I always dress up for church, but I have a special reason. I do it every time I go to church. Before I was saved I was a professional musician. I dressed up in fancy clothes to get people drunk. When I gave my heart to the Lord, I felt that if I could give my best for the world, I should do it for God.

I think everyone should dress how they feel God is leading them, of course within the limits of modesty. My husband dresses semi-casual and we look just fine together. I don't buy something special for Easter, because although it is Resurrection Sunday, I serve God all year long.

I have a hare turning brown that lives in my yard, but other than that, no bunnies. LOL

I feel the same way as Angela. Before I was a Christian, all my clothes were brown, grey, and black. When my heart change I wanted to wear colorful clothes, because I wanted the change that took place on the inside to reflect one of a rainbow. Although the is nothing wrong with the others color from time to time but not all the time. Wear what you want and I never judge anybody for what they have on. It is about please God not people. I do feel though as a Christian we should present ourselves presentable to the call , that He has called us too.

There is truth that many churches hang on to the "rules" of old. Especially here in the south when you attend a traditional service. Those churches also tend to have a lot of legalism as the foundation for how they worship as well.
I grew up in a large family and my mother sewed all of our clothes. Every Easter and Christmas she would make us new dresses, and this is the only time we got new ones. It was a sign of spring and newness, letting the winter pass. Of course as a child you see things differently, but I have held onto getting my children new clothes for Easter mostly it is a nostalgic thing from my childhood, like many other traditions I have hung onto. We always dress nicer for church than any other day of the week, but I do this and make my children do it as a symbol to them that they need to show God the respect he deserves. I don't insist on suits and ties and they wear their sneakers, but a shirt with a collar and no jeans. I don't hold this standard for other people, I don't have any problems with the others who come to church in shorts and tank tops, I just want to be an example to my children and have them understand respect. So many children are not taught this anymore so.........

Penquin,

I have a question to ask? Please dont take this the wrong way, I just want to be able to pray for you.

Do you feel pressured from others to present yourself a certain way?

Do you want to be able to dress up but cant afford to do so?

I really do hope that these questions do not offend you. I just feel like there is more to this. I do understand your feelings. I just want to be able to get your mind off that and enjoy this Easter. Also I too do not understand where the bunny and eggs come from. Sincerly, Karen

When I go to church I am entering God's holy place and I want to look my best. There are no rules but I can not understand why any one would go to church not wearing there best. We are standing on holy ground.

I just wanted to add this,

I am single and plan on staying that way for the reminder of my life. I do a lot of mission work and work with a woman correctional instution. I am able to spend more time doing things for the Lord rather than for my husband. I am able to connect with the women there better because of it.

However, if I was going to go out on a date. I would make my self presentable and want to make the guy feel great to take me out. So if I do it for him. Why would I not want to make my self presentable to the Lord. My body is the temple of the Lord and not only should I make it clean on the inside of what I put in it, but also the outside should be nice and neat. God was the creater of me and I should present myself to him and take care of my body inside and out.

i know you ask us this about scripture and i found some that might help. We can give our opioion but the Word of God is correct and perfect.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1 Peter 3: 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

I do beleive from this passage, that we should not draw attention to ourselfs, but with a soft and gentle Spirit. Real beauty comes from within, but if you make your self presentable unto the Lord inside and out . I do belive He says this is my child that I am well pleased with. That my friend is true beauty through and through.

The church we were more recently attending is in a somewhat poor, urban area, and the members are mostly from a lower socioeconomic demographic, so there's a "come as you are" attitude, which we basically followed so we fit in and didn't make others feel uncomfortable, but everyone really looked clean and presentable. On more special holidays or festivals, or if we were participating in the service (we're musicians) we'd dress up a little more; it was only when the kids were little that I'd buy them new outfits for Christmas or Easter, but really only because nothing else fit anymore! Now we're looking for a new church, so we'll see where we end up.

I don't think the lord is looking at how we dress as much as he is looking at our heart . yes it is nice to see everyone looking their best but our church is the same as Bandmom5 in (Come as you are) I don't think the Lord has a dress code and I beleave he would love to have anyone there ( in Church) then not do to there clothing. Yes we stand on Holy ground when we go to church but what do we say to people that can't afford better do we turn them away ?

sorry about my spelling I'm not feeling good .

God Bless

Harmony 777 I love the way you explained this, just perfect answer. God bless, Frieda

Where I go to church people dress nicely and look cleaned up, etc., and modestly. Personally, I don't think short shorts or tight jeans or super thin blouse are appropriate. I knew a fellow in a support group I belonged to. He said he was trying to be chaste (he was married), and the gal who went up front to read scripture had a thin top on that clung to her in such a way that she almost looked naked. He had a real struggle with trying to keep his thoughts pure as she was reading scripture in church.

That's why I think it's better to err on the side of being dressed up nicely, because some people are unaware of modesty these days. We're supposed to care about how we impact others so that we are not a source of temptation. If you'd dress nicely to see the President, then I think Our Dear Lord merits even more respect than that.

Judy

I like Harmony's and Gottschalk's responses, while I can also understand Mrs. TDC's feelings about dressing up.

Why are you going? Everyone seems to have a little bit of a different reason for "going to church". I agree with Judy and others about clothing which might be inapropriate but I'm at the library and the spellcheck isn't working, so I can't spell appropriate very well. But I'm trying!

Some may be that way with their clothing. It may be their best even if it doesn't look like it.

tombar makes an excellent point. one person's 'best' may be another persons 'rags'....... i think people need to be more concerned with the state of their heart and spirit, rather than what they are wearing. if a person such as angela and harmony have personal reasons for wanting to dress up FOR THE LORD... then i support that. but dressing up to 'look' the part of a christian, and to make others notice how 'good' you look, in my opinion is wrong. this verse comes to mind.

luke 11:39 (niv)

then the lord said to him, “now then, you pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness"

i can no longer attend church, but when i did. i wore what was comfortable (and appropriate)... that way i could worship open and freely without feeling awkward in a dress or whatever.

I am with you on this Keep, I cannot afford a lot as I am on benefits but I go to church in the same clothes as I would anywhere else, I am clean tidy and presentable as I am every day for God so why should Sunday be anything different. Should we not be on God's Holy ground all the time not just on a Sunday and how is someone going to feel if they walk into a church for the first time, broken, in need of help, maybe living on the streets or very poor and see all these people dressed up, will it not make them feel out of place before they are even greeted and welcomed.

I agree completely with appropriateness of dress, that is very important but we are not here to look good to everyone else, we are at church to do God's work the same as we are called to do God's work in our every day lives, every day of the week.