Do you dress up for church?

[PappaBear]

Such an uber wahine.

I hate golf!

But how I love the look of sun
Rising above the waves
Of a white sand beach
And water lapping into shoreline caves
Give me surf! Give me wind!
Cawing gulls and sea salt smell
Give me what I long for most
An incoming tide and hollow swells.

 

[christundivided]

Incorrect.  There certainly is such a thing as the house of God, numerously referred to in the Bible, including the NT.  And it refers to a building, not just the bodies of the saints.  And in those Bethel places along the way, we should be appropriate and give the LORD due respect. For that reason, we should render to all their dues, whether that be tribute, custom, fear, or honour.

Your theology is built on a search engine.  And that never ends well. 

The house of God as a building ended with Christ.  This is a MAJOR doctrinal issue.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as a message that we no longer access God through a temple or a high priest.  We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and having been made alive through his Spirit, we are now living temples of God.  We are the church.

You'll never convince numb numb that God could want to fellowship with the likes of John the Baptist.

 

[ALAYMAN]

You cited one verse about a narrative and turned it into a commandment, then cited one commentator who himself comes from particular cultural place and made that your entire argument.

Barnes
Change your garments; put on your best attire, befitting the holy occasion.  I have cited a command that is actually a command where the Scripture writer explicitly states that one shouldn't be trying to draw attention to themselves.

Clarke
Be clean, and change your garments - Personal or outward purification, as emblematical of the sanctification of the soul, has been in use among all the true worshippers of God from the beginning of the world. In many cases the law of Moses more solemnly enjoined rites and ceremonies which had been in use from the earliest ages. “A Hindoo considers those clothes defiled in which he has been employed in business, and always changes them before eating and worship.” - Ward.

I could go on,  but much like Castor, your mind is made up and the facts are just pesky things not to be trifled with.

 

[Castor Muscular]

You cited one verse about a narrative and turned it into a commandment, then cited one commentator who himself comes from particular cultural place and made that your entire argument.

Barnes
Change your garments; put on your best attire, befitting the holy occasion.  I have cited a command that is actually a command where the Scripture writer explicitly states that one shouldn't be trying to draw attention to themselves.

Clarke
Be clean, and change your garments - Personal or outward purification, as emblematical of the sanctification of the soul, has been in use among all the true worshippers of God from the beginning of the world. In many cases the law of Moses more solemnly enjoined rites and ceremonies which had been in use from the earliest ages. “A Hindoo considers those clothes defiled in which he has been employed in business, and always changes them before eating and worship.” - Ward.

I could go on,  but much like Castor, your mind is made up and the facts are just pesky things not to be trifled with.

You apparently don't know the difference between commentary and facts. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

Actually, I could care less whether the person smells like a sewer, a florist shop, is in board shorts, or a tux. You won't see me restricting them (although I would lovingly instruct/inform them about normative expectations and self-seeking attention if/once I felt that they were in a mature enough position to understand the significance).

Maybe you should just worship God yourself and leave others to do their own thing, not subjecting them to your whims of cultural hygiene.

I've been around some people who absolutely reek, and in corporate settings no less, and everyone was fine with it. It was acceptable at the time with that particular group of people. -rsc2a


[quote author=ALAYMAN]

And worship is more than something that only happens in a church building. *shudder*

It's nothing that has been said, but the idea that we go to church to "meet God" has definitely been implicitly displayed.

Notice that word in red above?  It demonstrates the absurdity and intellectual dishonesty of your own words.

im·plic·it
adjective
1. implied, rather than expressly stated
[/quote]

You should communicate better.  You clearly attributed the erroneous concept to me that I believe worship occurs only in a corporate church assembly.  That's a lie, but I don't expect intellectual honesty from you.

 

[ALAYMAN]

You cited one verse about a narrative and turned it into a commandment, then cited one commentator who himself comes from particular cultural place and made that your entire argument.

Barnes
Change your garments; put on your best attire, befitting the holy occasion.  I have cited a command that is actually a command where the Scripture writer explicitly states that one shouldn't be trying to draw attention to themselves.

Clarke
Be clean, and change your garments - Personal or outward purification, as emblematical of the sanctification of the soul, has been in use among all the true worshippers of God from the beginning of the world. In many cases the law of Moses more solemnly enjoined rites and ceremonies which had been in use from the earliest ages. “A Hindoo considers those clothes defiled in which he has been employed in business, and always changes them before eating and worship.” - Ward.

I could go on,  but much like Castor, your mind is made up and the facts are just pesky things not to be trifled with.

You apparently don't know the difference between commentary and facts.

Facts are that you have yet to deal with the truth that there is a significant portion of evangelicals from a wide array of the spectrum that has believed what I have said.  Does that make it doctrinally absolute?  No, but I find it more than funny that people like rsc2a and you stand on the shoulders of giants except when it doesn't suit your whims.

 

[PappaBear]

Those at Laodicea didn't have to worry about someone catching a glimpse of their rearends. Every heard of the term "metaphorical"?

Ever hear of the word "allegorical"?  You might look to see if it has been used around here recently.  Then you might enjoy some comprehension, instead of looking so foolish in what you have to spew about.

It is not comparing ourselves by ourselves, but the honour we show to God that is important.  Like James said, there has to be some "show me" faith.  What is within our hearts will reproduce itself on the outside body, not the reverse.  The scriptures you have posted apply to those who cannot afford better, or lack ability, no condescension or judgment given.  The subject that many on this thread have dealt with is that those who can, should.  The anti-church direction you are headed cannot see a difference, because you desire to disdain the LORD.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Incorrect.  There certainly is such a thing as the house of God, numerously referred to in the Bible, including the NT.  And it refers to a building, not just the bodies of the saints.  And in those Bethel places along the way, we should be appropriate and give the LORD due respect. For that reason, we should render to all their dues, whether that be tribute, custom, fear, or honour.

Your theology is built on a search engine.  And that never ends well. 

The house of God as a building ended with Christ.  This is a MAJOR doctrinal issue.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as a message that we no longer access God through a temple or a high priest.  We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and having been made alive through his Spirit, we are now living temples of God.  We are the church.

Actually, PappaBear is right about this point: Jesus clearly called the temple His "Father's house". The curtain being torn for the reason you stated is debatable. I would suggest that the house of God as a building ended with Emperor Titus when he destroyed it and the shekinah left in front of eyewitnesses according to historians Josephus, Eusebius, Tacitus and other Jewish sources of that era including II Baruch.

 

[Castor Muscular]

Incorrect.  There certainly is such a thing as the house of God, numerously referred to in the Bible, including the NT.  And it refers to a building, not just the bodies of the saints.  And in those Bethel places along the way, we should be appropriate and give the LORD due respect. For that reason, we should render to all their dues, whether that be tribute, custom, fear, or honour.

Your theology is built on a search engine.  And that never ends well. 

The house of God as a building ended with Christ.  This is a MAJOR doctrinal issue.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as a message that we no longer access God through a temple or a high priest.  We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and having been made alive through his Spirit, we are now living temples of God.  We are the church.

Actually, PappaBear is right about this point: Jesus clearly called the temple His "Father's house".

This was before the crucifixion and resurrection. 

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]Facts are that you have yet to deal with the truth that there is a significant portion of evangelicals from a wide array of the spectrum that has believed what I have said.  Does that make it doctrinally absolute?  No, but I find it more than funny that people like rsc2a and you stand on the shoulders of giants except when it doesn't suit your whims.[/quote]

Actually, you've only cited a few examples from one particular tradition which only spans a very small span of years in Christian history. CM has provided evidence where Christians (laity) across many traditions for more than 1800 years would disagree. Thus the reason I said "comes from particular cultural place".

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=PappaBear]Like James said, there has to be some "show me" faith.  What is within our hearts will reproduce itself on the outside body, not the reverse.[/quote]

James explicitly stated that the"outside body" didn't include clothing. Paul defines the outward evidence by using terms like love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc... 

[quote author=PappaBear]The subject that many on this thread have dealt with is that those who can, should. [/quote]

Why?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Incorrect.  There certainly is such a thing as the house of God, numerously referred to in the Bible, including the NT.  And it refers to a building, not just the bodies of the saints.  And in those Bethel places along the way, we should be appropriate and give the LORD due respect. For that reason, we should render to all their dues, whether that be tribute, custom, fear, or honour.

Your theology is built on a search engine.  And that never ends well. 

The house of God as a building ended with Christ.  This is a MAJOR doctrinal issue.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as a message that we no longer access God through a temple or a high priest.  We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and having been made alive through his Spirit, we are now living temples of God.  We are the church.

Actually, PappaBear is right about this point: Jesus clearly called the temple His "Father's house".

This was before the crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus' quote was for sure, but the evacuation of shekinah, the light and the voice of God left when Titus came on the scene according to the historians. Makes sense when one takes in account the possibility that the abomination that causes desolation was the act of Trophimus and started the chain of events that led to the destruction of the temple.

 

[Castor Muscular]

[quote author=PappaBear]Like James said, there has to be some "show me" faith.  What is within our hearts will reproduce itself on the outside body, not the reverse.

James explicitly stated that the"outside body" didn't include clothing. Paul defines the outward evidence by using terms like love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc... 

[quote author=PappaBear]The subject that many on this thread have dealt with is that those who can, should. [/quote]

Why?
[/quote]

I still want to hear from the people who put on a 3-piece Armani suit in order to kneel and pray. 

 

[PappaBear]

1Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

That is Paul, writing to Timothy, some 25+ years after the crucifixion and resurrection.

 

[Castor Muscular]

1Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

That is Paul, writing to Timothy, some 25+ years after the crucifixion and resurrection.

And, as I said before, the "church of the living God" literally means "the called out of the living God".  The Greek word is ekklhsia, which means "called out".  It's not a building.  God's home on earth is in the Body of Christ. 

I corrected you on this before.  Why do you insist on repeating the error? 

 

[christundivided]

Those at Laodicea didn't have to worry about someone catching a glimpse of their rearends. Every heard of the term "metaphorical"?

Ever hear of the word "allegorical"?  You might look to see if it has been used around here recently.  Then you might enjoy some comprehension, instead of looking so foolish in what you have to spew about.

It is not comparing ourselves by ourselves, but the honour we show to God that is important.  Like James said, there has to be some "show me" faith.  What is within our hearts will reproduce itself on the outside body, not the reverse.  The scriptures you have posted apply to those who cannot afford better, or lack ability, no condescension or judgment given.  The subject that many on this thread have dealt with is that those who can, should.  The anti-church direction you are headed cannot see a difference, because you desire to disdain the LORD.

Allegorical? Really? Do you even know the difference? One is made up of the other and not vice versa.

Are you really that dense?

.... If you CAN'T do any better... and its OKAY...... then WHY DO IT AT ALL?

I'm not anti local assembly. However, I'm not stupid enough to believe that God has anything to do with those claiming they have a proper local assembly.

 

[christundivided]

1Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

That is Paul, writing to Timothy, some 25+ years after the crucifixion and resurrection.

And, as I said before, the "church of the living God" literally means "the called out of the living God".  The Greek word is ekklhsia, which means "called out".  It's not a building.  God's home on earth is in the Body of Christ. 

I corrected you on this before.  Why do you insist on repeating the error?

All those King Jimmy fans....

ESV

if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Literally the statement is a statement of "living among" those in Christ. Those in the "household of God". Its not about how people should behave when they go to church. The long list proceeding 1 Tim 3:15 deals with life among believers. Its not about "temple" life.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

And I don't believe they (as a group) claim any moral superiority over the casual crowd.

It is implicit in claiming that dressing up shows reverence for God.  The implication is that dressing down shows irreverence for God. 

I don't care what you wear, what Alayman or castor wears.
OR what order of service/worship they use in church.
It doesn't make them greater saints or sinners.

Would you agree that the same can't be said of everyone here?

I don't care what anyone wears, either. 

Dressing up OR dressing down for the wrong reason could have a detrimental affect on you and others, spiritually speaking.  So there it can matter, although that really wan't the point of this thread. 

Regardless, I think dressing up because you like to dress up and look good is the most rational and benign reason of all.   

Dressing up for "church" out of reverence for God is probably the least rational.  It demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be a church and a member of the body.

This isn't calculus or rocket science.
The question you asked "why do you dress up for church"? One answer was to show reverence for God. You assumed they thought you showed no reverence for God so naturally, they just want to impress men.  :

In our church, and most others down here, some, older folks mostly, dress up for services. Others, in the same service, wear shorts and flip flops.
And nobody on either side seems to resent the other.
Why? Because it is a personal choice...not right or wrong, holy or carnal....just a choice.

 

[ALAYMAN]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]Facts are that you have yet to deal with the truth that there is a significant portion of evangelicals from a wide array of the spectrum that has believed what I have said.  Does that make it doctrinally absolute?  No, but I find it more than funny that people like rsc2a and you stand on the shoulders of giants except when it doesn't suit your whims.

Actually, you've only cited a few examples from one particular tradition which only spans a very small span of years in Christian history. CM has provided evidence where Christians (laity) across many traditions for more than 1800 years would disagree. Thus the reason I said "comes from particular cultural place".
[/quote]

No, he read an ignorant book that fed into his presuppositions and somehow is suddenly infallible historical fact in his mind, a book that you have said is by and large junk, but an enemy of my enemy is my friend is in full force with you yoda.

 

[freelance_christian]

Your association with miners is pretty limited if this is your view of miners. I am a life-long WV resident, and I deal with miners on a daily basis. There are good ones and bad ones, like every other profession.

I definitely have a limited view of miners overall.  The ones I know well are faithful men at our church, fellow parents at our Christian school, or preachers.  I have never had a rude incident with a miner in town, but I'm sure I look like a "church lady" to them.

What general area of WV?  Or more important....how far do y'all live from a Wal-Martz?

Morgantown. My whole life. Love it here.