Why do non-Catholics dress so nicely for their Sunday services?

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Singinbeauty said:
Yes, but do we dress up in respect for the actual party or because we would be sticking out of the crowd like a sore thumb if we didn’t? We dress up because that is what everyone else expects. We dress up because we don’t want to be singled out as not dressing appropriately. God isn’t like the rest of us. He isn’t into fashion or what looks nice or not. He is more interested on where your heart is when you darken the doorstep. 😊
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We are to dress “appropriately”. That is, dress respectfully not dress to impress.
 
Singinbeauty said:
But wearing jeans and a t-shirt is appropriate because it covers everything up does it not?
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No it doesnt. Are you going to say that coming before Christ that dungarees are ok, if you had the chance to change?

This is God we are speaking of here. Now IF and thats a big IF, you are poor and down and out that is different thing. Im sure that there are folks who dont have a pot to, well, very poor, and have nothing but the clothes on their backs. But this is the exception, if you have appropriate clothing to wear then that what you do.
 
In my experience so far, Catholics do indeed dress much sloppier or “casual” than most Protestant churches that I’ve been to. I grew up Protestant for the majority of my life and it was actually a surprise to me when I converted to see the degree of casual dress among Catholics at mass. As a Protestant I was always taught to dress appropriately to be in a place of worship to God. The analogy would always be “Would you dress in jeans to visit a King?” Personally, I don’t have any problem with the casual dress in most Catholic parishes but I always feel uncomfortable if I dress that way myself. It’s 100% psychological though after having to dress in shirt and tie for my entire life. I think another reason Catholics dress more casual is to make mass more approachable along with the fact that mass is offered much more frequently than Protestant services.
 
StMarkEofE said:
No it doesnt. Are you going to say that coming before Christ that dungarees are ok, if you had the chance to change?

This is God we are speaking of here. Now IF and thats a big IF, you are poor and down and out that is different thing. Im sure that there are folks who dont have a pot to, well, very poor, and have nothing but the clothes on their backs. But this is the exception, if you have appropriate clothing to wear then that what you do.
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God created me naked so coming to Him in the nude would probably be ok. Why should God care what we wear??? Isn’t He bigger than that? There is no need to put on airs with Him. 🤷

To come before Him thinking what I have on my back will impress Him shows just how little of a box I put Him in. If I come to Him my most humblest , this does not mean holes in the pants or half shirts, He will look past the threads and into my heart.

I dunno, read my other posts and you may understand where I am coming from. I just don’t see the need to dress up for church. My heart is what He looks at not my clothes. Show me differently in the bible and I will re-consider…
 
Singinbeauty said:
God created me naked so coming to Him in the nude would probably be ok. Why should God care what we wear??? Isn’t He bigger than that? There is no need to put on airs with Him. 🤷

To come before Him thinking what I have on my back will impress Him shows just how little of a box I put Him in. If I come to Him my most humblest , this does not mean holes in the pants or half shirts, He will look past the threads and into my heart.

I dunno, read my other posts and you may understand where I am coming from. I just don’t see the need to dress up for church. My heart is what He looks at not my clothes. Show me differently in the bible and I will re-consider…
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Coming nude probably would. 😃

I think this can depend on your upbringing.

Once you find the Lord and turn your love to him you gain respect for him and will do your best to put him first and dress in your best attire, just as when you are asked to a best friends wedding.

Now in each generation there is a different fashion and best attire may just be jeans. These days best is sometimes based on cost and what’s in. Your best may be my worst.

Lighten up. It’s what’s in your heart.

Michael
 
Maybe we should take a look back in history a think of how the early Christians dressed for worship Christians of 2000 years ago typically had one outfit. Few people had more than that. Most people had to weave every piece of cloth they used. They attended church with what they had.
Today there are many people who cannot afford much. I’ve known people who had on pair of jeans and one shirt. Their children did not have much either. They went to mass wearing what they had.
That said, I’ve always seen people dress well for mass. It is true that not all the men wear suits and not all the women wear the finest of designer dresses, but I really don’t think that church is a fashion competition.
My husband always wears a suit or a sports coat. My sons always wear a nice shirt & pants. My daughter and I always wear a nice dress. But we never overdo it either… It’s not a fashion show.
 
Dacinom said:
I agree completely! Although I have never taken a formal “poll”, my guess is that nearly all of the adults at the Protestant service WANT to be there…therefore they take their time and get dressed up.

On the other hand…there are a percentage of Catholics that are at Mass simply because they HAVE to be there, so they put in less effort.

Just my two cents.
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If they don’t WANT to be there, they shouldn’t bother. You can’t trick God into believing that you are sincere.
 
Dacinom said:
I agree completely! Although I have never taken a formal “poll”, my guess is that nearly all of the adults at the Protestant service WANT
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to be there…therefore they take their time and get dressed up.
Dacinom said:
On the other hand…there are a percentage of Catholics that are at Mass simply because they HAVE to be there, so they put in less effort.

Just my two cents.
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This is such a crock!! It’s typical anti-Catholic propaganda that I hear over and over. What do you think happens to Catholics if we don’t go to Mass? Do you think we are hunted down and tortured? We don’t “HAVE” to be there. No one makes us be there. If a Catholic is in mass, they are in mass because that is where they WANT to be.
 
We have a lot of Mennonites in this area. I see them everywhere, those ladies with their simple, yet attractive dresses, and more & more, I think that life would be so much simpler if all I had to decide everyday, and especially every Sunday would be: pink calico, blue calico, green calico, or should I go with the brown & white gingham??
And then I remember how much I:mad: hate to sew, & how:eek: :eek: lousy a sewer I am, (😊 probably the 2 are related)…
I guess my point is, that I am not a fashion person. I have other good qualities, but sewing well, & dressing fashionably are not among them…but that’s me.
 
Zooey said:
And then I remember how much I:mad: hate to sew, & how:eek: :eek: lousy a sewer I am, (😊 probably the 2 are related)…
I guess my point is, that I am not a fashion person. I have other good qualities, but sewing well, & dressing fashionably are not among them…but that’s me.
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I had to take sewing and metal/wood shop classes in school. They were required for all students. I hated the sewing class but loved the shop class. The awful pillow I made is long gone, but I still have a lamp I made in shop class in my apartment. 😃
 
Singinbeauty said:
God created me naked so coming to Him in the nude would probably be ok. Why should God care what we wear??? Isn’t He bigger than that? There is no need to put on airs with Him. 🤷

To come before Him thinking what I have on my back will impress Him shows just how little of a box I put Him in. If I come to Him my most humblest , this does not mean holes in the pants or half shirts, He will look past the threads and into my heart.

I dunno, read my other posts and you may understand where I am coming from. I just don’t see the need to dress up for church. My heart is what He looks at not my clothes. Show me differently in the bible and I will re-consider…
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What I see as a great respect is a great respect in the Baptist in our area who to a person dress up not only themselves but their children in “sundays” best in going to church. Sunday worship is to them the most importantt thing to happen on that day.
 
What exactly is “overdoing” it? I’m not gonna lie, I like to dress fashionably and I like to accessorize. So yes, I do coordinate my outfits and make sure I look my best. I do that with everything I wear for every occasion, and I don’t see why Mass should be any different. It’s just the way I like to dress. I don’t judge people for what they wear, I just hope people don’t assume my priorities are wrong when I choose to dress the way I do.
 
lak611 said:
I had to take sewing and metal/wood shop classes in school. They were required for all students. I hated the sewing class but loved the shop class. The awful pillow I made is long gone, but I still have a lamp I made in shop class in my apartment. 😃
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LOL same here! except i built a shelf and a chair.😃
 
I know that everyone is probably done with this thread but I think I just figured out how to further explain my opinion. I was thinking about this topic while thinking about what I was going to wear to church today.

I dress up for human events such as parties and weddings because I don’t want to be laughed at or made fun of. That’s the truth of it. But I don’t believe that God will laugh at me or make fun of me if I don’t dress up for Him.

Does this make better sense?😊
 
Well. Growing up, I was always taught to bring look accountable before the Lord in his house. It is only right to do so when entering his house.

Another reason is during the old times, people were farmers and hard workers working in the same clothes in the fields. They didn’t want to go into the house of the Lord with these clothes on, so they wore their Sunday’s Best. Only the best for the Lord.

Sadly, in my community, its become a fashion show. Girls and guys alike will sit behind me and worry and talk about what someone is wearing to church for the entire 4 hours. For four hours they will trip on peoples attire and it got on my nerves.
 
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