By ALESHA CADET
Tribune Features Reporter
acadet@tribunemedia.net
THE saying “come as you are” gets thrown around here and there when it comes to the dress code in the church.
People always want to know, does it really matter what you wear to church? Should there be a guideline to what to wear and what not to wear at a church service?
Some local church goers shared their views on how the phrase is sometimes misused and misconceived in today’s Christian society.
While there is no scripture that solely says “come as you are,” there are some that are interpreted to say such thing.
For instance, there is Isaiah 1:18 that says: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
There is also Peter 3:3-4 that says: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the non-fading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Francine, a Christian, shared her thoughts with Tribune Religion, saying the church is becoming too much of a fashion statement and it is wrong.
“I mean you should have a great appearance but I don’t think it is necessary to go overboard. It is not important to buy the perfect outfit or have a new dress or hat every Sunday, God doesn’t care about that part. You should look at the bigger picture when it comes to that saying ‘come as you are’,” said Francine.
Catherine, a believer of the Catholic faith said she agrees that the phrase is often taken out of context, but people should have some limits when it comes to their church dress code.
“Yes it has been said that the lord wants us all to come as we are, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to go to church any kind of way. There have been mornings where I went to church and one or two persons would be dressed in an outfit as if they are planning to go to the beach right after. I just believe there is a time and place for everything and church most of the time is not the place to be dressed out of order,” said Catherine.
Tamara, a believer of the Pentecostal Faith said members of her church expect everyone to be comfortable in their own skin and appearance.
She said: “When it comes to my church, we also expect people to know the difference of dressing for church and dressing for the club. As you begin to visit the church more and become more closer to God, he will be the one to guide your steps. At this point, you wouldn’t need anyone to tell you what to wear and how to come, he will tell you,” said Tamara.
She said people use “come as you are” as an excuse to look like “whatever.”
“Just like you can plan your outfit to go out, you should plan your Sunday outfit accordingly,” said Tamara.
In the scripture Samuel 16:7, it states: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him’. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Judgement is up to the Lord, not humans.”
Agreeing with the scripture, Kim, a Baptist church follower said: “To me, the come as you are saying is speaking more to a person’s heart rather than their outer appearance. You should walk into a church with a clean heart, something you share with God. In reality, I honestly think it really does not matter what a person wears to church, that is not important. At the end of the day, people are still going to talk about you either way.”
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