The hot topic of last week in blogs I read was what we wear to church. Denise, Steve, and Phil all touched on it (I think someone else did, too, but I'm drawing a blank). Well, my kids thought we had evidently gone super-casual at our church.
Today at church a young woman several rows in front of us appeared to be naked while seated. Well, I was fairly confident that she WASN'T naked, but both of my kids pointed out at different times the lady looked naked. When we stood to sing, it was obvious she was wearing a very cute halter-style sundress, but she had long hair and the part around her neck was hidden by her hair. So, yes, when she was seated and we only saw her bare shoulders, she could have been in her bath towel for all we knew.
As we stood for one of our final songs, I realized that Riley, surrounded by people much taller than he, had never caught a glimpse of "naked lady" until he purposely leaned WAY across me and muttered: "She's not NAKED -- she's wearing a dress. What a rip-off."
11 comments:
Too funny. I get the same jolt, going to church in a college community where hot weather brings on the styles that make me wince.
I was brought up to dress for church like you'd dress to meet royalty. Just my opinion, but I think it made a difference in my attitude.
Riley, Riley, Riley, .....
Thanks for the links and the laugh! Very interesting.
Unfortunately, I am afraid it is only going to get worse before it gets better as the weather gets hotter and hotter!
I was just brought up to not show everything the good Lord gave you. . .
Oh my. . .
Thanks for posting the links; it's an interesting conversation to have, and I am not entriely sure where I stand on it.
I think if I were being completely honest I'd say we have bigger issues to be concerned with than what people are wearing to church. But let me share one last thing before I go: I did my first social work internship at the Christian Service Center. One day this really sweet youngish man came in. He was really big-- big enough that we had a hard time finding clothes for him. But he was adament: He needed a suit so he could go to church. He had tried to go to a church one Sunday but they wouldn't let him worship with them until he came back looking nice.
Now he did not let their judgment prevent him from going back to church... but I really believe his reaction was exceptional. How many other people would have left the church that day and never gone back? And how many more people see and feel judgement when they visit church-- not because they are denied entry, but because they can not afford the clothes we are wearing.
The end. Sorry it's so long :)
Can I get an amen for rutherin?
Cracking up at Riley :-D
That's why you sit in the front, right? That Riley....
We usually get the thong veiw from our pew.
What I hate are the discussions I have to have with my daughters after church about why we don't and they shouldn't dress like that. It was even worse when one of the elder's daughters... who babysat our children... was dressed in a manner not appropriate for church. Oh... it is a sensitive issue... trying not to be judgemental and yet teaching modesty.
Of course church's should make all feel welcome-- no matter how they are dressed. I am so glad that people feel free to wear blue jeans or whatever to church and not let their wardrobe hinder them.
But for mothers (and fathers), it's a different issue altogether. We need to be training our daughters to dress in a way as to not make our brothers stumble. One time a lady was wearing a dress that showed nearly her entire breast. My husband (who was preaching) only looked at half of our congregation that day in order to not look her way.
The sad part of this story is that this is a girl who was raised in a deacon's home. We're not talking about unchurched pagans here. I don't fault the girl--I fault the parents who failed to teach their daughter.
The church also needs to net these untrained girls in and gently teach them.
Funny boy, your son. :)
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