Ok. What does this have to do with wearing a hat in a church building?
Gramps, you compared the Jerusalem temple to the modern church house. I'm sorry, but I think it's a bad comparison.
Can you clarify what you are saying. Are you trying to say that someone wearing a hat is comparable to bringing your worst?
I could care less if a church has a higher standard of dress or is come as you are. Crush's point was perfect.
When someone says they don't like people wearing hats in church, fine. That is an issue of tradition. When they attempt to say that it interferes with our relationship or access to worship then I have a major problem.
Respectful is another issue. If a church practices a formal dress, then sure. But churches have moved away from that, and continue to do so. I hear people regularly complain about churches that are casual in it's practice and dress. I know, I used to be one. I'm more comfortable dressing nice, but that is simply personal preference. I still take my hat off when I pray. It doesn't actually bring me closer to God.
I taught children's Sunday school for over 12 years. Many kids would wear shorts, ball caps, flip flops etc. It used to really bother me. Then I thought, who am I to judge. These kids are comfortable. They wear flip flops, ball caps to school and at home. Why should I give them the impression that God is far off and that our dress is needed to draw us close. Instead, I wanted my kids to feel "at home" in the church house.
Further, you will never hear the term "church" used to describe a place. The church is the people. The early church met in homes for the most part. So, when you say "in church," I have problems with the whole notion.
I want to argue against anything I see as meaningless and useless traditions that have alienated the church from the lost. For too long the church has confused it's tradition and practice for things that are sacred, and quite frankly I've lost my patience with it. And I don't mean to direct that towards you, personally. I apologize if I've offended. But we need to really rethink things, or before long the church in the US will look like Europe. Empty buildings.
I have the privilege of going into the urban communities every week to preach the gospel. I've done this for 10 years and let me assure you that we have 'church,' and more so than most places do on Sunday morning. Many of these same people want nothing to do with your (I'm using 'your' in a general sense) idea of church. Sorry if that offends.
Gramps, that's the point. A person can dress nice, look nice, and conform to everything we see as 'decent' and be a complete hypocrite. BTW, we are all hypocrites. What does the bible say. God doesn't judge by what is on the outside, but......
