This topic is touchy and honestly I’m not real crazy about writing it, but I think it needs to be said. I was in a conversation this week that talked about how people used to dress for church and how we dress for church now. It wasn't too many years ago when women were expected to wear a dress and men should at least wear slacks and a button up shirt. Before that there was no question you wore a suit and tie if you were a man and the ladies wore dresses. Today when you walk into a church you will most likely see people wearing jeans, t-shirts, shorts and flip flops just to name a few things that are drastically different. Many frown on this and many feel it’s okay to wear these items. My personal opinion, not that it matters, is you should wear clothes that are respectful in the house of God. Really and truly you should wear clothes that are respectful all the time since He is with us all the time. (That’s another story)
I feel like today’s culture pushes dressing a certain way and if you don’t then well you’re poor. What has the result been because of these perceived notions of we have to dress “this” way to attend church? Go ahead and say it…how many of you at some point in your life didn’t step foot through the door of a church because 1) you didn’t like to wear a suit, tie or a dress 2) you couldn’t afford that type of clothing? I’m guessing you know where I’m going with this, so I’m just going to go ahead and go there. The church allowed how you looked to get in the way of saving souls. If you couldn’t or wouldn’t dress your Sunday best you were snubbed. Not only did this hurt the church but it hurt those Christians during the week trying to do good for the Kingdom. I looked and there is not a single spot in the Bible that says you have to dress your best before coming to me. I did find two verses (and there are more than two) that said come, and they are: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water; and you have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”(Isaiah 55:1 NIV) The second verse is from Matthew, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV) Nowhere does it say come all who are dressed in your finest clothes and I will give you a drink and give you rest. I have given an example from the Old and New Testament. When the first church started they didn’t expect people to wear their best. They didn’t have their “best” they had what they had. Even at that we are called to give up everything to follow Jesus. At some point we allowed our appearance to interfere with what Jesus came for. There is a reason God wants those who are thirsty and weary to come. It’s because we are ALL thirsty and at some point weary. So my questions are this: How many people were shunned from church and died without knowing the love of Jesus because of their appearance? How many people today are shunned by the church (we the hands and feet of Christ) because of their appearance?
If as Christians we are to shun those who can’t dress like us then aren’t we defeating the purpose of why Jesus came? He came so that all could be saved from sin, not just those who have a job, and can afford to buy the finer things in life. These are actually the people that didn’t accept Jesus…hum…I’ll leave that thought alone. My point here is money allows us to become prideful if we don’t give God the credit. There are several verses in the Bible that talks about how a Christian should dress, but it’s not what you think it would be. In Ephesians chapter 6 we are to put on the Armor of God. In Colossians we are told to put on a different type of clothing. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14) Sometimes we get so caught up in people’s appearance that we forget to clothe ourselves the way Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 tells us to. I’m not pointing fingers here, because I can be found guilty too.
Let me clarify my opinions (again, not that it matters) and leave you with a question or two. Do I think you should dress your best on Sunday? Sure, but I believe if you want to dress down that’s okay too. You go to church to worship and learn more about God not to impress others. I also know that my best is not the person next to me's best. The taste of clothing and “best” also changes as we get older. I honestly feel it’s between you and God. I’m not here to judge. I have worn a dress to church, but I also have worn slacks and jeans. It depends on how I feel that morning and the weather outside. If God is more concerned about what’s on the inside then shouldn’t we be? Does your “Sunday Best “keep you from being your best? Remember the church is the people, not the building. This isn’t just a Sunday thing..chew on it a while let me know your thoughts. Until next time, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB)
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