Ex-Church of Christ Support Group

[GJack]

It always amazed me that in the hardline/mainstream COC the men would wear their "Sunday Best" (coat, tie, etc..) but, on Sunday nights, no tie or jacket?

And of course in midweek, it was dockers, sport shirts etc. But, heaven forbid if a woman wore PANTS! OH NO!

Hmm


GJack
_________________
"Omnes una manet nox"

[Porcupine]

[ExPreacherman Stan]

My home congregation has gone through several phases throughout the years. From a fairly conservative church in the 50's (before my time), to a moderately progressive and highly evangelistic church in the 60's to the mid 70's, to an extremely legalistic and dying church from the late 70's through the early 2000's. In the late 70's, the elders proclaimed that the ladies were not to wear pants to church and the men taking an active part in any service (day or night) were to wear coats and ties.

However, a year and a half ago when they merged with another congregation in a more upscale part of town, the attire changed dramatically. Most women, young and old wear pants to just about all services, with many wearing jeans to the evening services. Many men, young and old now wear khaki pants and polo shirts to morning and evening services. Even those leading in worship dress casually. One of the elders rarely wears a coat and tie. However, the elders still will not allow shorts in any form or fashion. Otherwise, the church is still highly conservative.

It's funny to observe one of my aunts who once criticized another congregation in the area for the way the women dressed in pants for worship. She said she would never dress in such a way. Guess what? Now in her 70's, she wears pants most of the time, and sometimes jeans or sweat-suit type outfits to church. (And no, she doesn't have Alzheimers).

[Ivyrose]

[Struggler]

I've seen people criticized on both sides of the attire issue. People have been criticized for dressing too casually and others for dressing too formally. It's a matter of individual choice and as long as someone isn't wearing clothes that are too revealing or have offensive material on them, it really should not matter.

[cicada]

It really bugged me in our last church when a couple of young men who were assigned to "wait on the table" were criticized for wearing clothes that were too casual. I hate to see vulnerable people hurt for some meaningless standard that someone feels is more important than they are.

[Bill Carson]

A good friend of mine explains that he wears a suit on Sunday morning because he believes that what happens at church is a special event, and we should act like it and dress accordingly. (I thought that was a pretty good explanation.)

Now, I've always been perplexed by Sunday evening services. What is the purpose? (I really don't know, but that's another topic altogether.) If the purpose is the same as Sunday morning, then shouldn't we dress the same? (I never did, btw...)
_________________
Separate and apart...

[Melanie]

When I was 14, I had a particularly bad case of the flu that left me weak for a long time. When I was finally well enough to go out of the house, it was a Wednesday night, and we had just had a bad ice storm. My mom, who was pretty conservative, told me that there was NO WAY I was going out of the house in that kind of weather in just a dress lest I have a serious relapse and end up in the hospital. I wore nice slacks and a dressy sweater. One of the elders stopped me in the foyer and told me I would have to "observe" the services from back there as I was not welcome in the auditorium dressed in pants. 14 years old!!!!!!!!!!!

At that same church, we had a young woman who started coming who was not yet a Christian. She had malformed legs and wore slacks to try to camouflage the fact. These weren't jeans, mind you, but nice dress slacks and blouses. One of the elders got up in the pulpit and made a public statement that women wearing pants to services would NOT be tolerated. She was sitting directly in front of him on the 2nd row. I never saw her again. So sad!
_________________
"Speak where the Bible speaks; proclaim loudly from a soapbox where the Bible is silent. Speaking of the silence of the Bible, you'd better be absolutely sure of whatever it is the Bible is NOT talking about, because it is indeed a SALVATION issue!"

[Melanie]

Oh, and I just remembered, at another congregation some of the men began inviting acquaintances who were not very affluent and did not have suits and/or ties to wear. These men decided that they would dress casually as well so that their guests would not feel uncomfortable. They explained to the elders what they were doing and why. The elders then informed these men that they could do that, but they would not be asked to wait on the table, lead prayers, etc. anymore! Yet these same elders would probably mock the practice of wearing priestly vestments which is observed in many denominations.
_________________
"Speak where the Bible speaks; proclaim loudly from a soapbox where the Bible is silent. Speaking of the silence of the Bible, you'd better be absolutely sure of whatever it is the Bible is NOT talking about, because it is indeed a SALVATION issue!"

[Bill Carson]

[CADreamer]

I'd be interested to know when this was, too, Bill. Even if it was 30 years ago, you can tell that to Melanie it was just yesterday. That is how harmful some of these practices are. They scar us for life.

[Melanie]

OK, I'm back. The first post about when I was 14 and about the woman wearing slacks happened 30 years ago (OK, now you all know my age!) The second post about the men dressing to make their guests more comfortable occurred about 15 years ago. Yes, they are still fresh, because I suppose these attitudes have not changed too much in many congregations. Although I am currently in a rather conservative group, at least they are not THAT bad. Most people are pretty casual and only a couple of old-timers have made comments about it, but they are pretty much ignored.
_________________
"Speak where the Bible speaks; proclaim loudly from a soapbox where the Bible is silent. Speaking of the silence of the Bible, you'd better be absolutely sure of whatever it is the Bible is NOT talking about, because it is indeed a SALVATION issue!"

[GMan]

I just wonder what wearing a Kilt would do?
_________________
A Life Lived in Fear,
Is a Life Half Lived

PEACE

Glen

[howiesbeenbad]

Gman, I dare you.

[GMan]