THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 15, 1996 TAG: 9604120032
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Regarding ``Rags and rituals'' (Real Life, March 31) concerning dressing down in church, staff writer Charlise Lyles stated erroneously that people used to dress up for church attendance merely to ``impress each other.''
In our culture it is normal to dress up for people and events that we hold in high regard. Would you dress down for an important job interview or a meeting with the president? I doubt it.
We Christians dress up for church attendance to show our love for Christ, because we hold Christ in the highest regard. We also dress in a manner that covers our body to preserve what we call modesty or purity. That doesn't include thigh-high shorts, skirts or dresses.
As for the assertion that the poor cannot afford decent clothes; many churches have free-clothing closets, or one can buy very attractive, inexpensive outfits at thrift stores. Even Mother Teresa dresses more beautifully in her poverty than many wealthy American Christians at church.
CHRISTINE ROSS
Virginia Beach, April 1, 1996 by CNB