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The point is to wear your best, just like you would if you had an audience with GW Bush, QE II, or the Pope! This is an internal thing that YOU do to show YOUR respect for someone greater than YOURSELF! Where in the world did some of you think that this was a move to impose a dress code on OTHERS?!

See, I don't buy this line. If I were to go visit GWB, or some other potentate, I would wear a suit and tie because that is what our culture expects.

But at church, where did the suit and tie idea come from? It's decidedly not biblical in origin, but rather cultural. "Sunday best" was not about piety, but rather showing off to the community.

James has a lot to say about those who make judgment based on the quality of someone's clothing -- its personal favoritism, damn hypocrisy.

More than a few evil men wore suits and ties to church.

Now, I am explicitly assuming we're not talking about issues of modesty.

James has a lot to say about those who make judgment based on the quality of someone's clothing -- its personal favoritism, damn hypocrisy.
Worth Posting.

James 2
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

See, I don't buy this line. If I were to go visit GWB, or some other potentate, I would wear a suit and tie because that is what our culture expects.

Now it seems to me I remember a very handsome young man in his Sunday best that visited a church I attended :>)How you doing Jude? Are you back at school?

But at church, where did the suit and tie idea come from? It's decidedly not biblical in origin, but rather cultural. "Sunday best" was not about piety, but rather showing off to the community.

I think you assume too much, my FRiend. For Christianity is certainly cultural. I'm afraid the problem with American Christianity is that is waaaaaaay too individualistic. IMHO, that is why we see so much apostasy. That one would dress in a certain manner as a reflection of a particular christian culture not only may bring to the mind of the individual a certian reverence but it also is a reflection to the pagan world that we belong to the "city of God".

After we escaped the dualism of Catholicism notice how culture took off when we incorporated God into all aspects of our lives as a culture. Is it a coincidence that some of the greatest cultural accomplishments occured during the 17th century? What this country needs is a decidedly christian culture.