How should I dress for Church?

 

When we allow too many people to dress inapproriately for Christian fellowship, we create a serious credibility problem and our message becomes harder to believe. Are you aware of the Biblical dress code for the Church?

Perhaps you’re already thinking, “Where is he going with this?” Please stay with me.

This is an urgently needed message for the Church. A failure to dress with the right clothing could significantly damage the reputation of your Church. It might even cause people to question the authenticity of the gospel.

After reading this, if you encounter people who are not dressed properly for Church, please encourage them to change into appropriate clothing.

But wait!  Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not suggesting that we judge others based on outward appearances! And it may be that the people in traditional Church clothes are the least appropriately dressed for Christian fellowship. We certainly know that those who opposed Jesus’ earthly ministry were the best dressed of society.

The ultimate issue is not really physical clothing at all but let’s at least review what we know from Scripture before looking at the dress code itself.

Scripture emphasizes modesty and unassuming discretion.

1 Timothy 2:9 – “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” (NLT)



1 Peter 3:3-4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (NIV) 

Scripture rebukes favoritism based on fine clothing.

James 2:2-4 – “…suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?” 

What is the acceptable dress code for the Church?

The importance of this question cannot be overemphasized. We must be dressed in a way consistent with true Christian community or the plausibility and authenticity of our witness to the gospel will be compromised.

Here is the dress code appropriate to the gospel:

Colossians 3:12-14 – “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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Questions for deeper reflection

1. How does the description of “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” lead to the clothing of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”? Is there a deeper identity issue for those inappropriately dressed?
2. What piece of clothing is missing from your wardrobe? (Compassion? Kindness? Humility? Gentleness? or Patience?)
3. Does Colossians 3:12-14 describe the clothing of the poor in spirit who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? (Matthew 5:3)

Action points

1. Share this with your leadership team and your entire Church.
2. Emphasize this attire as necessary to gospel-centered community.
3. Study Philippians 2:1-11 in light of this truth (practicing the mind of Christ in community).


Steve Cornell 

See also: Subversive Gospel Communities