Our entire society is dressing down for everything. No more suits and dresses at work. Sean Duffy gets mocked for telling people to not wear sweatpants and pajamas when they fly to try to bring a little class back to air travel. People come into church as if they just came in from plowing the field. People walk around in public in what looks like pajamas.
One note of hope is that the young people in my office seem to be dressing more professionally. They may be rebelling against the “casual culture.” Maybe there is hope for the future.
That was my observation in that last two winter gigs I did for a large insurer. The boomers, and Gen X (my folks) were dressed like bums - jeans, flannels, garbage looking pullovers - both the men and women. The under 30's were not suited up, but were at least wearing ironed button downs and black or grey slacks (remember that word?) and the females were dressed appropriately as well.
I only sold them an application and maintain it a couple months out of the year. It's not my corporation, they can do what they want as far as dress code. It's just slovenly.
entire
society
down
everything
That's a literary accomplishment to fit so many absolutes into one sentence.
Matthew 7:1-4
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Maybe they did. Spend some time in a working town or city. Watch the working men in particular come in to church right from work, especially the evening vigils. Watch the working men come into church on their lunch break.
Celebrate them being there and stop judging them for what they wear.
God chose Joseph, a carpenter, and Christ chose several fishermen to be His Apostles.
Sean Duffy doesn’t have to sit in a small seat and be considered cattle. When they treat travelers like they did in the 1970’s where you had a decent seat, and a great meal, then maybe people will dress up. Until then, go fly a kite.
I’m not consistent on this issue - to many of the elements of “dressing up”, I say - good riddance. Ties and creased pants for men - high heels and lipstick for women - they always seemed like random vestiges of some past fashion that somehow became compulsory - or even symptoms of misplaced military regimentation.
On the other hand - I hate the sweat pants (pajamas), the falling-off pants, the deliberate holes and tears, the logos and memes on T shirts.
But.. flipping to the “other side” of the argument again - I like denim, leather and some other materials to be somewhat faded, worn or “broken in” - certainly not dirty or falling apart - it’s just that in nature, smooth and shiny are not always most beautiful - the bark of a tree, the variations and shades in stone, etc..
Flipping yet again, I’d rather most people stopped tucking their shirts in - especially a tight fitting shirt - which I also don’t like. Speaking of fitting - a “well tailored” men’s suit looks ridiculously tight around the shoulders and too big around the hips - it’s as if they are trying to downplay the masculine traits of wide shoulders and narrow hips.
When it comes to church - my issue is a different one - people were always perfectly silent in the churches I went to - except when singing or reading aloud. When visitors would come and talk as if they were at a hockey game it seemed very rude - that bothered me a lot more than the way people dress in church.
I realize I can’t have it both ways - I do have my standards - but I think the formal attire wore out its welcome and now we have a pendulum swing that will also hopefully wear out its welcome - but I sure never want to wear a tie again.