Does the church have a Dress Code?

 

 Introduction

    A few years ago, I was returning home from dinner when I passed by a denominational church. The sign out front gave the service times and next to the evening service it said, “Come as You Are”. I thought to myself, “Does this include pajamas and a bathrobe? Or what about swimming trunks and a beach towel?” Some people take a laid-back attitude toward attire in the assembly. We know that there isn’t a dress code for worship but let’s look at some things in regards to proper attire.

 

Does it Really Matter?

 I’ve heard people say in regard to certain clothes:

“God doesn’t care what you wear. We’re there to worship him.” 

“I want to feel comfortable when I’m sitting in church.” 

“This is Arizona, it’s gets too hot for a coat and tie.” 

I’m not suggesting to anyone that you should wear a coat and tie. However, it’s our mindset that should help us decide what to wear and not wear when in worship. Could a person really focus on God if they were in their pajamas? Some will say, “That’s a silly notion, no one would do that.” My question then is: “What authority do you have to draw that particular line of what is acceptable and what isn’t?”

If we are to wear jeans and a t-shirt because everyone else is doing it, does this then allow us to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and use foul language because everyone else is? I’ve seen people, who claim to be Christians, do all three of these things and others as well. How does a person separate themselves from those who follow Satan’s lies? Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:17, Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

And what of Peter? Shortly after the resurrected Christ appeared to him and the others, they returned what to their life of fishing. Here’s his reaction, though, when Jesus stood on the shore, Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. (John 21:7, KJV)

  This nakedness of Peter doesn’t imply that he was completely without clothing. No one I know goes fishing in the nude. What this nakedness means is that he was not attired for reverence but for his line of work. Peter showed respect to Christ by putting on his coat. He even felt so ashamed that he cast himself into the sea.

I’ve also heard so-called Christians say that they intentionally wear jeans and a t-shirt or dirty ‘sweats’ just to see if anyone would verbally object. Again, their outlook would be to say, “God doesn’t care how we look.” 

 

What of Adam and Eve?

  Question: If God doesn’t care how we dress, then why was God override Adam and Eve’s fig-leaf aprons? In Genesis 3:7, we see Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together to make aprons so they could cover their nakedness. However, in verse 21, it was God who decided that they should wear coats of skins (animal skins). This tells us that their choice of clothing was insufficient. In Proverbs 14:12 it states, There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

This is not the holy conscience of a Christian. God DOES care how we look and dress, as it displays our reverence and obedience to our maker and Heavenly Father. And we shouldn’t be testing our brethren, encouraging scoffers, or drawing attention to ourselves; even if we are wearing something modest. If we don’t make an effort to attire our bodies decently, how then can we make an effort to worship God decently? 

In other words, if we dress in a manner that communicates disrespect, rebellion, lewdness, drug culture, pride, hatred or a lack of reverence to God, we have committed iniquity/lawlessness even when we are not at a worship assembly. Thus, we need to craft our admonition to include more than sexual display.

We need to attire our mindset. Paul writes in (Colossians 3:1-2) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. If we clothe our mind with Godly thinking, then choosing clothes for the body; whether going to worship or our daily lives, should be very simple.

In 1 Pet. 2:9 the apostle writes, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. We can’t be called a holy nation if our attire is unholy. “Be ye separate!”

 

Conclusion

Although the church doesn't have an official dress code, it would be prudent to show God the same respect as you would on the job; if not more so. If you dress up for work, you should never dress down for worship.

Can someone carelessly ignore what they wear and still represent a Christian way-of-life?   Could you really ‘show forth the excellencies of him…’ if you don’t have respect for Him? 

With all the things that God has done for us, doesn’t He deserve intense respect even in our casual attire? Clothe the mind first, then the body.