I agree wholeheartedly with your article. I believe the way we dress for worship is a reflection of our heart. If we dress in or Sunday best for worship we are bringing our best to worship. If we dress so casual that we are not distinguished by our dress for worship, is this not a reflection of our heart that we see God as just another thing in the week to get done? I, for one, want to bring my best when I worship my Creator.
It does seem that as decades pass by people are wearing clothing that is more comfortable. This more relaxed culture seems to be prevailing in many of the functions that people attend, not just the worship services. I'm not sure it is a good thing. Somebody once put it to me like this; If you were going to meet the Governor of your State, or the leader of your Country, what would you wear? Going to Sunday service, the first day of the week, when we are told to gather to break bread, we come together specifically to worship, not study. We come to worship the highest, the most, the greatest, the most precious being that we can imagine...why not dress for the occasion, why not wear our best?
Whoever would have thought we'd reach this point? - where Christians fight tooth and nail (with ridiculous objections) to reflect the pagan culture in the way we dress.
Good post. For the Christian, I believe it’s really simple: if you dress nice for other functions, responsibilities and privileges in life, then why should any less apply to worship? Removing one’s sandals has nothing to do with bare feet or the brand of sandal - it’s the involvement of the mind that creates and perceives/realizes/understands the distinction between the functions of everyday life and being in God’s presence.
Thank you. We are to be “set apart”. But we seem to want to be the same. Look around the congregation onSunday morning and see what everyone is drinking. Coffee anyone? We cant give up our water, coffee or cokes for an hour? It will never be touched in the pulpit because we might hurt someone’s feelings. It all comes down to respect.
Thank you Jack for this article. I am forever an advocate of properly dressing for worship. It seems disrepectful to God and the church to dress like it's just another day off work. I do apreciate your courage to speak up.
I agree but I wonder where the line would be drawn. I wear, and have preached wearing, dress slacks with either a short sleeve button up or polo type shirt (both untucked) with black Hoka sneakers. I don't own a suit or even a sports coat. Nor do I have dress shoes (I have plantar fasciitis)
I would not worship in jeans and a tshirt though I've had to show up on a Wed straight from work wearing that.
So I just wonder where the line is. I wear the best that I have but I could save up buy a suit. Of course I'm more concerned with the weight of my worship that with the attire. Are the two mutually exclusive?
Very interesting topic I’ve just been pondering. The things I’ve considered are
1)Wednesdays, etc(you mentioned but didn’t expand on much)
2)”worship” as you say indicates we only do so on Sundays and that’s all we do on Sundays
3)dressing up is quite different individually and as many things have changed , though I don’t ask for morals to change with the culture (vehicle styles- we don’t drive a horse and buggy either, music - even in worship, even church decor and cosmetics, it seems a bit trite to ask for others to “dress up” to make people to be a part of something to follow a man that wasn’t concerned about even having a home
4)pre internet days I was taught that dressing up started as a tradition (probably Catholic?) in case a King or important official visited your church- wonder if this is truly valid
5)if we’re told to do things with all proprietary then should we not consider our appearance in a modest manner and as image bearers& Spirit dwellers as a normal practice and not on Sundays only, otherwise adding to the God lives at the church building aspect
Thank you for bringing up these topics, lots of things to consider, especially for those that “just grew up that way” but need a deeper dive as to the “whys”!
I totally agree with everying you said! This has bothered me for some time now, and I have quit wearing jeans on Sunday night and Wednesday evening. We are coming into the presence of Almighty God, and how could we not dress respectfully? I just finished listening to Don Blackwell at Apologetic Press on youtube speaking on "The Truth About Dressing to Worship." Here is the link for those who would like to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4_cP7VniJ4
I agree wholeheartedly with your article. I believe the way we dress for worship is a reflection of our heart. If we dress in or Sunday best for worship we are bringing our best to worship. If we dress so casual that we are not distinguished by our dress for worship, is this not a reflection of our heart that we see God as just another thing in the week to get done? I, for one, want to bring my best when I worship my Creator.
It does seem that as decades pass by people are wearing clothing that is more comfortable. This more relaxed culture seems to be prevailing in many of the functions that people attend, not just the worship services. I'm not sure it is a good thing. Somebody once put it to me like this; If you were going to meet the Governor of your State, or the leader of your Country, what would you wear? Going to Sunday service, the first day of the week, when we are told to gather to break bread, we come together specifically to worship, not study. We come to worship the highest, the most, the greatest, the most precious being that we can imagine...why not dress for the occasion, why not wear our best?
Whoever would have thought we'd reach this point? - where Christians fight tooth and nail (with ridiculous objections) to reflect the pagan culture in the way we dress.
Good post. For the Christian, I believe it’s really simple: if you dress nice for other functions, responsibilities and privileges in life, then why should any less apply to worship? Removing one’s sandals has nothing to do with bare feet or the brand of sandal - it’s the involvement of the mind that creates and perceives/realizes/understands the distinction between the functions of everyday life and being in God’s presence.
Thank you. We are to be “set apart”. But we seem to want to be the same. Look around the congregation onSunday morning and see what everyone is drinking. Coffee anyone? We cant give up our water, coffee or cokes for an hour? It will never be touched in the pulpit because we might hurt someone’s feelings. It all comes down to respect.
Thank you Jack for this article. I am forever an advocate of properly dressing for worship. It seems disrepectful to God and the church to dress like it's just another day off work. I do apreciate your courage to speak up.
I agree but I wonder where the line would be drawn. I wear, and have preached wearing, dress slacks with either a short sleeve button up or polo type shirt (both untucked) with black Hoka sneakers. I don't own a suit or even a sports coat. Nor do I have dress shoes (I have plantar fasciitis)
I would not worship in jeans and a tshirt though I've had to show up on a Wed straight from work wearing that.
So I just wonder where the line is. I wear the best that I have but I could save up buy a suit. Of course I'm more concerned with the weight of my worship that with the attire. Are the two mutually exclusive?
Very interesting topic I’ve just been pondering. The things I’ve considered are
1)Wednesdays, etc(you mentioned but didn’t expand on much)
2)”worship” as you say indicates we only do so on Sundays and that’s all we do on Sundays
3)dressing up is quite different individually and as many things have changed , though I don’t ask for morals to change with the culture (vehicle styles- we don’t drive a horse and buggy either, music - even in worship, even church decor and cosmetics, it seems a bit trite to ask for others to “dress up” to make people to be a part of something to follow a man that wasn’t concerned about even having a home
4)pre internet days I was taught that dressing up started as a tradition (probably Catholic?) in case a King or important official visited your church- wonder if this is truly valid
5)if we’re told to do things with all proprietary then should we not consider our appearance in a modest manner and as image bearers& Spirit dwellers as a normal practice and not on Sundays only, otherwise adding to the God lives at the church building aspect
Thank you for bringing up these topics, lots of things to consider, especially for those that “just grew up that way” but need a deeper dive as to the “whys”!
I totally agree with everying you said! This has bothered me for some time now, and I have quit wearing jeans on Sunday night and Wednesday evening. We are coming into the presence of Almighty God, and how could we not dress respectfully? I just finished listening to Don Blackwell at Apologetic Press on youtube speaking on "The Truth About Dressing to Worship." Here is the link for those who would like to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4_cP7VniJ4