Sunday Dress
Our "Sunday best" used to represent the finest duds we owned. Time was church was formal, and folks dressed that way. Of course dinner was formal too. So was theater. So was photography. Now It's different. People come to church wearing everything from tuxedos to cutoffs, from formal gowns to sandals. Society clings to few rules about dress. Restaurants make you wear shoes and shirts. People laugh at your bathrobe, curlers and bunny slippers.
A backless dress may be elegant at a Saturday wedding, but gauche on a Sunday morning. Those shorty-shorts (men's and women's) may be appropriate on the beach or in the garden, but not in church at any time. Under the roof of God's house, some dos and don'ts prevail, but there is no telling how the brothers and sisters will dress for the family faith meal. The advance of casual wear has succeeded in many parts of society, not just churches. What constitutes appropriate attire for business and leisure activities continue to fluctuate. Even when invitations specify formal wear, business clothes or casual dress, respondents may remain confused.
Expectations for Sunday dress vary from one worshipper to the next. A young participant's outfit reveals some flesh. Some see no problem; others find it offensive. Some cannot afford nice clothes; others are coming from work or stop on their way to play.
At its best, variety of church dress displays the universality of the call to worship. At its worst it shows carelessness, confusion and disrespect.