I've Become What I Despise

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Galatea

Guest
#81
It is NEVER about the man. It is ALWAYS about the message.

I always listen a little more intently to the ones who dress out of the norm.

The con man is most always in the norm, and makes us comfortable.
Yes, but dressing in suit and tie is out of the ordinary. The norm nowadays is casual- jeans, shirt untucked- trying to appear approachable. Sometimes, it feels inauthentic, especially if it is an older man trying to be "with it".

More often than not, preachers are under dressed and sometimes they look uncomfortable- styled to be casual. This is my opinion. Of course, I am old fashioned. Sometimes I see an older preacher in his fifties wearing casual clothes, and he looks like he'd rather wear a suit if he had his druthers, but wants to be appealing to the younger generations. Maybe the younger generations would like to see a preacher in suit and tie, it might be something different.
 
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Depleted

Guest
#82
Same here and to a fault........As blunt as a butter knife ground off on concrete......!
Everyone knows how tactful, quiet, unopinionated, and peaceful I am, (if God so chose to make multiverses, and there is Bizarro World out there somewhere with me in it.)
 
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wsblind

Guest
#83
Yes, but dressing in suit and tie is out of the ordinary. The norm nowadays is casual- jeans, shirt untucked- trying to appear approachable. Sometimes, it feels inauthentic, especially if it is an older man trying to be "with it".

More often than not, preachers are under dressed and sometimes they look uncomfortable- styled to be casual. This is my opinion. Of course, I am old fashioned. Sometimes I see an older preacher in his fifties wearing casual clothes, and he looks like he'd rather wear a suit if he had his druthers, but wants to be appealing to the younger generations. Maybe the younger generations would like to see a preacher in suit and tie, it might be something different.
That is why it is never about the man. And always about the message.

If hes preaching truth and wearing camels hair ,so be it. If hes preaching lies and cleaned up a bit to fit my style. Not good.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#84
That is why it is never about the man. And always about the message.

If hes preaching truth and wearing camels hair ,so be it. If hes preaching lies and cleaned up a bit to fit my style. Not good.
Of course it is always about the message. My point is that being spruced up is now out of the ordinary. It would be a preacher bucking the trend. The trend is casual. I know a lot of it stems from not wanting to make people who are not churched feel like they are welcome, but if there is love in his heart, the preacher can make people feel welcome in a suit and tie as well as jeans and flannel.

In the end, if the message aligns with the Bible, that is what is important. What Utah's problem MIGHT have been was maybe the guy looked inauthentic to him, I don't know.
 
Jun 1, 2016
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#85
I'm a tattooed beer drinker who is more comfortable in jeans than a suit, and I often wear a nice pair of jeans to worship service.

That said, today there was a young preacher on tv who was wearing what looked like WWII combat fatigues and boots, a wife beater tank top that rode low on his chest, and his shirt was not tucked in but rather hung down from underneath his shredded up jean jacket hoodie.

I couldn't get passed his clothing to listen to his message. 25 years ago he would have been my hero, but today, rather than listening to him, I was struggling with what I saw.

Shame on me!

would have been a shame to start gossiping about him or slandering him. instead you noticed how you were viewing him. sounds like you are removing the plank in your own eye to me.
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
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#86
Most today would have chunked Jesus or John the Baptist out the door for what they were wearing....it is the message...not the messenger....sometimes I teach in camo fatigues, rocky boots, a t and packing a Ruger nine on my hip..... ;)
That's awesome bro. And I would love to hear you teach and give a sermon because I can relate to you, that's why I struggled with how I felt watching this guy because I know my prejudice is wrong.
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
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#87
I'm interested in the message. Perhaps he is warfare minded? I could see wearing fatigues and combat boots.
I remember him saying we should have the kind of faith that Jesus wants us to have. Great message!
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
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#88
Utah, sometimes we have to look past the ugliness of the package, to receive the gift inside. If all we focus on is the ugly package the gift came in, we'll be less receptive to seeing what wonderful gift it may be holding inside. :)
Amen, sister; and that's why I struggled because I know we're not to look at the outside package.
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
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#89
Utah, we are getting older! And sometimes, our perspective changes a bit?

I was quite a wild hippie in my teens and early twenties before I got saved. Strangely, that meant high buttoned shirts and full length skirts. I was thin, and could pull it off. Even when I played in bars and pubs and for dances, I couldn't have been more modest.

When I got saved, my husband insisted I dress up like a 1950's housewife for a few years. Then, I stopped, and went back to wearing more comfortable clothing. But I figured if I could dress up to play in bars, I certainly needed to dress up in church, particularly since I played in the worship orchestra pretty well from the day I was saved. I didn't want to give God less than I gave alcohol and my pursuit of fame.

The church I am in now is extremely relaxed. But when I play in our worship team, or preach, I dress up. Some of our itinerant speaking have come in shorts, sandals, short sleeved tee shirts (called "muscle shirts here") and preached a good sermon. And one guy had the worst sermon I have ever heard in my life dressed like that. But it reflected more a lack of preparation, and pacing around "umming" instead of preaching, rather than the clothes. And summer is hot here in the sem-desert, and we only have fans, not A/C in our 100 year old church, so no one complains about clothes.

My question would be to you Utah? "Did the message start off the wrong foot, too?" Maybe it was his appearance plus what he was saying that turned you off?

If not, going back to the old age thing. Senility is closing in on us all.
I was in a nursing home visiting patients and doing paperwork so I couldn't concentrate the same way I would have had I been home. The preacher said a few times we are to have the kind of faith that Jesus wants us to have, and he was very energized, so I appreciate that completely. His wardrobe was not what I expected from a TV evangelist. That's actually the issue at hand -- what I expected to see, and that's wrong of me.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#90
I'm a tattooed beer drinker who is more comfortable in jeans than a suit, and I often wear a nice pair of jeans to worship service.

That said, today there was a young preacher on tv who was wearing what looked like WWII combat fatigues and boots, a wife beater tank top that rode low on his chest, and his shirt was not tucked in but rather hung down from underneath his shredded up jean jacket hoodie.

I couldn't get passed his clothing to listen to his message. 25 years ago he would have been my hero, but today, rather than listening to him, I was struggling with what I saw.

Shame on me!
lol, I am just as bad, I thought the same as you did, I wanted to judge for the shirt.. I also am at the point I see a pastor with an expensive suit I think of all the money he could have used to cloth some poor kids, or feed some hungry kids.. or help with shelter..

I am just a sinner
:(
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
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#91
Ever consider that THAT might have been the entire, and only, message you, personally, were meant to receive from God at that moment?
Amen bro. You know I despise self righteousness, and yet here I was looking at this guy and shaking my head in a disapproving manner, and that's not like me. We are not to be like that, so indeed, I have to do some soul searching and ask God to bring me back to where I need to be.

On a side note, I looked up the preacher on line and he's usually dressed in business clothes so maybe his attire yesterday was for a special purpose, then again, maybe it wasn't. I just know I'd rather be blind than judgmental.
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#92
would have been a shame to start gossiping about him or slandering him. instead you noticed how you were viewing him. sounds like you are removing the plank in your own eye to me.
Thanks brother, we're a work in progress. Thank you for your encouraging words. God bless!
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
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#94
lol, I am just as bad, I thought the same as you did, I wanted to judge for the shirt.. I also am at the point I see a pastor with an expensive suit I think of all the money he could have used to cloth some poor kids, or feed some hungry kids.. or help with shelter..

I am just a sinner
:(
No doubt, bro. I remember one time walking into a sanctuary that was adorned with well over a million dollars in artwork and statues, and all I could think about was how many mouths could have been fed with that money.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#95
No doubt, bro. I remember one time walking into a sanctuary that was adorned with well over a million dollars in artwork and statues, and all I could think about was how many mouths could have been fed with that money.
what do you remember about what was taught that day?
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#98
Has anyone ever notice your clothes get alittle tighter over afew months, well it's because of tiny creatures that live in your closet and sew your clothes alittle bit tighter every nite... :eek:
 
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Depleted

Guest
#99
I remember him saying we should have the kind of faith that Jesus wants us to have. Great message!
Aha! Then you merely got all smug right before God told you to get over being smug and listen?

Sounds like you just experienced a me-moment and then got Jethro-head-slapped by God to straighten you out. Sounds like something I go through often enough.
:eek:

Jethro-head-slap for those who don't watch NCSI.

[video=youtube;NRM2OENl2jk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRM2OENl2jk[/video]
 
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Depleted

Guest
Has anyone ever notice your clothes get a little tighter over a few months, well it's because of tiny creatures that live in your closet and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every nite... :eek:
Soooo, that's why mice in my house bothers me so much. :eek: