Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyturner/
Last week I started writing about my 5 things that we do at camp, that looking back we could probably do differently. I started off with the need to Shhhhhhhsh at the beginning of worship, and how we could do that differently.
Here is the second in my list of “Things we could do differently at church camp” because this is where it is most often encountered. On Sunday morning at worship people aren’t usually coming in to the sanctuary straight off the ball field, or from a walk around the lake, but at camp this happens all the time. The first thing that you hear… after SHHHH it’s Time for Worship, is often, “Ok it’s time for worship. Gentlemen remove your hats.”
Ok, I get it. Removing your hat is a sign of respect. For many, removing your hat when you enter a building was always expected. Also removing your hat in the presence of someone important can be seen as a sign of respect, or acnowledgement of their authority or a place of importance higher than your own. My problem resides with those who walk up and down the aisles motioning for kids to remove their hats, yelling across the room for them to remove their hats, or walking over and taking it off for them.
Personally, I have my own thoughts on the subject but to gain some different perspectives I posted this question on my facebook page.
This week I posed this question to my facebook friends-
Hot topic.. Wearing hats during worship..especially youth or during camp… Disrespectful? Cultural Norm Today, Ancient expectation? Big Deal? Not something to worry about? What do you think?
Here are a few of the almost 30 responses.
At camp and VBS…not something to worry about as long as they are removed during prayers. Disrespectful during Sunday worship in a church sanctuary.
In truth, I take mine off for worship because I don’t want to distract others from a worship experience. I don’t think it matters. Even for prayer. That is like saying if your head is not bowed and eyes closed, it is not prayer. I LOVE waking, walking and a variety of other prayers. Also, does this just mean guys, or are ladies held to the same expectation? When leading camps, I usually let it slide until someone says something, but then I make the ladies ‘uncover’ as well. Just to not be sexist. Equal rites, and all.
I agree with the no hats, but very specifically because it could be distracting to someone else. I don’t pretend to place myself high enough or bring God down to the level where God really gives a whack if we have hats, shoes, pants or anything else on when we go to church. These are social norms and by observing them, we are showing respect for our fellow observers, not God. And that’s not a problem. Just realize it for what it is.
I am 41 and dress for Church in “Sunday best”… I think that being raised in the south in my family it was just a given… My Mom still comments when women don’t wear pantyhose with dresses at Church (including her new minister’s wife)! As for hats in worship… in traditional worship, take them off. At camp in the Sanctuary, take them off, outside – it is a toss up. Perhaps we should teach the youth the history “there was a time when it was considered inappropriate to wear a hat during worship…” then let them decide if they want to go “old school”. Also – interesting to note that while it used to be required for men to REMOVE their hats it was also required for women to COVER their heads for Worship… how times have changed in Christianity because Jewish men still cover as do Muslim women!
i personally don’t care what everyone thinks.. i go to church in board shorts sleeveless shirts and no shoes. they all walked around in rags back then. and they would be lucky to have a good pair of sandals. so what i have would be consider a luxury to them… instead i don’t figure god cares what we look like as long as we praise him in all his glory…….
As you can see there are many different thoughts and ideas on this. Here’s my thoughts.
1. You should not force respect- By making a big deal out of removing your hat is forcing the matter. God gave us free will so that we can make choices. The biggest change in my life happened when I stopped doing the good things I was doing because that was what I was “supposed to do” as a Christian, and started doing some of the same things because I wanted to please God. My actions went from things I had to do, to things I want to do.
2. The bible doesn’t clear up the matter-
1 Cor 11:4-7 tells that if a man prays or prophesies with his head covered, then he dishonors his head and that if a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered then she dishonors her head. From that we could conclude that all women should wear hats, and all men should not.
I Samuel 12:7-But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”- God doesn’t look at the outside, but what’s inside.
If you want to remove something to show respect that is mentioned specifically in the Bible in regard to worship, it should be our shoes. Read Joshua 5:15-”The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.” and from Exodus 3:5-”Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
3. What or who are we really showing respect for- I think we need to sit back and determine why it is that we emphasize removing hats?
- Is it because we are supposed to remove our hats when we entered a building? So it is because we are indoors? Then would it matter what we are doing indoors like worship, games, small groups, sports event?
- Is it out of respect because we are entering worship? In that case would it matter if worship were in a sanctuary, or gym or outdoors?
- Is it out of respect for God?
- Is it because that’s the way you were brought up, so that’s the way it should be now?
4. It says “You’re welcome here” as long as you….
I think as a church in general we can send a mixed message. On one hand we say “Jesus loves you and you’re welcome here.” On the other hand we add..”as long as you dress a certain way, act a certain way, don’t make too much noise, don’t raise your hands during worship, raise your hands during worship, wear a hat, don’t wear a hat, don’t wear blue jeans, wear a suit, listen to christian music, bring your bible, etc…”
5. Kids start of worship getting reprimanded and yelled at. Just as in the Shusshing I mentioned last week, I really do not want a child’s experience of worship to start of in a negative manner like that.
So what can you do?
1. Talk about respect, and ways of showing respect before you enter worship. Let the kids know that removing your hat is one way to do so and then let them decide. You might be suprised.
2. Give them the opportunity to show respect in other ways. Maybe talk about taking off your shoes because you are on holy ground, and model that in some way.
3. Be consistent. If you remove your hats because you are inside, then do it no matter what is happening inside. If you are removing your hats because of a worship service, then do it no matter where the worship service is taking place.
What are other ways you can help students show respect?
What do you do about the hat issue?
Update: My friend Jason Huffman just wrote his thoughts on this subject on his own blog. I encourage you to check it out.
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Great post Russell. I’ve often struggled with where we draw the line between freedom in worship and being a stumbling block for others. Thanks for sharing this and for getting feedback from folks before your post. I loves seeing people’s responses.
make sure and check out the facebook thread… though I don’t know how to link to a specific thread… it has over 35 comments now…
I do both. I sometimes keep it on because I know my worship goes right through my hat (it’s not blocking anything spiritual from getting through, ya know?) but other times I remove it just because it’s not worth the conversation later about the youth pastor being disrespectful.
IMO, it’s purely cultural. In fact, Jews were expected to cover their heads when entering the Temple from what I understand.
But ultimately I wonder why people nit pick over this and let it distract us from WORSHIP! Who cares whether someone’s wearing a hat — focus on God and worship. The heart’s attitude in worship is important to Jesus than the hat issue, I’m sure.
Thanks for your comment… Through all the comments the one thing that is coming out is the fact that it’s purely cultural. Which says to me we do it out of respect for other people. Which is not a bad thing at all.
[...] Wearing Hats in Worship. Big Deal?— I started this with a question on facebook. How do you feel about hats in worship, especially youth, camp etc…? This post was my compilation of your thoughts, with my own thoughts on the topic. Very interesting. [...]
Wearing hats infront of congregation for me is a big deal. Especially when you are leading the congregation. If it is not a big deal then how/ what do we feel if a pastor himself is worshiping with hat on? Leaders should always be an example & not an stumbling block. Consider the unbelievers or first timers’ comments.
James, thanks for your comment.
Women wear hats all the time. What happened to equality? Military personael do not wear head covering indoors. And on and on. Culture and respect and custom and what people will think. Some things are better not made into a religious bone to chew.