Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church
We all understand that the wrong clothes can distract our fellow worshipers. Elaborate, showy attire may reflect a prideful, elitist, egocentric display of wealth, status, and power (Mark 12:38; Luke 16:19; James 2:3). Or it may serve as a mask, a facade behind which lurks a very different reality (Matt. 23:27). In this way and others our choice of clothing can be sinful. But this does not render our everyday ("common"), come-as-you-are attire "spiritual" or "honest." If we care for our fellow worshipers as we ought, we will take them into consideration as we dress for worship. We will clothe ourselves in ways that edify them and strengthen their own worship. We will attempt to avoid the nonchalant attitude that says this event is entirely routine; that it merits nothing special from me; that my only consideration in what I choose to wear is what is easiest and most convenient. Such a self-centered attitude is corrosive to a true spirit of worship. Instead, the goal in our choice of clothing should be to express to the Lord and those around us that this event matters, that I view it as a holy occasion, one which deserves our highest regard. If the first audience for our nonverbal messages is God himself, and secondarily, our fellow worshipers, dress that best suits these first two audiences may also serve a third: outsiders who join our public worship.
Evangelistic gatherings can in many ways be designed to fit the unbelievers we are trying to reach. But this is harder to do with our corporate worship. The church must first shape its worship to honor God, a goal to which all else must be subordinate. But thankfully, watching believers do what they do can have its own evangelistic effect. When Christians are worshiping as they should, says the apostle, and "and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you" (1 Cor. 14:24–25). Attire that genuinely reflects a God-honoring attitude toward worship may well contribute to a similar result.
Now We See In a Mirror
None of the above leaves us with a dress code for public worship. It certainly does not translate automatically into coats and ties for men and fancy dresses for women. Idealizing bygone eras won't work here; the meaning of human clothing is too contextual for that. It varies too widely from place to place and time to time, and there are too many other variables to consider. We are left having to judge for ourselves what is appropriate for worship and what is not.
But all of the above should at least warn us away from the glib assumption that God does not care about what we wear to church; or that what I choose to wear for worship doesn't matter; or that how I dress for church is a purely personal affair; or that my own convenience and comfort are all that need concern me. The truth is, one of the ways we express ourselves as human beings is by the way we dress. Wittingly or unwittingly, our clothing gives us away. God certainly does not need this expression to know our hearts. But as for the rest of us, we do indeed look on the outward appearance, even when peering into our own mirrors. In this way the clothes we choose for church may have things to tell us about our hearts that God already knows, but that we need to hear.
God Among the Roma
Grieving with the Good Friday God
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Frank Blasi
I do see some points in D. Litfin's article regarding what to wear for public worship. I could also see that the author was not pressing us to wear shirt and tie as an absolute necessity for church attendance. But here in the United Kingdom, social class is a very big issue, far more so than in the USA, I assume was where the article was written. The greedy attitude of our City bankers, the dishonesty of our polititians and other corrupt members of our elite had given the shirt and tie a shady image, attaining a symbol of greed, elitism, arrogance and other unsavoury attitudes. On the other hand, we once had a member of our church who was so scruffy as he stood at the pulpit to preach that Sunday morning - that I found myself squirming in my seat. The Romans never dressed in shirt and tie in the day of the Apostles, and such attire should not be felt to be compulsory today. However, we should dress so not to offend others in the church but to be acceptable and to stay respectful.
MARDO JIMENEZ
It seems to me, that the Postmoderns purposefully want to get rid of everything that does not conform to their new adopted convictions, dress included. Is almost a spirit of rebellion. And those who advocate a casual dress to attend church seem to advocate it as the new rule. I will like to remind us, that, in final isntance, the cosmetic changes do not produce an spiritual awakening. We fool ourselves wanting to produce church growth by physical changes: lights, electronic gear, dress style. I like the article and agree with the author. Thank you for your effort to present the issue base on biblical principles. Let's apply to dress code, the same principles Paul applies in Romans 14 to other issues. Let's add dress code to the list. Give me the freedom to dress the best I can, to go and worship our God. I use shorts for the beach and suit for church. Mardo Jimenez
jon
I was once a typically guilt-ridden Catholic child, now a blissfully happy atheist who occasionally attends the (not very religious) Episcopal church in our upscale community...at the Episcopal church, everyone is in coat and tie/dress, which imparts a sense of importance...at the nearby Catholic church, people tramp in in their jeans and sweatshirts...looks very downscale, even though its a wealthy parish...I hate to think what it must be like going to church in the rest of America...thankfully, I dont have to witness that sorry sight.