Why can't I wear a hat in church.?

Question

I have been a Christian for my whole life and have gone to church my entire life. I wore a hat to church one Sunday morning and was asked to remove it by an older person in the church. I took it off just because I didn't want to start trouble, but it got me thinking. Does God really care if I wear a hat? What's the big deal. I think God still loves me with my hat on and I feel more comfortable. If we tell new Christians that they can't wear their hats in service, they're going to be turned off by the idea of going to church at all. Can someone please help me understand what's so wrong with it. And please don't say "because it's respectful."

Well it was also expected that women wear hats it church. They don't anymore and I find that disrespectful. That's all it is. Someone said it was disrespectful and that's the way it is. There is no real reason whatsoever. I'm going to start my own church and you can wear hats if you want. God wants us to worship freely and we get got up in the details of how to "do" church properly.

Answer 1

Sorry, but it's a long long long tradition of showing respect. It has carried over to the military. Men aren't supposed to wear hats indoors especially in someones house. The church is considered Gods house.

Answer 2

Perhaps it is how they tell the men from the women. Catholic women are expected to cover their heads, and men to uncover theirs. But protestants retained only the part about men uncovering, although most women wore hats through at least the 1950s, so they didn't have to make it a rule.

It is considered respectful because that's what people did when they went into the home of a nobleman, or indeed a gentleman would remove his hat in any building back in the days when these rules were developed. So all I can say is that it is a traditional mark of respect, which is only partly an answer.

Answer 3

It's a matter of courtesy, etiquette and most of all...(sorry...but this IS the reason...you might not agree...but it's true) a sign of RESPECT!!!

There was a time when this meant something...and I think it still should. I cannot believe this kind of thing is not widely known anymore...but here:

Indoors, a man should always remove his hat, (particularly in a home, church, courtroom or restaurant) except:

(1) in some public buildings or public places such as railroad stations or post offices;

(2) in the main parlor area of a saloon or general store;

(3) or while seated at the "lunch counter" of a diner or cafe;

(4) in entrance halls and corridors of office buildings, or hotels;

(5) in elevators of public or office buildings, unless a woman is present;

(6) if carrying packages, parcels or bags and both hands are occupied upon entry.

(7) If the man is an actor or performer and the hat is being worn as a part of a costume or performance.


If in doubt, it is best for a gentleman to remove his hat indoors as soon as practical.

It is considered a sign of contempt and/or disrespect to leave your hat on when it would be proper to remove it.

It is also surprising to me how many people do not remove their hats for the National Anthem or a passing funeral procession.. a shame really.

Answer 4

It's an old custom, that out of respect a man would take off his hat upon entering a building (this is when ALL men wore hats outside). Thus the older generation consideres it disrespectful to wear your hat indoors, doubly so in a church where it is supposed you are to come in ulitimate respect and supplication. It's a dying custom, just let it go, in 20 years no one will care.

Answer 5

Older people keep traditions, like wearing hats inside a building is disrespectful. The military still does it. It does say it in the Bible somewhere, but it also says women should cover their heads so... take it how you will. Maybe you should find another church if you don't like how they do things. I go to a church where I can dress comfortable and be myself. I wear my hat to church quite a bit actually and sport a tee shirt and blue jeans.

Answer 6

I suppose years ago somebody might take offense at a man wearing a hat. Most things that have to do with proper procedure have gone out the window now. Men used to open doors for women and help old folks across the street. I personally like to take my hat off in most places since I was in the Army. I am sure God likes to see someone take that extra step for Him in his house.

Answer 7

It may seem like a "little thing," but the little things we do (or don't do) are important. Take care of the "small stuff," the old saying goes, and the "big stuff" will take care of itself.

Removing one's hat is often done as a sign of respect -- to another person, to our flag at the national anthem, and so on.

When we do not perform simple acts of respect, they tend to bleed over into our lives as a whole.

.

Answer 8

Wear your hat, just don't obscure the view of the person behind you!

Actually, in Geneva, men wore their hats except for the reading of the gospel when the hat was removed as a sign of respect; hats were removed in the presence of the Monarch,too, for example and for the same reason.

BTW, it was not uncommon for men to smoke a pipe during the delivery of the sermon. Tobacco use declined in churches when chewing and snuff became more common.

HTH

Charles

Answer 9

You should read 1 corinthians 11:1-16 in the Bible. If a man wears a covering in the assembly while praying or prophesying, he disgraces his head, Christ. If a woman does not wear a covering for the same, she disgraces
her head, her own and her husbands. The womans covering is a symbol of her subjection to her husband under
God ( see Genesis 1:16). This tradition probably carried into the secular world over time and morphed into showing one s subjection to one and respect to another. This is all because of the angels who are watching! 1cor 1:10.

Answer 10

You don't want to hear it but it is true. Men take their hats off in the house out of respect. Woman cover their heads in church out of respect.