I was brought up a Catholic and then I became a born-again Christian, help me to understand something?

Question

I am not really sure about what the Sabbath is, but now one of my girlfriends is practicing The Sabbath and wanted me to come along one Saturday instead of a Sunday, which is when I go to Church. So she says, you can come, but you MUST wear a skirt or a dress. I told her, I don't think so....God does not care what we wear to church as long as we are there for him. Am I right or wrong? She tells me men have changed everything about woman, how they dress, how they think, what they should or should not wear. She says a real woman wears skirts and dresses and heels! What a crock I told her, nobody tells me what the heck to wear. I told her I did not want to go and she says, ok, you can wear pants! What??

Answer 1

Let me point you to some scripture to help you out on this one (always check anything people tell you with what the scripture teaches)...

Rom 14:5 one person regards one day above another, another regards every day {alike.} Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
Rom 14:7 for not one of us lives for him, and not one dies for himself;
Rom 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

What it is saying here is that it really doesn't matter what day we worship or what clothes we wear as long as what we do is done to bring glory to God. There are many churches that forget that glorifying God is the point and will make many rules and doctoring in an attempt to be "holy" but they often will end up only putting a new burden on people instead of allowing them to freely worship God. I would be VERY careful about a church that worships on Saturday and forces its women to wear skirts and heels...
As fare as the Sabbath goes... the Jews worship on Saturday because it is the last day of the week and the day God rested. It is an Old Testament way of worshiping. After Christ came believers began to worship on Sunday because they were celebrating the resurrection of Christ which was on Sunday.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, the Sabbath is Saturday, and it is a Jewish tradition to worship God on the Sabbath. There are also some Christian denominations who worship on Saturday rather than Sunday.

And about your second question - you're right that it's really what's in your heart that God cares about, but there is also something to wearing a skirt to Church. In a way, the fact that you're not wearing your "street clothes" shows some more respect than showing up in jeans and sneakers. So, if it's a church that expects girls to wear dresses, then I think you should wear a dress or skirt.

Answer 3

The Sabbath is Saturday, but since Jesus died it no longer matter which day you worship. All days are the same.

Colossians chapter two says:

16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

I'd suggest you read the entire chapter.

You are correct that God really does not care if you wear a dress or pants, as long as you are dressed modestly.

Religious groups which have strict dress codes are NOT following the Bible.

The advice I've been giving for years is to wear clothing to church which does not attrack attention to yourself.

Answer 4

God made the sabbath for the Hebrews. The sabbath ended at the cross .The Lords day became Sunday the day Christ resurrected . Also Paul had church service on Sunday the first day of the week , Acts 20:7. You should dress appropriately to honor our Lord and Savior . Keep reading the bible and find a bible believing church to be fed his word.

Answer 5

A true born again Christian (that is one who is renewed and born of the Holy Spirit) hates anyone, but some immature Christians sadly display a curt or even 'holier-than- though' attitude. It is by the Grace of God that we are lead into more and more Truth. Tragically, very many church-goers do not know that true Christian experience and relationship with Christ MUST involve being born gain - by personal faith in and submission to Christ as one's personal Saviour and Lord. Satan loves to keep this vital miracle of transformation out of the church! he does a successful job! Some R Catholics who receive the spiritual re-birth find they cannot stay in the R Church. But, many Protestants who have experienced the re-birth also cannot stay in the (usually, but not always) - denominational church of their upbringing One big reason why born-again Christians leave their current church is because there is no encouragement or opportunity to develop the Spiritual Gifts that were given at the first Christian Pentecost and are still given! Also that many churches do not provide Bible-study/fellowship/prayer meetings, essential for spiritual growth and strength.

Answer 6

I shouldn't really judge from this amount of information, but I'm already getting the feeling that this church your friend attends might be too invasive. There exists churches (of any denomination) with individuals, families or leaders that like to manipulate and control people. Often it is in the guise of trying to work in your heart what the Holy Spirit would do in a much healthier time frame, without their interference. This work that the Holy Spirit does in us is so personal that it wouldn't be right for anyone else to attempt it.

I realize that you only spoke about what they are supposed to wear, but I have found that to be a common characteristic of places that produce the kind of people I just described.

If you are born again, try to find an evangelical congregation that has lots of people with decent educations. Well educated people are usually less tolerant of unhealthy leaders....and make study groups so much more interesting. :)

Answer 7

Seventh Day Adventists have an odd interpretation of scripture. They are completely rabid about not worshipping on any day other than Saturday, which was the "sabbath" for Jewish people (and still is), never gentile believers. The bible clearly teaches, in the book of Acts, that the "first church" met on the "first day of the week", which in biblical times was Sunday. There is also a verse that says, one man holds one day holier than another, another man does not. It doesn't matter what day you go to church. It matters who you say Jesus Christ is.

Also, my church is very informal. People wear jeans, whatever. God does not care about what you are wearing. He cares about your heart.

Answer 8

When you go for a family gathering, a BBQ, a reunion, a wedding, whatever - don't you dress up, at least a little bit? Of course you do. You want to look your best for those you love.

Do you not also love God? When you go into one of His houses of worship, you should also consider dressing appropriately. At no other time are we literally close to God than we are when we enter a house of worship.

No, you don't have to dress a certain way when you go to church. But, it is because others don't think God is worthy of appropriate dress, that is where the value of going the extra mile and dressing appropriately for church finds it's value.

You don't have to go nuts dressing formal or anything. What's the term. . ."smart casual" I think it is. Something like that will do just fine.

Answer 9

I too was brought up a Catholic....and am now a Born Again Christian....According to the Bible the Sabbath is on Saturday
And the Bible tells us what to wear....God does care what we wear and how we take great care of ourselves.HE loves us and wants the very best for us...if you search the Scripture's God will answer your questions....Your friend might be just trying to get you to go to church on the Sabbath(Saturday) to help you know this is the day God has appointed us to gather together...I pray the LORD and HIS WORD will guide you in all things. In Jesus Name Amen

Answer 10

some churches and faiths believe that women can only wear skirts or dresses.

while you may not believe or practice that, i would think that as a guest at their church you would wear a skirt or dress as to not offend their beliefs.....

I am a Catholic and have been to different church services where (pentecost) where they believe that woman can't wear pants... and I wore a nice dress.... I wore the dress because while i didn't agree with their beliefs I did respect them.