What is up with the way some people dress for Mass and Church these days? I have seen underwear that I thought covers more. For those of us who believe that we are in God's house I want to know, would you wear a bathing suit to meet the President? I am not talking about dressing fancy but clean, neat, and modest. I am not speaking to those who do not have better clothes but to those who spend huge amounts to keep up with the fashion trend. It is very difficult for men and teenage boys to pay attention in church these days due to what some women and girls wear? Don't you agree?
2006-07-19 11:50:49 · 66 answers · asked by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because as Christians we are called to not make another stumble and males are more turned on by what they see than women usually are. It is the nature of man.
2006-07-19 11:56:28 · update #1
I wsan't saying anyone should be refused admittance. I just think we are called to look out for each other and my parents taught me that dressing immodestly treats oneself cheaply and that we should show respect for ourselves and others.
2006-07-19 12:04:16 · update #2
In general there is very little sense of modesty today..
2006-07-19 11:52:38 · answer #1 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
No one has the right to tell you what to wear. I do understand that being around other people in any way you should be respectable.... but so many people have a different out look on what is respectable. When i was younger i had to go to the Mormon church and you HAD to wear a dress if you were a girl.... no sleeveless... not short. Men have to wear slacks and a White shirt. Not that's going to far. My father is a Christian and they wear just nice outfits to church. I went with him once and yes someone was in a swim suit..... different....... im not Christian... or anything like it. But i do believe everyone even in public should cover a little more up.... there is time to be naked and there is time NOT to be.
Have a good day.
2006-07-19 12:01:01 · answer #2 · answered by Believe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see where you are coming from. But....be careful....you are sounding judgemental. No one on this planet has the right to judge another person. No one person is better than another person.
The main thing is, no matter how a person may dress or not, at least that person is in church and is present to hear the words of our living God.
There shouldn't be a dress code to go to church in my opinion. So many churches feel that women should come in dresses and men should come in suits etc. etc. To me this is wrong. God doesn't look at what we are wearing and decide, nope I don't like that outfit - do better next time or I won't let you into Heaven. God is more concerned about people's hearts and souls than clothing.
I know what you are saying and what you believe in is a popular thought and feeling shared by many Christians. Many Christians will agree with you while others may not. No matter who agrees or disagrees doesn't matter. We as Christians should rejoice in seeing new people in our churches, regardless of their clothing. Let God be the ultimate judge of mankind. Only He knows who is sincere and genuine. He knows who is truly seeking Him and who is fake. We humans don't know that.
May God Bless you now and always.
2006-07-19 12:30:28 · answer #3 · answered by Lyndee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if they are not taught at home then how will some people know to be a little more modest and/or respectful. It would be nice if it could be taught from the pulpit. But boy would that be a popular Homily!
I can hear the parishioners now. "I can't believe the nerve of that priest, now they're telling us what to wear!"
I know at our house I forbid my son to wear shorts to church. I fight with Him about it every Sunday. I'm lucky if he comes at all let alone clean and dressed up at least he isn't wearing shorts!
We have seen some pretty racy outfits on the women lately. My daughter and I choose to believe that they had no clue or nothing else to wear.
2006-07-19 12:08:48 · answer #4 · answered by Makemeaspark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you trying to recruit more men with your question? Just kidding. Don't blame women for men's inability to pay attention...it will only end with you and I wearing burkas. Even burkas wouldn't work for teen-age boys. Men are actually surprisingly resilient in this matter. If you were in Papua New Guinea, for example, the tribal men there would be more turned on if you WERE wearing a shirt. The idea of wondering what's under there is more exciting for them than seeing it. It's all relative, however, sometimes people do like to push the boundaries.
I think the real problem (as you mentioned) is materialism. It's like a disease where it exists. It's tricky to communicate either message without making people feel worse than you intend to. Some people probably don't even think about what they are wearing and they would be crushed if you said something. Your best bet is to lead by example.
2006-07-19 12:08:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With this heat around the United States I say dress to be comfortable and not worry about what everyone else thinks. I do not go to church much but I think I remember something in the Bible about pleasing God and not man. Also, on the day we stand before God, is he going to say "On 6/19/06 you wore a wife beater top and bermuda shorts to my house when the temperature was 98 degrees outside. Sorry, no entrance to heaven"???
As to the nature of man, I am married and when I do go to church I go with my wife, the only woman I am in love with so I don't notice other women. Now if my wife wore a thong to church, I would probably then be distracted!!!! ;-)
2006-07-19 12:01:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you 110%. When people go to church, they are entering a house of worship, a very holy place. It's a time to focus on God.
Being that men are visual creatures, it's very inappropriate to wear spaghetti strap tops, shorts, mini skirts, and the like. It's a distraction to the men, they look at the women instead of focusing on God. And it's also very disrespectful of the women to not show more decorum in their dress.
I once went to a baptism and the women in front of me wore strapless blouses. From behind, they looked naked!
If you go to honor God, spiff up a little at least. Forget the ripped jeans tnat are en vogue with the "it" crowd. You're not there to impress the "it" crowd, you're there for God. No need to dress to the nines, but wear stuff that covers, that's clean, not ripped or wrinkled, and that is even a little polished (or more than a little polished).
Women... cover your heads while in church. This is written in the Bible, I'm not making it up. Dress modestly, yes, but remember to cover your heads in church also. You can use a pretty lace scarf, they're very nice.
2006-07-19 12:53:08 · answer #7 · answered by Dolores G. Llamas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Jeans and t-shirt is okay, cuz really those people probably don't have anything nice, and should they be stopped from going to church because of that? My grandma stopped going to my church because she felt everybody was stuck up and her shirt and skirt weren't good enough. And once I decided to convert and I decided I would go to church the coming Sunday (this past christmas) and I hadn't been since I was about 14, I didn't have anything to wear so I just found my nicest sweater and jeans and wore them, everybody was nice to me thankfully because I'm a very sensitive person, but I did feel out of place with the dresspants and dresses. But I agree with the asker, Church is not a popularity contest or a place to impress the cute guy you like.
2006-07-19 11:56:43 · answer #8 · answered by moonbaby279 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Men will lust at the sight of a woman no matter how she's dressed. Just ask (honest) Muslim men in countries where all women are allowed to wear are bedsheet-looking outfits with only the eyes exposed. The men still lust at the sight of the women.
Dress in church for women should be modest for the guys' sake and a matter of love and respect shown to God. It's up to you and God as to what that means for you. Avoid the extremes of legalism and sluttiness.
2006-07-19 11:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by chdoctor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if the church is concerned about decreasing attendance in recent years, they should have at least one service per week where all the girls are allowed to be topless ... and they can wash cars after mass and raise money for the church! Hey, maybe the church can even turn one of the confessionals into a Champagne Room to raise a little extra money on the side - god knows how horny those priests are for little boys!
2006-07-19 11:56:34 · answer #10 · answered by All gods are useless 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people have no respect for the Holy Eucharist or for a church service. Others have no idea that dressing in such a way is disrespectful. Still others are poor and don't own the right kind of clothing.
2006-07-19 11:53:03 · answer #11 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋