There you are, a visitor at a new church. You pull up into visitor parking right up front and see smiling faces to greet you at the door. Music in the background, people laughing in the lobby, and a line in front of the coffee shop. Then, you catch something from the corner of your eye. Cargo shorts, hairy legs, and open-toed sandals akin to the way the disciples wore on Jesus' day. It's known as the "Come as you are" movement in church circles–an attempt to remove misperceived stuffiness and create comfort for those who may not know the Lord.
The problem is that some churches are beginning to look like tailgating parties instead of the open door to a new life of righteousness. What happened to wearing a suit to church? How did church clothes get relegated to some jeans dragged out of the clothes hamper and a graphic tee reading "Photons have mass? I didn't know they were Catholic."
The tradition of "dressing your Sunday best" may seem old-fashioned, but the Bible inspires it. Many times, discussions end up in the Book of Matthew.
"He said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite anyone to the banquet.' So, the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad and the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless." Matthew 22:9-12 NIV
Does the Lord deserve more than what we give Him by how we dress for church? If you have been in that discussion or heard it from someone down the pew, here are seven reasons to reconsider wearing a suit to church.
It Reflects Your Change
When you experience the love of Christ and welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart, a change occurs. You learn to submit your mind, will, and emotions to the direction of God. Things don't look the same, and your actions are different because you want them to align with God's Word. Those changes are because you decided to change. Music, words, entertainment, speech–it all eventually changes. Wouldn't your clothes?
"Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to honor Me. That's where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau.' So Jacob spoke to his family and everyone with him. He said, 'Get rid of the strange gods you have with you. Make yourselves pure, and change your clothes. Come, let's go up to Bethel. There, I'll build an altar to honor God. He answered me when I was in trouble. He's been with me everywhere I've gone." Genesis 35:1-3 NIV
In Hebrew, "Bethel" means "House of God." So, maybe change your clothes and go to church.
It Shows Church is Important
Remember dress codes in school? Certain things you could and could not wear were not established because school is supposed to be formal, but there were important reasons. Church is like that–not at all formal, but important. You dress up for job interviews, business meetings, social events, and even weddings. But not church?
"For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field. You are also God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9 GNT
The implication is that we carry Jesus with us and represent His Kingdom. How would that look? Like a dilapidated and ruddy shack outside town or a nice 3/2 in the middle of suburbia? Budgets notwithstanding, our goal is to look the part for the moment.
You Want to Look The Part
"To fit the part, you have to look the part." Grandparents have shared that aphorism for decades because that's what they did. Revisiting the idea about going to a job interview–can you imagine going to a fancy corporate board room to meet with a chief executive dressed as if you're ready for a weekend at the beach? Despite your resume, expertise, and accolades, if you don't look the part, you're already behind those who did.
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, but his heart is not with you." Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
You will feel like it if you look like you're on your testimony's right side. Who knows? Maybe, then, someone will want to hear it.
God May Not Look at the Outward Appearance, but Everyone Else Does
Admittedly, we don't go to church to feel the town gossip breathing on our back simply because she isn't a fan of a superhero t-shirt and jeans that look like they were in a fight with a gang of termites. That said, appearances and first impressions matter.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
God only cares about seeing the heart instead of the fashionable brands you wear to church. God is happy as long as your heart can be tilled as fertile soil. But if you are so sensitive to the Holy Spirit in church, shouldn't you consider that you may be the only Bible someone reads all day?
You're a King's Kid Now
Imagine all the royal children throughout history. They were recognized everywhere. They were being watched everywhere. So, naturally, the first that would happen is to have royal kids of privilege fit the part. Once you gave your life to the Lord, you also became part of that ostentatious club (Romans 8:15-17).
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV
You are different now. You have been saved and set free. It's time to look it, and possibly show others how to dress for success at church.
God Likes Fashion, Anyway
You read that correctly. All priests put on a show for the common people by showing how supremely dressed they could be to worship on the Sabbath. God thought, "Well, my guys are pretty important as well. I should do something." Then he did.
"Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother, for glory and beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron, your brother, and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen." Exodus 28:1-5 ESV
Maybe there was a city mall nearby, but God put His man in a solid ephod and tunic. The boy looked sharp, and God was well pleased. He cares what you look like in His house.
Businesses Have Uniforms
Teachers dress a part, much like the executive staff and our friends in the lunchroom. Each "uniform" looks different, but it allows people to approach the right situation. When you go to work, you may only have to put on a zip-up vest, but it's something to help you stand apart.
God wants the lost visiting a church to know that "those are people in whom I trust." You can do the Lord's just as effectively–if not more effectively–in cargo shirts and flip-flops. This is true. Yet, in a church service, wearing a different level of clothing shows respect to the pastor of the house, serving the people, and being included in all that God has done for the staff.
But you need to read the room.
"To the Jews, I became a Jew in order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became one under the law (though not being myself under the law), and I might win those under the law. To those outside the law, I became one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) so that I might win over those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak, and I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, and by all means, I might save some." 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 ESV
If this were war, you would be in camouflage fatigues. If this were business, you would rock a tight dimple in that tie. If this were a concert, you would wear your favorite bedazzle, whatever that thing is. So, consider doing the same for God.
We are guests in His Home. We should at least respect Him when He invites us over.
