirt and no shoes nor any kind of shirt that has something on it like Marijuana or a car or anything like that.

She even said that God demands that I must wear a suit, that is a shirt and a tie and slacks and dress shoes and that God demands that I must look my absolute best and that she’s getting really frustrated with me just my tennishoes, jeans and a tee-shirt.

Well, what are most people wearing when they go to this church? Are they wearing dresses and suits or are they wearing jeans and shirts just like you? IMHO I think it’s better to wear clothing that is similar to other people who go to that church so that you wont stick out like a sore thumb. Because, if you were the only one (or one of few) who were wearing casual clothing, people will stare and this will take away from the focus of the mass.

I know for myself, I would wear more casually in an English mass. If I go to the Polish mass, I know that I would wear more formal type of outfit.

 

[Starwynd]

It’s evenly mixed.

 

[Starwynd]

So I went to church today and I walked. But I was dressed in slacks and a tie.

She did like what she saw.

So I’m thinking that maybe that she just wanted to see me dressed up. It wasn’t the rest of the people, just her who wanted me to dress up.

 

[Eliza10]

So I went to church today and I walked. But I was dressed in slacks and a tie.

She did like what she saw.

So I’m thinking that maybe that she just wanted to see me dressed up. It wasn’t the rest of the people, just her who wanted me to dress up.

I just read through this whole thread and this last one from you was delightful. You broke down and dressed up. Good for you.

Reading through your comments, the one that puzzled me the most was the “every day” comment. Then when you said “Where in the Bible…?”, I had to look at your profile - then it all made snse. You are as yet undecided. No wonder it seems so trite, all this insistence on dress. You are exploring the faith. Your friend is dressing to express the faith she already has.

Unlike the many different kinds of Protestant Churches you could go to, we believe that Jesus is not there spirituallly only, the way He is everywhere all the time, but his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity is there. True presence. We believe that the Church is crowded with angels saying the Mass along with us in great joy, with rapt attention. We dress to honor the great mystery that we believe. As others said: we dress for a King. We believe that the world would not survive without the Mass being celebrated. It is the most powerful moment for prayer. I hope others jump in and explain more because its late and I have to make this short.

Thats why your friend is offended. But really it was rude for her to complain so. We have to respect people. Their Sunday best might be our everyday wear. Or they maybe experiencing some kind of personal crisis and are doing the best they can. We don’t know. Or they might be drawn to the Mass without fully understanding it yet, and are sincere, and do not want to hypocritically do something that does not make sense.

Pleasing others when it makes no sense can be a big act of humility. It shows such respect that you will honor what they want even though it has no particular meaning to you. Also it is an act of mortification, when you would prefer your everyday clothes. Humility and mortification help us greatly grow in holiness. And I think also, bring on the peace of God.

 

[Starwynd]

I have a very inquisitive nature to mydself and I just don’t take things on “just because I said so”,

 

[mdgspencer]

It sounds as if your friend is a member of a Protestant Church, because I have never heard from the Church that such a thing is a sin. If you went to a Protestant Church though people generally are more careful to dress in what they consider proper Sunday clothes. One big objection to what your friend said. What if someone is poor and doesn’t have such nice clothes as the people here are talking about? Is mass just for middle class people?
Though I wouldn’t myself wear clothes that looked as if I had been working all day out in the fields. But even then I have never heard that this would a sin.

 

[Jack_245814]

I don’t own a single pair of pants that doesn’t have paint-stains all over it. It freakin’ stinks, I get glared at and everything. I’m buying some ol’-fashioned khakis tomorrow but yeah . . . don’t be obsessing over how you dress.

Dress as nicely as you can (within reason; don’t dress too nice either), but I’m pretty sure God understands if you can’t afford to buy nice pants

 

[notsmart]

I got into an argument with a friend over what I wore in Church last weekend today.

She said it was inappropiate for me to wear what I wore.

What I wore was jeans, a tee shirt (nothing on it but a solid color of blue), and tennishoes. For some reason she was really put off that I wore them.

But to me, as long as I am clean and clean cut, what should it matter what I wear in church? I never go to church in anything like shorts, no shirt and no shoes nor any kind of shirt that has something on it like Marijuana or a car or anything like that.

She even said that God demands that I must wear a suit, that is a shirt and a tie and slacks and dress shoes and that God demands that I must look my absolute best and that she’s getting really frustrated with me just my tennishoes, jeans and a tee-shirt.

Note, this is not my girlfriend, just a friend who gives me a ride to church on Sundays.

But I’m getting a little bit frustrated with her and think that for the next few sundays I will walk to church since it’s not more than a half hour walk away.

I’m curious- does this lady wear strong perfume/or not enough deordorant? or excessive make up/not enough? I would give her a hand mirror and ask her if she is looking her best all the time.

 

[mercygate]

I got into an argument with a friend over what I wore in Church last weekend today.

She said it was inappropiate for me to wear what I wore.

What I wore was jeans, a tee shirt (nothing on it but a solid color of blue), and tennishoes. For some reason she was really put off that I wore them.

But to me, as long as I am clean and clean cut, what should it matter what I wear in church? I never go to church in anything like shorts, no shirt and no shoes nor any kind of shirt that has something on it like Marijuana or a car or anything like that.

She even said that God demands that I must wear a suit, that is a shirt and a tie and slacks and dress shoes and that God demands that I must look my absolute best and that she’s getting really frustrated with me just my tennishoes, jeans and a tee-shirt.

Note, this is not my girlfriend, just a friend who gives me a ride to church on Sundays.

But I’m getting a little bit frustrated with her and think that for the next few sundays I will walk to church since it’s not more than a half hour walk away.

A lot of this has to do with regional standards, culture, and class (I know that’s a dirty word.)

I suppose there is no absolute moral imperative surrounding what one wears, as long as it isn’t provocative. But what you wear demonstrates how you value the occasion.

An upper middle class person in the City would be going against his own standards of respect if he wore what you did. But out at my country house [in depressed farm country in Michigan], a LOT of people consider it “dressed up” just to put on a clean t-shirt.

So, it depends on what tree your friend was sitting in when she decided to make it her business to criticize your wardrobe. Now, admittedly, some people are just plain DENSE when it comes to these things and simply do not SEE “fashion.” I think particularly of those women who are 60 pounds overweight who are perfectly oblivious to the way they look in spandex tube tops that leave 3 inches of their midriff exposed above their spandex capris.

People who come under the “Have you no mirror?” rubric are simply not to be molested. It is nobody’s business but their own and it is also a complete waste of time.