"They Have Become Spotted by the World"

Whatever happened to "dressing your Sunday best"?  Although many Black churchgoers still dress in their best for Sunday services, most White churchgoers have dispensed with that.  "Sunday best" has been replaced with "Sunday casual."  It's a controversial topic at many churches.  Some believe that God doesn't care what you wear to church, and other (myself included) are disturbed by the skimpy clothes people are wearing to God's house.  (I saw tube tops last week at Church, and the organist was wearing a halter top. Sigh.) Last week, a Catholic bishop from Amarillo, Texas issued a letter to his diocese about modesty in dress.  In his letter, entitled "Modesty starts with purification of the heart," Bishop Yanta spoke frankly about why it's important to dress modestly, especially at church. 

“When the community of believers comes together for the Eucharist (Mass) let no one be a distraction from Jesus or provide temptation (an occasion of sin) to another because of our manner of dress.....How many Catholics this Summer will attend Sunday Mass in tank tops, shorts, flip flops... in dress unbecoming of the Holy Sacrifice… Anyone who dresses like this at Sunday Mass does not know where they are; they have become spotted by the world.”

That's a nifty phrase!  But indeed, we are called to have higher standards that those of the the secular world.  What's good enough for the mall is not good enough for worshipping the Creator.  Bishop Yanta continues:

"Dressing or putting on one’s clothes is a moral act and wearing them is a moral act. There are different appropriate modes of dress for different occasions, e.g. in the privacy of our home, with our spouse only or with our children in our home, at work or school, in mixed company, at the lake or swimming pool, grocery shopping, at church, etc. "

He also quoes from the Catholic Catechism, which addresses modesty several times:

“Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden (CCC 2521). "

“Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It is discreet (CCC 2522). "

“Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person (CCC 2524). "

Bishop Yalta is definitely more old school than I am, but I applaud his outspokeness on this. If I never saw another tube top, thong strap, or baggy shorts falling off someone's butt in the pew in front of me, I'd be so happy!  What do you think? 

Comments

[Traci]

9-year-old me asked:
"But if God sees us all the time and loves us all the time, and most of the time I wear jeans, why do I have to get dressed up for church?"

My Mom answered:
"Because we're going to His house. You would dress up for a meeting with the President or to go to your Dad's boss's house; how much more respectful should we be of the Creator of the universe?"

Churches should be welcoming to all and the most important thing is for people to hear the Gospel. And God loves us no matter what we wear. However, He is still the Creator and should inspire awe. Getting dressed up isn't about impressing God or our neighbor, it's about respecting who He is. The church should emphasize His love and the enormity of knowing Him. One way to do that is to create an environment that encourages reverence. IMO, people who wear immodest or sloppy clothing to church indicate they don't understand the greatness of God--that's not something to condemn them for, but certainly something the church congregation should address.

[Elin]

My mom and I have frequent arguments over "Sunday best" vs. "Sunday casual" - but I definitely agree that either style should be "Sunday modest". Good for Bishop Yanta to make the point in such a holistic and biblically grounded manner.

Obviously, people who have never been to church may not conform to our ideas of modesty, and I don't think that should keep them away - remember the prostitute who came to wash Jesus' feet with her tears was identifiable as a prostitute! - but I think regular church-goers should be conspicuous for their modesty, not for their lack of it.

I've spoken before on this site about a teenager at our church who showed up for one Sunday morning in a halter top that exposed her midriff - this in Toronto in January! At first I thought she might be a friend or relation of the family whose baby was to be baptized that day, and thus new to church, but then my husband pointed out that she was a member of the youth group and her parents were members of the church. (I have to say that she has been dressing somewhat more modestly since. Maybe someone - hopefully her parents? - did speak to her.) Another story is that of a guy who sings in our choir who wore a T-shirt with a crude slogan on it - on Good Friday, which is the one day of the year when our choir does NOT wear robes! He claimed that he had expected to be wearing choir robes that would cover it up - but why wear such a t-shirt in the first place? (and to church? and on GOOD FRIDAY!?)

But this is the Anglican church, where anything pretty much goes.... if you can't address overt sexual sin, how can you make a point about immodest dress? At least Catholics still have the language to talk about it!

[Walt]

His "nifty phrase" is pretty much right from scripture, James 1:27. :-)

His title also says a lot in a few words; a pure heart will usually result in greater modesty, and an impure heart is often the root of immodest dress or demeanor. Definitely some good food for thought.

[Mary]

Wonderful! I love it when Catholics (finally) speak out about modesty- it seems to be happeneing more & more, and I couldn't be happier. I love how he points to dignity of the human person in his argument for modesty. Truly thought provoking.

Props to Bishop Yanta!

[Lori]

This is one problem with Generation Me: am I comfortable? Does this suit me? Is this easy for me?

Making yourself happy must be balanced with showing respect for others. The person who dresses with self-respect is more likely to do both.

Going to church means paying homage to a higher power and serving your fellow man, not making a fashion statement or distracting your fellow man. At least with the way many men dress (sloppy t-shirts, baggy shorts, baseball caps), they aren't likely to be a distraction to any female.

In case anyone thinks modest dress is boring or unattractive, let me say that I get many compliments from men of all ages on my modest clothes. And they look me in the eye when give them.

[Paul Robichaux]

I'm glad to see this issue gaining broader traction. In the LDS faith, we try to encourage wearing *your* Sunday best, whatever it is. (See for one example). In my former congregation in Alabama, we had lots of folks who weren't exactly ready to wear Armani or Versace-- but when they came to church, they wore the best they had, and it was modest and clean. I'm glad to see this perspective emphasized in other faiths, too.