If you bought a new suit for church, then you've missed the point

I used to want to buy a suit for church, you know, to at least look respectable one day of the week. Then I lost interest, and started to hate the fact that people wore suits in church. I thought it was exactly the opposite of what God wants from us. People getting all dressed up in a status symbol to go worship their God in humility and pray that they have a heart for His children.``````------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had a conversation about this with my grandmother once and she said something that made sense. "Originally people didn't buy suits for church, they bought them for work because their place of business required them to look a certain way. Because they already had a suit they were getting dressed up in their best clothes to show respect for God." These aren't her exact words but that was the basic idea. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I can live with that concept, because some people are in work positions where their materialistic coworkers, clients, and superiors are not going to give them the same respect if they don't fall into line and "Look respectable." If you happen to have a good suit lying around for this reason, then it only makes sense that you would show the same respect for God that you would for the business collective. Maybe wearing a suit to work isn't a sign of respect, at least that's not how I would feel. I'd wear it because others are going to respect me more, thus my opinion will be listened to if I adhere to the social norms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So maybe a suit isn't the best thing for me to wear to church. I mean, if it is associated with social distinction, then it is a symbol of division of class, which I don't think holds any place in the church. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So if you bought a suit for church, then you've missed the point. If you have a suit and want to look your best for God, I can see how you might argue that you wear it out of reverence, and not to impress others. But how intimidating is the church service going to be for someone who is not wealthy, who just lost their job and showed up at church as a step of faith? Someone who needs a break, but all they get is a smile and a hand shake from you in your suit. I know this bit sounds harsh and bitter like, but I really don't mean it that way. The church is always getting flack, but I think some of it is rooted in truth, or is at least a frantic offshoot of truth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I know when you walk into my church back home in a suit you are going to feel overdress, and maybe you get a taste of what it feels like for new people walking into your church. The church building is not somewhere you should ever feel out of place, unless you find something in yourself that needs to change. Does that make sense? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't mean to glorify my church over any other, because that's another thing that makes me sick. Competition, division and bickering between churches. I know there are going to be differences in opinion, but these issues all have to be dealt with in love. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I even thought about buying a suit this year, but I would be doing it for the wrong reasons, in fact I know I would. Vanity is a bad scene, and so is sloth. That's why the Christian walk is about balance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't get me wrong, I've made some ridiculous purchases before. In fact, I'm wearing one right now. A hoodie I bought after tree planting that cost me $109.99+tax. i had a lot of money in my hands and I felt justified in treating myself, but these treats never sit well with me, until eventually I accept that I'm forgiven for my foolish actions and live with my purchase. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I don't know, maybe I'm just throwing stones up in the air and hope they fall on whoever they may.