How should we be dressed each Sabbath when we go to church?

Does it really matter what we wear to church?

Is there any counsel on this in both the Bible and the SOP?

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl Fawcett :)

When Isreal was encamped at Sinai, they were give special instructions of how to prepare to meet with God when He spoke His law to them. They were told to wash their clothes and their bodies (see Exodus 19:10-15). God is no less particular now than He was when He commanded the Hebrews to be clean before He would speak His law to them.

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From the sacredness which was attached to the earthly sanctuary, Christians may learn how they should regard the place where the Lord meets with His people....Nothing that is sacred, nothing that pertains to the worship of God, should be treated with carelessness or indifference. (5T 491:1,2).

Because of the irreverence in attitude, dress, and deportment, and lack of a worshipful frame of mind, God has often turned His face away from those assembled for His worship. (5T 499:0).

Upon this holy day, our clothing should signify that we understand the sacredness of the Sabbath and the house of worship where we meet with God. Just as the Israelites had been given instruction on how to ready themselves and their clothing before meeting with God at Sinai, so we also have been given instruction as to how we shall appear in the house of the Lord.

Many need instruction as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in the common clothing worn during the week. All should have a special Sabbath suit, to be worn when attending service in God's house. While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without. (6T 355:2).

I am often pained as I enter the house where God is worshipped, to see the untidy dress of both men and women. If the heart and character were indicated by the outward apparel, then certainly nothing could be heavenly about them. They have no true idea of the order, the neatness, and the refined deportment that God requires of all who come into His presence to worship Him. What impressions do these things give to unbelievers and to the youth, who are keen to discern and to draw their conclusions? (5T 498:2).

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Linda

[Daryl, I have over 3 pages of material on this particular subject of Sabbath dress. How much do you want? (and HTML is off)]

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited July 26, 2000).]

Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

The first best worship clothes are the white garments Jesus said buy from Him, the second set ought be a good set of clothes reserved for sacred use. They may not be grand, but combined with the white raiment from Jesus they make Heaven's wedding garment.

Tastefully and descretely get someone else the really good clothes (from the skin out to the acessories). The kind of clothes they need but can not get for them selves and each worship you will wear the blessing of their being presented to God befitting coming into His presence. God will know, they will know, you will know. Help them do likewise for someone else in time.

Sr White gave to a once wealthy lady the very clothes that she had saved to get for herself. They were of high quality and would not shame the woman to receive them.

The really upscale expensive clothes you might not be able to afford after doing that, but you will elevate your fellow beliver who could not afford the proper clothes for worship.

If your clothes would not shame you in God's presence by their lack nor style nor abundance, but would feel appropriate with God looking at these clothes; that ought be a good start.

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Edward F. Sutton

I want as much as anybody is willing to give.

HTML is now on. (Another slip up on my part )

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl Fawcett :)

I started this topic as I feel we are falling short in this in many of our churches today.

We may have forgotten what the Lord is expecting of us in this area, so I thought it would be good to start a topic on it.

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl Fawcett :)

Never thought of this as a problem.
I look at Jesus as He walked this earth, owning only one set of clothes.
It waa kept clean, in good repair and He wore it every dasy, and even slept in them.

Going to church isn't supposed to be a fashion show.

I wear the best I have, and if anyone has a problem with it, they can buy me something different.

My heart is right with my God, and He sees me, not my clothes.

By the way, I wash them and myself before I wear them to worship.

Gerry b.

I am not trying to step on any toes here.

Actually, as I ponder this, I may very well be stepping on my own toes.

I am just looking at this as a principle and feeling that from looking around it seems that many are notliving up to this principle more out of ignorance than on purpose.

What we need to do is back-track and examine the quotes posted earlier and determine what those quotes are really telling us today.

One thing I feel is proper worship in what we wear is whether or not we are wearing our best to church on Sabbath.

If the best I have to wear and can afford to wear is a pair of jeans and a jean shirt and jacket, then I am wearing my best to church on Sabbath. If, however, I have something better to wear and I simply choose not to wear it, then.......

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl Fawcett

[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited July 27, 2000).]

Gerry, what is in the SOP on this subject is balanced, and takes into account the fact that many people cannot afford to dress in expensive clothing. What God wants is His people to be dressed in their best, clean and neat, not the best that money can buy or what is fashionable. With God, fashionable is out. It doesn't count.

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I am often pained as I enter the house where God is worshipped, to see the untidy dress of both men and women. If the heart and character were indicated by the outward apparel, then certainly nothing could be heavenly about them. They have no true idea of the order, the neatness, and the refined deportment that God requires of all who come into His presence to worship Him. What impressions do these things give to unbelievers and to the youth, who are keen to discern and to draw their conclusions? (5T 498:2).

Their influence disgusts unbelievers. Better if they had ever remained outside the ranks of God's loyal people. The house of God is dishonored by such professors. All who meet upon the Sabbath to worship God should, if possible, have a neat, well-fitting, comely suit to wear in the house of worship. It is a dishonor to the Sabbath, and to God and his house, for those who profess that the Sabbath is the holy of the Lord, and honorable, to wear the same clothing upon the Sabbath that they have worn through the week while laboring upon their farms, when they can obtain other. (2SM 474:2).

There is a class of sisters who think that they are carrying out the principle of non-conformity to the world by wearing an ordinary sunbonnet, and the same dress worn by them through the week, upon the Sabbath, to appear in the assembly of the saints to engage in the worship of God. And some men who profess to be Christians view the matter of dress in the same light. They assemble with God's people upon the Sabbath, with their clothing dusty, and soiled, and even with gaping rents in them, and placed upon their persons in a slovenly manner. This class, if they had an engagement to meet a friend honored by the world, and they wished to be especially favored by him, would exert themselves to appear in his presence with the best apparel that could be obtained; for this friend would feel insulted were they to come into his presence with hair uncombed, and garments uncleanly, and in disorder. Yet these persons think that it is no matter in what dress they appear, or what is the condition of their persons, when they meet upon the Sabbath to worship the great God. They assemble in his house, which is as the audience-chamber of the Most High, where heavenly angels are in attendance, with but little respect, or reverence, as their persons and clothing indicate. Their whole appearance typifies the character of such men and women. (2SM 475:1).

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Linda

It is of no little importance how people appear before God for worship. Because dress is an index to the character, those who are careless and dirty in their appearance will usually have characters of the same condition. Sometimes, however, there are true Christians who appear in "vile raiment" who have no suitable clothing to wear for Sabbath. Those who have means should see that these dear people receive suitable clothing.

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If there are worthy persons who, with their whole heart would honor the Lord of the Sabbath, and the worship of God, and who cannot obtain a change of clothing, let those who are able, donate to such a Sabbath suit, that they may appear in the house of God with cleanly, fitting apparel. (2SM 474-5).

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Sometimes these people simply won't come to church at all or come infrequently. James tells us why;

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For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats? (James 2:2-6).

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It is not up to us to judge others' clothing. No one has appointed us to sit in church on Sabbath morning and size up what everyone is wearing. There is to be instruction to the congregation about proper dress, but that is different than sizing up what our fellow church goers are wearing. I'll post more on that later.

Linda

How we dress influences how those around us perceive us and treat us. But I have found that what I wear also affects how I feel about myself. If I wear neat, professional-looking clothing, I feel more dignified and unconsciously act accordingly. So if I wear my very best to church, it actually helps me to have the right attitude toward God and His worship.

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The Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever.