Posted on 07/23/2012 12:09:39 PM PDT by NoKoolAidforMe
Yesterday at mass, a man came in with two girls (both of an age where each could stand and speak on their own.) ten minues after the liturgy began.
He stood along the side aisle wearing shorts, an advertisement tee shirt, and sneakers and leaned one foot against the wall of the church while standing. There were seats available.
When we stood for the gospel, he then decided to sit down. He did not pray with the girls nor follow along with the missal. He held one girl up for the entire mass, talking throughout with her feet on the top of the pew in front of him, even through the announcment that asked parishioners to show up on time and dress appropriately for mass and set a good example for our children. He bounced her up and down, kissing her repeatedly throughout the entire liturgy.
I write this diatribe because I am not sure if I am being unreasonable in expecting people to show up on time for mass, dress in attire that does not look like you are going to play baseball in the park, and behave in a respectful manner (you know, don't talk in church.)
Whatever happened to manners? Does anyone else notice this?
Perhaps it was his first visit to a liturgical church...
... Or any church....
And while you were checking him out and racking up complaints about his decorum and dress......
...Perhaps he was looking for God in his own way...
Most pastors would be overjoyed that this man and his kids were there at all...
...And trusting God to minister to them in spite of their (apparent) lack of understanding of how it all fits together...
Food for thought..
Yes, I dress for church and am a little early so that I can look over the bulletin, note the sermon topic and the Scripture reading. Then, I spend time in prayer asking that my heart, and those around me, be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
We dress for those we respect. It depends on whether we respect God as much as we do our boss, our mayor, a Congressman or President. Many people think more of their comfort and convenience than they do of God or the sensibilities of those gathered in His name.
Regarding kids in church, seems they had that solved 50 years ago. We didn’t go to church, we went to Sunday school.
How can I filter out crap posts like this?
So allow me to ask a retorical question.
Would you rather the person who is un-churched, attend but perhaps not understand or observe all the traditions of man, -or- would you rather the un-churched come and listen and perhaps be changed forever?
I would caution you that moving the pearly gates out of heaven and into the front of the church will keep a LOT of sinners away.
Agreed, but if it is just shorts or t-shirt or jeans. Nothing revealing, nothing over the top, then maybe it’s the heart of those who are having a problem with it, that need improvement.
I tell ya, one of the reasons I do not go to church is because it’s full of people who are utterly incapable of minding their own business.
Our family has to get to church at least a half hour early to sit on the front row. People wear all different kinds of clothing... It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus.
Wonder if those who sat at the feet of Jesus to hear his teachings were always well dressed.
Praise the Lord the kids were inside the walls of your church!
Yes the entire citizenry of America has “dressed-down”, it has alot to do with the occupants of the White House, remember when the Reagans were in office-we used china and crystal, NOW we use red solo cups and paper plates!
We need someone with class in the White House. AND someone that attends a church!
LOL, When I was a kid in Mn we had to get to church early to get a good seat in back.
Evidence of our evolution into a class-less society. What you get when dumb-down and drug-down, but oh, how cool we are.
We have a family that shows up exactly 15 minutes late every Sunday, but they show up every Sunday. We have teenage girls in the congregation that dress like they go straight to a street corner after church (or they are just coming in from a busy Saturday night). We have a few people that show up in shorts and t-shirts.
The human that I am is appalled and disgusted at their lack of respect. But the Holy Spirit reminds me that God puts us in this world naked and bloody and he usually takes us out the same way. So, I try not to worry too much about their clothing in church.
The dress down trend started way before obumummer was in office....we have been moving to a casual society for decades.
No matter who get's in it will not go back to the days of old.
We have a couple with a toddler and a newborn starting to attend our church regularly. They were rescued by our pastor (and a brother in Christ from a different church), from a homeless encampment locally called the “jungle”. Just this week a homeless man was stabbed in the neck and stomach and robbed while sleeping in his tent in the “jungle”. Should I ask them to leave, since last week the father had on old holy jeans? Their toddler runs all over the church expressing “Joie de vivre”. Should we send him back to running around amongst the trash, hundreds of propane cylinders, beer cans & bottles, needles, and unsavory characters? Should we reject the mother and her newborn baby because doesn't have proper “church” clothes?
Maybe she should have had the baby in the squalor of the “jungle”, where she belongs, until she could meet the church dress code.
The lyrics of a Casting Crowns song comes to mind....
It's crowded in a worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls’ teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? There is a way?
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tell him that his chances
Are better out on the road
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?
But Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? As Jesus is the way
Agreed.
I left the four-walled church about five years ago for the simple reason that "love" had been replaced by "conventions" and "rules."
The funny thing is that I was part of the leadership when I came to this realization. I actually apologized to a number of people on my way out for the errors in my thinking.
I credit Eugene Peterson for helping me to see this more clearly when I read "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places," which I highly recommend.
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 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?
My sister told me to "sit in the front row" at school. I did, and I'd never want to sit in the back row. There is an unobstructed view in the front, plus I can hear better. I have also noticed there is a tendency for people who are 6'2" and taller and those who have BIG hair to do the same thing.
During Mass this Sunday a young teenage girl came up to receive is less than appropriate dress. I happen to sit in the second row so heard him comment to her.
He told her,"You would dress like this to receive our Lord?"
He says the same to those men who are dress in shorts. Once the father of one of the girls,who came up with the gifts was dressed looking like a hooker, literally came after him after mass
We have a few who come late and that he seems to address the issue on a one to one basis.
The thing that really ticks him off is when parishioners leave immediately after receiving and do not wait until the final blessing. He usually comments as they are leaving,"you can not stay for a few more minutes in respect for our Lord.
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