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We should dress for church the way we would want to be dressed if we were standing next to the Lord.
So in some grubby sweats that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty as I go about serving others?
:angel: Or is it more of an impress the boss type of thing?Quote:It takes work to make a place for yourself where people are more than happy to give you a piece of the Lord’s mind.
😆 Quote:Most people who don’t fit in just give up. It’s sad given that they don’t have to.
Even when you reach the place where all the finger wagging falls on deaf ears it’s still hard not to give up because you begin to wonder, if I tune out the finger wagging what’s left? I’m sure the experience varies from ward to ward but I’m sure some people follow the logic, if SM is going to be about Pharisaical Sabbath observance, and I don’t feel like that applies to me, wouldn’t I be better off by saving myself the hour fifteen? Most people that I know that have left express this sentiment.
I don’t get the whole ‘how would you dress if the savior stood beside you?’ thing. I think I’d be more worried about what sins I’d committed than what I was wearing. Unless I was in underwear :bolts away: but if I was in my everyday clothes, my clothing wouldn’t be my first worry. Christ never cared how people were dressed when He was on the earth. I DO see why it can be seen as a respect thing, but I don’t know how much Christ would or wouldn’t care what we wore to church. I know He cares what we wear to the temple, but i’m not sure about church. I like the column. Quote:Took me a long time to become comfortable being myself in church. Sure, I have to accept the consequences that come with it, but it’s surprising how many of them turn out to be, well, inconsequential.
I have come to the same place. Really, there is usually less “consequence” than we think. (Recognizing wards and leadership do vary widely, your results may vary.)
Quote:Me, I work hard at keeping things in their proper perspective —
for me. This means finding my own form of worship and spirituality, which makes it easier to attend church. In fact, I like church a whole lot better than I did when it was a place where I measured myself against others. Emphasis added. I think this is key, and I’m with Kirby, I like church much better on my own terms.
Quote:Not wearing a suit and tie in church gets me out of a lot of work. People who dress and act like me don’t get called to the High Council or some other donkey job. I have no idea why my feelings aren’t hurt.
I don’t know if you can really count on that being the case. (And I do take some exception to the donkey thing.
Quote:If you think I should put away my electronic device and listen to you speak, then I think it’s your responsibility to be more intellectually stimulating than a game of solitaire. If you can’t do that, then maybe you should put away that electronic device called a microphone.
😆 Truer words were never spoken.This is my favorite part: Quote:For me, church is about becoming a better person than your current self. And you won’t get that by comparing yourself to people who’ve gotten it in their heads that they already are.
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Quote:This isn’t all about being defiant. OK, maybe it is a little. Frankly, I rather enjoy being a pain to the sort of people who’ve driven others away because custom is more important than love.
Kirby’s article reminded me of a story I heard Joel Osteen tell: A man went to an affluent church dressed in jeans and cowboy boots. The congregation complained to the pastor so the pastor went to the man and said “before he comes to their church again he better ask God how he is supposed to be dressed”. He came the next Sunday in the same clothes. The pastor said, “I thought I told you to ask God how you are suppose to dress at our church”. The man said, “I did but God told me he didn’t know because he has never been here before”.
That’s a great joke! I love Kirby. Every column of his is basically the same thing, but he keeps finding new, clever ways to say that same thing. And I happen to agree with him.
hawkgrrrl wrote:That’s a great joke!
I love Kirby. Every column of his is basically the same thing, but he keeps finding new, clever ways to say that same thing. And I happen to agree with him.
I agree and I don’t think it is a matter of him just not having any new material and needing to gets some words in by the deadline. I think he gets lots of feedback of “YES – Thank God I am not the only one that feels this way” and trying to empower people that swim in the LDS culture to mellow out a bit.I think he has some good thoughts. Thanks for sharing that link. He said:
Quote:In fact, I like church a whole lot better than I did when it was a place where I measured myself against others.
and
Quote:Analogies like this fail to register on Mormons like me.
He seems to have found a place where church is still meaningful to him, but is OK with the consequences of not being like everyone else, or jumping when a leader says jump.
His reasons will not fit all our reasons for our trials at church. Some people are different, and so his methods may not apply.
But, the key is seeing how he accepts the fact he won’t have callings or certain things because of how he is most comfortable at church. But it is nice to see he finds a way to stay…his way works for him.
Quote:I have to accept the consequences that come with it, but it’s surprising how many of them turn out to be, well, inconsequential.
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