Whatever happened to dressing up on Easter Sunday?

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Saturday, April 10, 2004 | Alyson Walls

[Willie Green]

Although famed musical composer Irving Berlin thought them lovely enough to write a sonnet, nowadays few women are donning Easter bonnets.

In fact, you're more apt to see wrinkled khakis and rumpled polo shirts than pressed suits and pastel pumps at church on Sunday.

While Easter Sunday has traditionally been the day to show off your new spring finery, America has become a nation that dresses down, and not just on "casual Fridays" in the office.

[bmwcyle]

I wear nice clothes but I will always hate wearing a tie.

[woofie]

I didn't catch the atheist part ...I'll admit to being a lazy slob but Im still pretty sure that God is around

[missyme]

I see your point! I think that the dress for Church should always be tasteful. If we get up in the morning to take the time to dress for work, then we can spend some time getting dressed decently in GOD's house. Sometimes I see people in church that looked like they just crawled out of bed, there hair is unkept, clothes wrinkled, it's looks awful, I also see usually teenage girls with there skirt up to there rear-end or wearing a see-through shirt and no bra....To me it sends a message that you do not respect
GOD....

I hope you had a Blessed Easter!

[JFC]

Thank you and same to you. I raised sons, so I do not have to worry with dressing daughters. However, I see many young girls who love to dress like Britney Spears with the pants barley covering their bottoms... and the thongs showing way above their pants.

My sons say..... they have their come and get me outfits on.

I have to agree.

[Sloth]

James 2:2-4 -- "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?"

I Timothy 2:9-10 -- "In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works."

[hawm4]

I can agree in that sense, however, suppose someone can't afford 'nice' clothes but still desires to go to Church on Easter Sunday...what then?

How do you define 'one of the most formal days of the year' - if you define it in a fashion sense, then you are 100% correct but if you define it by the true reasons, then it should not matter how one dresses to go celebrate Easter with other believers.

The bottom line for me is, if a person can help it and has other options then, sure, they should dress as well as they can. It has NOTHING to do with Church though.

God doesn't care how we dress. God wants our hearts and sometimes the only way for people to learn about God is by going to Church.

And it not be accepted by you, means nothing really. We all have our opinions.

I'm not saying go naked or trashy if you can help it! But some people can't help it. Do you accept turning people away from Church that doesn't fit into your dress code?

[threat matrix]

I absolutely agree with what you were saying.

If someone truly does not have the means to provide proper attire for themselves in our town, usually a pastor will secretly go to the Junior League and get a bunch of newer clothes for them.

The problem is that sometimes they are too proud to take it or don't know any differently.

The only ones I cannot tolerate are people who really can afford it showing up in shorts etc.

[hawm4]

Well then, I certainly agree with you on that. If they are able to afford them, they should buy them. I would never argue against that.

[RockyMtnMan]

If they are able to afford them, they should buy them.

Just because I can afford a $5000 dollar Armani doesn't mean I should go out and buy one. A better strategy in God's eyes would be to give the church the money and go in dockers, nice shirt and loafers.

Materialism is a slipery slope that starts with your first big purchase of indulgence and God doesn't want you standing on the slope just to visit his house.

[altura]

Good Question (of the church re men vs women)

I reluctantly admit that when we called our new Priest, I did not want a woman.

(this is Episcopal)

I wanted a Good Looking Man (ha)

We called a woman, and I believe she will turn out to be the finest priest we have ever had.

Her sermons are incredible.

Thank God, He didn't listen to me.

[Dengar01]

I'm a worship leader at my church ELCA (lutheran). And I find that dressing up (shirt, tie, jacket) is distracting (for me personally) during the services that I help lead (contemporary). Now at traditional services I don't see that there is a problem with dressing up as it is more traditional. However, just because someone isn't dressed up doesn't have anything to do with where their heart is.

I dress up but in my style, as I am in my 20's, dressing up in a full suit is not for me.

[adiaireton8]

No offense, but this is a load of bunk.

I'm not offended, but I would like to know what reasons you have for denying that manner of dress can show respect and reverence for God.

[adiaireton8]

Is that a "Yes" or a "No"?

What is the question to which you are referring?

[Politicalmom]

I was SHOCKED when I went to a conservative Baptist
church yesterday in the Bible Belt. Coming from a conservative church in CA, I was not prepared for the slutty outfits on the girls, the slobby ones on the boys. My husband kept wanting to cover the girls' rear ends that were showing when they bent over. I saw "flip-flops", skirts shorter than the sweaters, plumber cracks, boys walking on the cuffs of their pants.......

I wouldn't let my daughters leave the HOUSE looking like a tramp, let alone enter the house of God. It was totally obnoxious and disgusting.

[hawm4]

Yeah well you are correct, but it's apparent you didn't read the rest of my comments regarding this situation either. Had you read before making your reply, you would have saved a lot of time.

Bottom line, I've argued that God doesn't care what we wear to Church. Church isn't a fashion show and it's sad that 'we' seem to view it that way.

Read on before making a comment back to me, please.

[hawm4]

Yeah well you are correct, but it's apparent you didn't read the rest of my comments regarding this situation either. Had you read before making your reply, you would have saved a lot of time.

Bottom line, I've argued that God doesn't care what we wear to Church. Church isn't a fashion show and it's sad that 'we' seem to view it that way.

Read on before making a comment back to me, please.

[adiaireton8]

You obviously have a strong bias toward dressing up.

This is an ad hominem. I have no "bias" toward dressing up. I have **reasons**, which I listed. Reasons are not *bias*. No matter what reasons you provided in defense of your position, I could just reply that you have a strong bias toward your position. That kind of mentality destroys the possibility of rational, truth-seeking dialogue.

I went to a church once where everyone, but me, wore a full business suit and the women were equally dressed. Everyone had on their best jewelry and adornment. I thought to myself, this is the most incredible example of materialism I have ever seen. They were there to show off under the auspices of praising God.

How did you know what was in their hearts? Wearing respectful and reverent apparel into God's presence is not *materialism*. Materialism, as it is used in this context, is inordinate pursuit and love of material things.

However, the idea one should dress in a full suit and tie, to show respect to God, is ridiculous.

How so?

[adiaireton8]

However, just because someone isn't dressed up doesn't have anything to do with where their heart is.

But it does indicate something about their theology and/or their grasp of aesthetics.

[RockyMtnMan]

I could just reply that you have a strong bias toward your position.

I agree, bias is an inclination to ones own views. I don't believe dressing up (not to be confused with dressing down) has anything to do with respecting God. If you can point me to the scriptures that indicate that I should dawn my finest adornments please do. Several have pointed out passages that say quite the opposite.

How did you know what was in their hearts?

I'd rather not specify how, but it was apparent in more ways than one.

Wearing respectful and reverent apparel into God's presence is not *materialism*.

Don't mix the flip-flops and ass-huggers the younger folk wear with those who wear a 3 piece. Business casual or even jeans (not your paint the house jeans) and a nice shirt are well within reason. Christians in general should not dress in a provocative fashion, let alone at church.

[ClearBlueSky]

Seeing that in a Bible belt Baptist church is disheartening. It says a lot about the sexualization of society, doesn't it. I'm sure the people there thought themselves fashionably dressed. Sad.
And no- I don't think God cares if you have on a designer dress or something from WalMart. It's what's in your heart, not on your body, that really counts- BUT, it says something about the person if they dress as well as they can. It shows respect for the person you're going to see-in this case God, not the congregation- to take the time to look your best. Bottom line- it's if you're IN church that counts, and if you are there for worship. Treating it as more special than going to an everyday event is just...nice.
Maybe not necessary- but there's nothing wrong with 'nice'.