Only if I could get away with it. Seriously though, there are a few of us who go barefoot at the office (not when we're with clients). Of course, this IS Arkansas. 
Posted on 10/18/2005 8:33:29 AM PDT by Millee
There's a new fad of students -- mostly girls -- wearing pajama bottoms to school, and so far administrators are not making a fuss about it.
"Some days you don't want to get dressed up for school. Like when it's raining and cold. You just want to be cozy," said Ben Lomond High School junior Elvia Escalante, 16.
School administrators in Ogden, Weber and Davis school districts say the pajamas have been modest and there hasn't been a problem.
"There are worse things a kid could wear to school," said Ross Lunceford, principal of Hillcrest Elementary School in Ogden.
"There's a fine line there, and I think sometimes we need to pick our battles. Should we get into a tussle over pajamas?" said Eileen Nicholas, student and family services teacher specialist for Ogden district.
Some students don't think much of the attire.
"They may be comfy, but it makes you look trashy and it gives you the idea you can just slack off for the day," said Ben Lomond High School senior Alena Marshall, 18.
To the contrary, I understand you perfectly. In your mind, the change in modes of dress at church is reflective of a deterioration in godliness. You are concerned that, because you see a decrease in the quality of outward appearance, people are inwardly less focused on -- and, by extension, less committed to -- God. The problem is that thre IS NOT a two-way link between what people do with their outside and their spiritual health on the inside.
While it is true that poor attitudes tend to lead toward shabby dress, that isn't always true, and the REVERSE -- that shabby dress is a bona fide indication of poor inward attitudes -- is even less often true. We've all met well-heeled people who are spiritually bankrupt, and Jesus had some whithering words on the subject in Matthew 23, vv.25-28. Oddly, I cannot recall either Jesus, or any of the apostles, rebuking anyone for coming to God poorly dressed, and I've received some of the best spiritual wisdom of my life from men who were not wearing suits -- or even a shirt and tie. Nearly all of their comments were focused primarily on the condition of the inner man. To paraphrase Jesus, "Clean the inside of the cup and dish, then the outside will be clean, as well."
At one time, it would have been unthinkable for any man -- least of all, a Christian -- to appear in public without his hat. Today, nobody gives it a second thought. Are we all under dressed? Are we all immoral and backslidden for our lack of hats? I think not, but the time-travelling Christian from those days would surely be led to intercede for our salvation. This illustrates the potential absurdity in applying old standards to the present, and the disconnect between our outward appearance and our spirituality. Ultimately, what is (or ought to be) important is that undergirding principles of modesty not be violated.
Now, you bring up Paul and Timothy -- and I wholly agree with your comments at that point, by the way -- so consider the saints of their day and their mode of dress. The vast majority of people had only one set of clothes. What you wore all the time was what you wore to the meeting and nobody thought the better or worse of you for doing so. Since that was his paradigm, St. Paul could walk into a church today and, regardless of how anyone were dressed, he would simply conclude the they dressed that way all the time. There would certainly be no inference at all in his mind as to positive or negative spiritual implications lurking behind the scenes. So, I say, ought it also be with us, and this is the pont I am making: judging by outward appearances is a blind guide and a deception that leads to error.
While I agree with you that it would be nice if everyone dressed up for church, then again, God didn't chose David based on his wardrobe, and the scribes and Pharisees were resoundingly rebuked despite theirs. David is noteworthily referred to as a man after God's own heart, and the Pharisees -- a brood of vipers. Therefore, let each dress modestly after whatever fashion he is led to prefer, let no one consider it any indication of spirituality or lack thereof, and let all stand soberminded in humility before God recognizing that He, alone, is our True Judge.
So a teenager wearing a pair of pajamas to school is disrespectful? To whom? His/her peers? His/her instructors? If the teenager's pajamas are decent and clean, how is it disrespectful? It's an article of clothing. That's all it is.
My daughter wore them and in now way did her ability to learn diminish because of it. If I am not mistaken, she wore them the day of an Algebra test and she passed the test with an A+. She wasn't disrespectful in attitude towards anyone. She didn't disrupt others. So, tell me how it was disrespectful of her to wear them. How did it make her lazy?
I'm sorry, but you've completely missed my point.
Nowhere did I state that one's outward appearance is an indicator to the strength/status of their faith. I'm well aware that Chrust works from the inside out, and some may even consider my Church wardrobe innapropriate (I don't wear a tie - usually just a button-up shirt and khakis) - but again, it's the best of what I have.
Point 1) There used to exist a general sense of decency and decorum - especially on the Lord's day, but generally in public. This overall standard has been watered down over the last several decades, but seems to be increasing. An overall lack of formality and lack of discernment as to what is proper and what isn't.
Point 2) People who refuse to go to church unless they can dress casually - the issue is with them, and not with the church. The issue is their personal comfort taking precedence over service to the Lord. It makes their faithful worship to Him conditional, and that's just wrong.
I hope that clarifies my stance, as I really can't explain it any better than I already have.
The problem is, the market targets these no taste juveniles. Sometime, compare the junior departments in a store to other clothing departments for females, if you haven't already had occasion to do so. Sometimes the junior department is larger than all the rest put together...and 90% of the the items found in the junior department are designed for girls with no breasts, no butt, no taste and no class.
During my high school days, I was sent home numerous times for wearing my skirts (yes, I said skirts) too short...too short being more than an inch above the knee.
No child of mine would wear either.
Well, just think how much more convenient it is for those quickies at lunch time.
And just WHAT is this overall standard? Who sets this standard?
Isn't the standard for decency and decorum that the apparel be clean and decent? If one's clothing is clean and decent (no obscene t-shirts, covers the body etc.) it is acceptable.
When did worship become a formal event? It is SUPPOSED to be a lifestyle, not something you congregate with the masses on a certain day of the week for a few hours to "do".
There is a dress code again in Shelby County Tennessee this year. Parents love it, kids look soooooooo much better.
Big SIGH......if this isn't the truth!! My answer to pajamas in school? UNIFORMS!!!!
Is this the wonderful socialization government school defenders are always praising?
Solution: Remove your child from government school today. Homeschool or private school.
While I agree with you in theory, I think God is probably more concerned that they're there than He is with what they're wearing.
Our district proposed uniforms and it was overwhelmingly voted down by the parents. Personally, I voted FOR uniforms as it would've been easier on me as far as clothing expenses go (I had four in school at the time. Now I have three attending.) however, the idea was not welcomed by the majority.
they've been doing that for years here. Burbank, Ca school district a couple of years ago made them against the dress code and now they don't do that.
Whatever happened to dress for success?????
Only if I could get away with it. Seriously though, there are a few of us who go barefoot at the office (not when we're with clients). Of course, this IS Arkansas.
Plumbers have been apparently always been in "fashion".
Who sets any standard? Who decides what's decent and what isn't? Who decides what standards of "clean" are?
You wear bed clothes to bed, play clothes to play, and dress clothes when out. These are pretty basic ideals, but unfortunately have been watered down with an increasing "anything goes" attitude.
>>When did worship become a formal event? It is SUPPOSED to be a lifestyle, not something you congregate with the masses on a certain day of the week for a few hours to "do".<<
I'm not talking about someone's lifestyle, I'm taking about their worship on the Lord's Day. Something He set apart as sanctified and holy. It's not my decree.
I'm not looking for a nation-wide dress code, I'm just sick of seeing the laziness of people who don't seem to care how they present themselves. Let's put a little more thought into it, pajama-wearers - you're not at home.
No! Not that!
Let's make sure there are rules against wearing underwear in school.
Wait a minute. What am I saying?
Play clothes are what? Torn or stained clothing? Less expensive clothing? What exactly are play clothes?
Exactly what are dress clothes? A dress? A suit and tie? Nice jeans, nice blouse and heels?
Every day is the "Lord's day". Now, if you mean the Sabbath, that day which is to be set aside, we can discuss the true meaning of the Sabbath and it ain't getting up and going to church for a couple of hours then coming home to fried chicken.
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