When discussing the controversial topics in the church today, it seems that “dress” is near the top of the list with worship style, Bible translation, and color of the carpet. Some churches feature people in suits and dresses, while others consist of people in jeans, pants, and even shorts. If you fly to the islands of Hawaii, you may even find people who have come straight from the beach, carrying sand and the smell of the ocean into their local meeting place. While many factors play into the decision of what to wear–such as age, location, average age of the congregation, church leadership, etc.–there is no doubt this is an issue that is often talked about, or at least thought about, among church people.
While I would love to say I’ve found a definitive answer on what every male and female should wear to church, the truth is the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what to wear. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a command to wear a suit, and nowhere in Scripture do we see that Crocs are forbidden in our local congregations (although we might want to give that some serious consideration).
While this issue may not be as black and white as some would want us to believe, I do believe there are 4 important factors to keep in mind when deciding how to dress for church:
1.) Mind your heart
The heart dictates our motivation for doing the things that we do. This even pervades into the area of what we wear to church. I’ve known far too many people who have taken the issue of dress in church and used it to facilitate a rebellious attitude. While it may not be a sin to wear jeans to church, some choose to do so only because they want to make a statement or know others may disapprove. It’s not about comfort; it’s about rebellion. On the flip side, if our heart is not in the right place, we may allow our suit and tie to create a sense of pride. While there is nothing wrong with looking nice, if our main intention is to dress to impress and look down on others, we’ve made things about much more than clothing. Pride can be a very dangerous and sinful thing. Whether it’s rooted in rebellion or elevation of self, if we don’t mind our heart, the issue is no longer about clothing, but more about our sinfulness.
2.) Mind your attitude
Sometimes our attitudes are very difficult to control, especially if we’re involved in something about which we’re very passionate. Walk into any Buffalo Wild Wings during the NCAA Tournament or a UFC PPV and you’ll see what I mean. Attitudes can also be difficult to control in the area of “church dress” because…well…some of us are very passionate about it. While a sense of passion can lead to many positive things, it can also turn our attitudes sour. It pains me to think of how many people I’ve seen come into the church dressed in something other than the norm and openly say, “I’m wearing this, and I don’t care what people think!” Sadly, no one had even said a thing. I’m not sure if anyone had noticed. Yet the “wearer” walked into the church building as though he/she were storming into a back alley looking for a fight. In the same respect, I’ve also heard people cast judgment on those that wear suits to church. Several years ago I heard someone in the church argue that our church would never be able to attract outsiders because too many people wore suits. This person then went on to criticize the character of those that wore suits to church. Here’s my inclination: the lack of growth in the church had nothing to do with people wearing suits; the lack of growth had to do with the attitudes of those doing the judgment.
3.) Mind your elders
Some may disagree with me on this point, and I’m okay with that. You’re allowed to be wrong (I probably need to read #2 again). I’m a firm believer in remembering where you came from and who helped you get there. I spent the first 23 years of my life at Calvary Fellowship Church in Fenton, Missouri. When I go home to visit, the first people to always greet me and hug me are the senior citizens in the church. During my 23 years at the church, they were always the first to pray for me, support me financially, and offer encouragement when I needed it most. They were and are the foundation and bedrock of the church. We may not always agree on everything, and we don’t have to. But I do love and respect them enough to listen to any concerns or hesitations they may have. They issue of church dress never came up with this group of people, but other things did, such as service style, music style, etc. At no point did they ever try to tell me my preferences were sinful; they simple told me that my preferences weren’t their preferences. I think there’s something very important in this when it comes to how we dress at church. I’m not saying that the elders in the church should dictate how we dress every Sunday. But I am saying that we should be mindful and respectful of their wishes and preferences. If I’m offending them in how I dress, maybe I need to step back and re-evaluate some things. It may not be an issue of sin, but it may be an issue of what is wise and beneficial. Let’s be honest…wearing khaki pants instead of jeans isn’t a very big deal to me. But it may be a big deal to someone else, and that simple change in clothing could be the difference in building a relationship.
4.) Mind your fellow churchgoers
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s still an issue in the church. As much as we talk about it and preach about it, the issue of modesty hasn’t hit home with everyone who steps into a church on Sunday mornings. The phrases “stumbling block” and “Sunday morning dress” don’t seem like they should go hand-in-hand, but sadly, sometimes they do. It’s important to put a high priority on modesty and purity when approaching what to wear to church. No one wants to be distracted by a low-cut blouse when trying to worship on a Sunday morning. What you’re wearing may be completely appropriate for your workplace or home, but it’s important to remember you can wear what’s appropriate by society’s standards and still not be appropriate.
[Photo source: http://bit.ly/mLKOrS]
