In His sermon on the mount, Jesus identified some things about which we don’t need to worry, including what we “put on” our bodies. Jesus stated that the body “is more than clothing” (Matt. 6:25). The King James Version of this text reads, “Take no thought…for your body, what ye shall put on.” While Jesus was teaching reliance on God for the necessities of life, perhaps some Christians literally “take no thought” to what they put on when preparing to take part in public worship.
I am not calling for a return to a time when almost all men attended worship in suits and ties and women in dresses. That ship has sailed! However, I believe thought should be given to what we wear in every situation which includes engaging in public worship honoring the King of Kings. Most of us are careful to dress respectfully in other public gatherings, so why is it too much to ask that we do so when we assemble for worship?
Clothing styles in almost all situations have been trending downward from “dressy” to increasingly more casual over the past several decades. One only has to view photos of attendees at major league baseball games in the 1940’s, showing men wearing suits and hats, to confirm this dramatic change. Photos from the 1950’s show most stay-at-home women wearing shirtwaist dresses and high heels as they managed their homes and children. And for those of us old enough to remember, who could forget the introduction of the “leisure suit” in the 1970’s? And you don’t have to be that old to remember when most banks and other professional businesses required their employees to wear suits or dresses. Then “casual Friday” became popular and evolved into “casual every day.”
Recognizing the cultural changes, it is no surprise that worship attire has trended in a similar direction. Many (perhaps most) celebrate the relaxed worship atmosphere that is created through more casual attire, while some of us are a little slow in embracing it. Advocates of casual attire in worship think it is good because visitors who are not “dressed up” may feel more welcome when they see members in casual attire. I can see the logic in this argument, however, if everyone is “casual,” how out of place will visitors feel who dress in their “Sunday-go-to-meeting” outfits?
I believe there is a scriptural argument to be made to encourage godly people to “give thought” to their attire based on circumstances. Joseph, a righteous man, was called before Pharaoh to provide an answer from God and didn’t have the “come as you are” approach. Instead, he “shaved and changed his clothing” before approaching the king (Gen. 41:14). While fishing, the apostle Peter—when learning it was the risen Lord calling to him—“put on his outer garment (for he had removed it)” before swimming ashore (Jn. 21:7). Most people take off clothing before plunging into a lake. The only logical explanation is that Peter thought what he had been wearing was inappropriate for the occasion. Even Jesus, in His parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22), acknowledged that there are situations in which appropriate attire is expected.
If we were invited to visit the White House, most of us would give serious thought about what to wear on such an occasion. When we are invited to a wedding or choose to attend a funeral, we try to dress appropriately. Why should it be any different when commemorating the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection or hearing the gospel preached?
To be clear, this is not a criticism of those who are unfortunate and cannot afford to “dress up.” Certainly, if one who is poor comes into our assembly dressed “in filthy clothes,” we must not treat him with disrespect. We must welcome him equally with one dressed in “fine apparel” (Jas. 2:1-4).
Instead, my appeal is this—whether we “dress up” for worship or come in casual attire—that our attire is appropriate for the occasion and will not distract from the purpose of our gathering. Give some thought to whether sloppy clothing, shorts, or T-shirts promoting favorite sports teams, commercial products, or political messages seem “appropriate” to wear when assembled with others for the expressed purpose of worshiping our awesome God!
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