When I was a little girl, there was no question about what was appropriate attire for church. I wore dresses, tights or frilly socks, and dress shoes. My brother wore dress shirts and pants. My mother wore skirts. My dad wore crisp, starched shirts with ties, dress pants, and sometimes even a suit.
Times have changed. On Facebook this week I’ve seen several church ads telling everyone to come as they are. To wear jeans or shorts. They seem to consider jeans a more “real” way to dress, more authentic, more genuine. Their ads even seem to indicate that when you wear jeans to church you are more focused on Jesus. I think it’s important to express more interest in people and their souls than in what they’re wearing. I’m all for that, and all for de-emphasizing the clothing that people have on.
But, is that what we’re doing when we create these church ads? Ads that seem to say that churches where people wear dressier clothes are too rule oriented or are out of touch?
At our church, people wear jeans and they wear suits and dresses. I have worn jeans myself, on Sunday morning, and have never felt that anyone had a problem with that or cared one way or the other. But, I do think that we get so adamant about emphasizing jeans and shorts as the most “authentic” way to do church that we end up implying that those who choose to dress up a little more are doing something bad. What is so wrong with wearing heels to church? What is so terrible about wearing a suit and tie if you feel like it? I wonder why we are so quick to associate dresses with some sort of phony, hypocritical, stuffy faith?
Some people feel like they should offer their very best to God on the Sabbath, even down to what they wear on their bodies. If their best is a suit and tie and they want to wear that, I fail to see how it makes them any less genuine or any less in touch or any less welcoming or kind or generous or obedient than any jean-wearing church member.
It seems that, in a reaction against legalism, we have gone too far the other direction, and once again, we are placing way too much emphasis on what people wear, as if shorts and flip flops make you a more devoted Christian or a better witness or a more authentic person.
This Easter, my kids will be decked out in frilly dresses and bow ties. My husband will wear a suit. And, I will probably wear jeans because I’m working in the nursery and will be hanging out on the floor with little people. And, none of those clothing choices matter one little bit to the kingdom of God. Wear what you want to church. But, I pray that whether you wear a suit or flip flops, you won’t fall into the trap of believing that what you pull out of your closet is an indicator of your spiritual condition. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God sees the heart.
Amen Melissa. No matter what we wear to church, our hearts can be either in the midst of Godly transformation or just filled with old dry bones hidden under a shiny, trendy exterior. Having grown up as a pastor’s son and having been a part of different church bodies for more than 50 years, I’ve seen things change in this area a whole lot. I’ve seen far too many waste way too much energy on surface issues and not be concerned over issues of heart change. My wife and I will like you be wearing jeans this Easter Sunday since we will be working with some of the younger folks in our church too. Hopefully nobody will feel the need to look down their nose at us over our practical choice for dress that day. As for how I see others and how they dress at church, I try to look past the clothing to see what sort of person I’m dealing with. The only beef with dress at church or away from it for that matter is how some (both male and female) folks may dress in ways that are provocative and disrespectful of the opposite sex. That is a trend we can all live without. Thanks for keeping these types of discussions alive Melissa!
We’ve actually had a “Casual Sunday” at church before. Myself and the undertaker wore suits… He did because he had a funeral right after church. I wore mine because I could. When the Deacons were specifically told (and reminded several times) to dress up for our Rededication Sunday service, I wore my normal Sunday attire… Blue jeans. On Easter Sunday? I’ll wear blue jeans. I did, however, dress up for Palm Sunday. I don’t know if you noticed, bit I wore my Baylor Hawaiian shirt. I thought it very appropriate. Hawaiian for the Palm, embroidered Baylor and BU for the Sunday. I feel that when emphasis is placed on the clothing we alienate people from coming who needs Christ’s touch through us. We live up to their image that “I could never fit in going there because I can’t dress up”. Just look at the difference in our Wednesday night and Sunday morning crowd. I understand about giving God your best, even in your Sunday appearance, but I want to help anyone feel as comfortable and invited as can be when they come. As much as I’d love to, I haven’t worn my shorts and flip flops on Sunday morning yet. I save those (or go barefoot) for Sunday night.
Yes to all of the above! I would love to just sit over a cup of coffee with you and chat about this subject. Saying what we wear doesn’t matter to Jesus applies to ALL MANNER of dress…there seems to be a growing sense that sincere and genuine Christians dress casually…same Pharisee spirit, different wardrobe. God bless you as we enter the remembrances of the last few days of Holy Week and the celebration of His Resurrection and look forward to His coming again! The only covering for all of us is HIS Righteousness. Praise Him!
If you don’t already follow Leslie Leyland Field, you should check out her recent post on dressing for Easter. She makes some of the same excellent points that you make.
Amen Sister!