Sunday, December 11, 2011

Dress Part II

In my last entry I wrote my feelings about dress today in the church. No, I only wrote about weekdays not Sundays! That's a whole nutter subject! I received one comment. One. It was in my favor, except I think he was writing about Sundays. So what does that mean? Well, it means I can write another blog on the subject. This will probably be my last one. 


The main point was why does the business world maintain a dress code and the church doesn't. I don't know what good it is for me to get back on my wooden crate and present my feelings again though because I'm sure none of my pastor's read my blog anyway. But this is my blog and I'll write what I want! So there!!! 


The pastoral staff is an educated bunch of people. The business world is an educated bunch of people. So where is the difference here? A dress code versus no dress code. I just don't get it. 


I know I'm not alone here but few folks are willing to speak out. I was chatting, with a long time friend, on the phone one day. We had a good time reminiscing. We hadn't been in contact for years. Just before we hung up he asked me a question. "Does your pastor dress up for Sunday morning?" I told him honestly, "Sometimes, but not always." He proceeded to tell me how his pastor dresses - jeans, t-shirt, etc. Thank goodness my pastor doesn't dress like that. In fact yesterday he had on a white shirt and tie! He looked very professional! "Thank you, Pastor." 


Pastors claim they want the people to accept them as regular folks. Of course they are regular folk but they are also called of God to a position of teaching, instructing, performing sacred rites: weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc. It is a privileged position.


Have you read in the Old Testament how God clothed the High Priests? Exodus 28 and 29. God gave specific guide lines on what they were to wear. Now I know that was thousands of years ago and we certainly don't expect our pastors to dress like that. But the fact remains, the priests were called of God and our pastors today are called of God. They are set apart. So why don't they dress like a professional person called of God? Instead they want to dress like any other person. But they're not any other person...they are called of God. 


We had the next highest person, in our denomination, come to our church to speak one Sunday a few years ago. We arrived at church a few minutes early, as usual. I greeted the guest speaker and then smiling, said, "I see you've joined the ranks of those who now dress down on Sundays." He was wearing slacks and a tight polo shirt. He replied, "Yes, I tried to think how the people here in your church would be dressed and I came dressed accordingly. Oh, I have a sweater in my car I could put on." Before I could even reply he was on his way out to get his sweater which he put on, but truthfully, it didn't help his appearance in the least.


Don't pastors know they are looked up to? Or don't they want to admit they are looked up to? Yes, they are human, they make mistakes, they put their pants on like every other person. But they have been called, set apart, by God. It's time we lay people stand up and say: dress the part. It matters.


Lord, I rest my case. I praise You because You are all knowing. You know my heart. Help me to accept what I can't change. Thank You for our wonderful pastoral staff. Help them to see how much more effective they would be if they were completely obedient to You and dressed according to their calling. Yes, I believe it does matter. Help me to live pleasing to you. Help me now to move on and do what I can to be supportive of our pastors.







Saturday, December 03, 2011

Dress

I'm so confused... Why is it that newsmen, coaches, businesses, etc. all have dress codes but pastors and their wives and newswomen  don't. I just don't get it. In fact, why don't they want to dress nicely? 


I look and feel so much better when I dress for an occasion. I used to work in schools, homes and businesses as an ESL tutor. I would never go wearing old clothes that look like I've been working out in the yard. I didn't dress up but I looked decent. 


When I walk into the church office on a week day and see pastor's dressed like they've been working out in the yard, I'm surprised,  disappointed and disgusted. What's wrong with wearing a pair of khaki pants and casual shirt? I don't get it. 


On Sundays the worship team look like they're up there for rehearsal not for Sunday worship. But what can we do? Nothing. If we complain it does no good. 


Businesses have dress codes. We, as laymen, pay our pastoral staff so why can't we impose a dress code? Well, we just can't. But I don't understand any of this. Am I alone here in my disappointed thinking?


Lord, I praise You because You are All Knowing. Forgive me if I'm being picky here and have the wrong attitude. Thank You for our wonderful pastoral staff. Help me to understand. Help me to accept these new ideas about dressing...if I'm wrong. Help them to see the error in their thinking...if they're wrong. I love You, Lord, because You are Sovereign. 

Thursday, December 01, 2011

My Heart Hurts

Today I heard of another friend dying of cancer. Her husband will be getting help from hospice very soon. She started out with breast cancer a few years ago and despite treatment it spread. Her own mother died of breast cancer 46 years ago today. She was a dear friend of mine. She left a husband and three young daughters. Now the oldest of the three girls is dying of breast cancer. She and her husband will soon be celebrating their 31st anniversary, but Cheryl only has a few months or less to live.


It's only been a couple of months ago that another friend of mine died of cancer. He and I had served closely on a conference committee. His wife and I are friends but because of working together on the committee Jim and I became close friends. We first met when we were both students at Spring Arbor College. He was a couple of years younger than I am.


Another young woman I know died just a few weeks ago, also of cancer. I knew her mother and dad more than I knew her. She's the age of some of my children and was in the Teens For Christ choir with them. Lisa was a young wife and mother.


In 1958 I met two young guys under an Oak Tree on a campground. My dad was the guest speaker at a camp and I had accompanied him and my mother and brother. One of those two young guys became my husband 52 years ago. The other one was a good friend over the years. Last spring Bob died of a stroke!


Yes, my heart hurts today. Yet, each of these four has and had a personal relationship with Jesus. I'll see them again some day, along with my dad and many more friends and relatives. It's very hard when we lose loved ones, but...we have hope...




For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned,      John 3:16 & 17