Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

2002-05-01 / 5-6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

7

VASÁRNAPI RUHA - SUNDAY DRESS

Photograph by Rudolf Balogh

those following oriental gurus, the counter-culture called for conformity to a new standards, and workday jeans became the rule. Even Jimmy Carter wore his Levi suits in White House meetings, Johnny Carson and Marty Robbins, Elvis and Denver jumped onto the bandwagon with thousands of others. But the counter-culture is opposed to the traditional culture, the one that in this case has taught the people of God to give of their best, and asserts any old thing is good enough! It denies the value of the beautiful and refined, declaring that the bad, the ragged, the sloppy, the crude are good. A criticism of many religious people in other lands is that Americans dress scandalously, clothes that are tight and all-reveling, without modesty and good taste - and they are right!

Of course it is true that someone poor who has no nice clothes can go to church. It is a place that should be welcoming to all people. But it does not mean that all others must conform and wear shabby clothes. In fact, their fine appearance should inspire all to seek what is better, not to settle for less, but to do their best.

Attendant to this is a lack of manners shocking to others from so-called less civilized lands, and the words gentleman and lady may be meaningless except on the restroom doors - where many don’t even wash their hands.

How will our children learn cultured ways if adults don’t practive them? Must men wear hats when they eat? Or women apply makeup or comb their hair? Are we so used to hearing obscenities that it doesn’t jolt us when we hear tots or boys and girls using them?

We give of the best to the Master because our God is worthy of the best! Because Abel gave his best God accepted his offering. Because Cain did not, and God rejected his, in his jealousy he killed his brother! We too must do our best - in church and every day.

Rev. Albert W. Kovács