As long as the boys remembered their ties, the hats should have been no big problem. (smirk)

Some years back, in the county adjoining mine, there was a flame war of sorts in the letters to the editor column. There had been an uncommonly deep snow for Middle Tennessee, and an elderly woman decided to attend the church nearest her home rather than driving all the way to her normal church. She was, if I recall correctly, of such an age that no one would have blamed her for staying in during the snowstorm, but to her credit she just didn't feel right not going to church.

However, the Pentecostal church where she ended up was offended by the fact that she had dared to enter the sanctuary wearing (insert ominous music sting here) pants. During a snowstorm. The pastor informed her that should she ever return, she would need to wear a dress.

Her daughter, upon learning of this exchange, dashed off a heated (but pretty much justified) letter to that county's newspaper, and there was some back and forth over it. I wish I still had the clippings.

and why would this surprising? i have personally seen churches be torn apart over less like whether we should have pews or pewchairs or changing the name of a church from "first christian church of the city" to "the city first christian church". forget "deep cultural differences", i'd have to wonder what gospel this David Hansen guy was preaching in all the years preceeding the blowup. i'll tell you one thing, i sure as heck didn't see gospel changed hearts and/or a whole lot of God in this church from anyone including mr. hansen. in the end, what he now has is a glorified members only social club that he loves instead of body of believers who are supposed to go out and share the good news.

but hey, what do i know...

eddie

I'm not sure we're being fair...at least as far as the hats go. Blown out of porportion, maybe. But not so long ago I remember having to take off my hat to get into the bar. Like the original post said it was cultural in reasoning...gang related to be exact.

We don't have to walk on glass, but we should think about how we are saying what we are saying.

Personally, gang colors, skull tatoos, beer t-shirts...I wish we saw more of them in the church. They need the truth as much as I do with my church clothes on.

At my father's church in San Diego a man wearing women's clothes started attending the church. He was welcomed in spite of his strange appearance. The trouble started when he wanted to use the women's restroom. Everyone knew he was a man and he even admitted so himself. He was politely asked by my father to use the men's room because he was a man and it would be inappropriate for him to be in the women's room. He complied for a while. Unfortunately he chose to ignore the requests and became belligerent about his rights to use the women's room. My father and others in the congregation showed him nothing but love. He left of his own choosing.

What got me the most was the Pastor's lack of ability to stand up. Finally he bypassed the parents and went to boys directly. I would be hopping mad. It was probably that more than anything. I see it as a lack of maturity on the part of older members not allowing for such liberty.

It seems the Gospel has been forgotten. The pastor only mentions growth. Is it true growth?

Thanks for posting this article Kevin. I think it's a healthy discussion topic for Christians everywhere - no matter what brand. I, myself, helped lead worship this morning in sandals, shorts and a polo shirt. Upon seeing my outfit, the worship minister sincerely remarked, "I wish I had worn shorts today."

Don't we have bigger fish to fry that this? It's amazing to me what the modern church chooses to focus on...and ignore.

Here are the issues currently tearing my church apart, among other things:

-the presence of music stands of stage
-having pews or chairs in the choir loft

And people have left the church over differences on the design of the new pulpit.

My fellow Christians are really disappointing me right now.

The other Sunday our middle school pastor was in the prepping stages for leading worship in the morning service. He was wearing flip-flops.

I asked him, "What's with the footwear, buddy? Would Jesus wear flip-flops?"

We both agreed that, yeah, Jesus probably would have worn something like flip-flops.

--Chris

It is sad when the we have slid so far into the trivial and inane, that petty issues would turn so negatively pivotal in the life of our congregations. Cultural reasons do not justify reactions to things that challenge the culture of a congregation. The fact is that hats, pew types, paint colors and other such flotsam and jetsam don't matter. What does matter is if we as the church are being graceful and inclusive, all the while calling people to more holy living. Are we letting people be, so they can belong then believe and then become better followers of Jesus? If not, then we have failed and we will continue to relegate ourselves to further irrelevance.

WOW gee i wonder why people aren't flooding to our doors anymore? (DOUBLE SMIRK)

When I was a new Christian in the early '70s, my hair reached the back of the pew. I heard some sermons about how Christians should dress and look. Needless to say, I didn't stay in that church very long. I'm thankful for churches, like the one I've been a member of for over 25 years, that focus on what's really important...your personal relationship with God through His son, Jesus! We are culturally diverse with a number of African believers who wear their colorful clothes and headwear and add much to our worship.
jack

What about some good old fashion respect...in school the boys need to take off hats in the building..it should be likewise at church. A young lad should hold the door open if he sees an elderly couple approaching, they should be taught and held accountable to basic manners - you wonder why our children in our society have sunk so far and civil behavior needs to be taught in schools because they aren't learning at home and the church has gotten way too tolerant in the being politically correct. NO RESPECT ANYWHERE FOR ANYTHING!

I need more informaton on men wearing of head gear in church. Is there anything within the holy Bible?
Camden, SC

I've been reading Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church, and I love what he says about attire at church:

"What people wear to church is a cultural issue, not a theological one, so we don't make a big deal about it. One thing we know for sure: Jesus never wore a suit and tie, so it isn't required to be Christ-like." (273)

A few weeks ago, one of the students in my religious ed program was wearing a hat in church. I knew the older members would have a fit if he wore it during Mass, so I sidled over to him and whispered " Gentlemen don't wear hats in church." He removed the ski cap to reveal his new, bright green mohawk.

I said, "Stephen, put the hat back on and if anyone ays anything to you- tell them to talk to ME!"

Christian member of a Southern Baptist Church here. And I wear a hat to church. I will wear it through Sunday School and then I take it off for the service. I haven't recieved any "real" complaints about it besides from my grandfather who is a deacon. But I do get this a lot. "You know you're wearing a hat in church, right?" I reply with a smile, "I sure do!" and give them a thumbs up. Because I believe I can wear whatever I want in a church. I wear band t-shirts and I have pierced ears.. I'm just another example of kids like the ones in this story. And you know what, if more people dressed how they want then those kids would've had someone to relate to and maybe they would have stayed in the church.

Sikhs must wear their turbans all the time, and Jews require all men to wear yarmulkes in the synagogue, so are those silly rules, or traditions to be respected? But if Churches have rules about not wearing hats in church, its just narrow mindedness.

The Church is for Believers,not to water standards down just to fill pews. It should not accomadate disrespectful behavior just to attract new members. We can't read peoples' heart about why they wear hats in church, but if nobody wears them to begin with, then it won't matter.