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God's Economy: Dressing Up
28 May2008
In today's "God's Economy," I want to attack the sacred cow of dressing up for church. Probably like a lot of you, I grew up in a church culture that expected certain people to "dress up" for church—mainly those people who were either ministers, or were going to be serving in some sort of leadership/on-stage capacity. This pretty much meant suit and tie for the gents, and dresses and hose for the ladies.
In the early years of my church experience, there was even this culture of no pants for women and no shorts for guys. (My Mom has even told me a story many times how she was gardening outside and the pastor came by and discovered her wearing pants. He informed her she could no longer teach Sunday School if she continued to wear pants. How sad.)
I went to a college that required ties for the guys and dresses/skirts for the gals, and two of my previous workplaces had the same rules for employees. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against a school or an employer setting standards for dress at their establishment. I think this is a fine thing to do, and often prevents other problems later on down the road. I also understand the modesty issue, but that issue is not at issue here.
What I'm getting at is a false premise that has existed in church culture for a long time. Though this premise is on the decline, it still rears its ugly head now and again. You know you've heard it before, and I've seen it touted even recently in the blogosphere.
There's this idea, a good one I might add, that we are to give the Lord our best at all times. There is a parallel idea, one not so good in my estimation, that "giving your best" also includes dressing up. If you are a spiritual, righteous person, you'll show it by dressing up and looking good.
Now, for a lot of people, dressing up means the whole suit and tie/dress culture, and they get stuff stuck in their spiritual craw whenever they see someone who is in a leadership position in church wearing just a plain old t-shirt and jeans. In fact, they get nearly as angry over an open-collared shirt and a pair of khakis.
"What's all the hubub, Bub?" I ask. Wouldn't we rather the people who are in these leadership positions be giving their best rather than looking their best? Let's admit it, dressing up is pretty much something we do to impress our fellow man. I don't think God cares one bit (barring the modesty issue). It sounds very akin to Pharaseism to equate looking good with being good. In fact, this is where the false premise comes into play.
Look at modern culture. Who are the biggest groups of people who are still acting out the "Dress for Success" lifestyle? Corporate business and government. Now I ask you, do we really want our church leadership to equate themselves with either group?
All those Enron execs surely dressed up for their workday, so surely we want our leaders to look like them. Don't forget all those wonderful government officials who are not corrupt in the least. I want my pastor to look just like them because that's what a spiritual person looks like.
Ironically, its the same group of people who complain about leaders not dressing up who also complain that the church is beginning to look too much like corporate America. It is also the same group that complains the loudest about how horrible the government is on leading our country away from its spiritual roots. Make up your stinkin' mind will ya!
Thankfully, I'm in a place now that lets me dress the way I feel comfortable. I hardly ever wear a tie, which is great because I've also started playing and leading music from behind a guitar since coming here. You ever try to wear a dress shirt and tie or even a suit will strumming away to a Chris Tomlin song? Not pleasant I assure you. I wear a suit about twice a year, during our seasonal musicals. For me, it is not just a dress up to look nice issue as much as it is my way of showing respect to my choir for all the work they've put into a musical. Their work is more than worth my extra effort of putting on the suit and sweating like a fat pig while wearing it.
What am I getting at? If it is true that we believe that God looks on the heart, then why would we be concerned about what folks look like? Again, I get dress codes and modesty and all that, and those are fine, but when it comes to spirituality, any mature Christian should be able to see and admit that dressing up is not a hallmark. In fact, it could be a disguise.
Wolf in sheep's clothing anyone?
(P.S. As a side note, Mud Puppy had a somewhat related post recently on saying goodbye to dress socks. I applaud his move to dress like David Letterman.)
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15 Responses to God's Economy: Dressing Up
Mud Puppy
May 28th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Amen!
I too grew up in this mold, and I too am now enjoying the freedom of a church that gets it. For the most part now I dress down a little more than I normally would to 1) prove a point to those christians still stuck in 1945 and 2) to make the guests feel more comfortable.
This weekend on vacation we visited an old-school denomination that broke nearly every rule I hate about churches in one single service. Among them was a couple of old hens behind us complaining about how informal someone on stage looked.
Fumes.
(David Letterman… good stuff!)
Mud Puppys last blog post..Movie Reviews
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D Rho
May 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
It reminds of when Jesus spoke about whitewashing a tomb… What good is fine clothes when you're a mess inside?
The truth is honest. If the external looks like the internal, then we're being honest in our worship. God is not pleased with performances. The scary thing is: if we dress comfortable, are we too comfortable in worship? If we dress sloppy, are we too careless in worship? In my opinion, dress is closely related to how authentic we really are.
End note: There is a heavy pressure in postmodern churches to be hip and cool and fashion savvy – wich means jeans, designer t's, low-profile shoes or flip flops, messy hair (or bald), and sweet shades that make you look like a rock star. So, let's not judge too harshly our predecessors on this issue.
D Rhos last blog post..Why Do You Believe?
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Mud Puppy
May 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I swear I typed up a comment earlier…
Anyway, I completely agree with you. These days I dress down 1) to prove a point to christians still stuck in 1945 and 2) to make visitors feel more comfortable.
Mud Puppys last blog post..Movie Reviews
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Eric
May 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
That same preacher who told your mom she could not teach and wear pants outside her home is probably the same one that told me to tell my wife that she could not wear pants in the house if she was going to walk in front of the window. Go figure!
Erics last blog post..Bringing Home The Bacon
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Patty Cake
May 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
The whole dressing up for church thing has been an issue in our family for years, as my dad is disabled and can't put on a tie, button his top button, tie his shoes or tuck in his shirt by himself. He doesn't like depending on his children or his wife to help him get ready for church and it makes him cranky, which puts him out of a peaceful mindset before going.
I convinced my dad a couple years ago that "europeans don't wear socks with dress shoes" so now he doesn't either. Then I convinced him it was okay to wear sneakers with suits, which he can put on himself. After that, I told him that it was okay to wear a t-shirt under a sport jacket, so no more helping him with that top button.
Initially my mom resisted it, but I tore out pages of GQ and left them on my dad's bathroom mirror with close approximations of his outfits pictured.
Dad is in a much better mood before church now that he's comfortable and independent, and mom… well, she's getting used to it.
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Mud Puppy
May 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Seriously. I typed two separate comments yesterday for this post!
Mud Puppys last blog post..More Links
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Jeff M. Miller
May 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Wow, sorry guys. It looks like Akismet went crazy and thought the two of you were spammers.
Go figure.
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Bob@Tampa Bay 55+ Homes
May 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Our church (being in Florida) is very casual. We just got a new pastor – he's in his early 30's and he dresses in jeans and a tee shirt. Let me tell you though, when he opens his mouth to preach ~ people listen. I couldn't care less what he wears, he knows the gospel.
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Marcus@Best Online Florist
May 30th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I agree completely. Church is about fellowship – not judging our brothers and sisters because their way of dress doesn't meet our arbitrary, worldly standards.
There are those who attend church and actually listen, absorb and apply what they learn… and.. those who go to maintain appearances and put on a false facade.
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Bobby Gilles
May 30th, 2008 at 6:55 am
On the other hand, there is a danger in still "dressing to impress" in that we want to be seen as cool, wearing the right jeans, shirts with cool band logos, etc.
Don't get me wrong; I agree with you 100%. Just trying to throw some more food for thought into the conversation. We always have to be careful, when we begin to exercise freedom that we truly have in Christ and get rid of silly, legalistic codes, that we don't re-legalize in some fashion.
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mandy
May 31st, 2008 at 9:36 am
my husband has an amazing take on this. and he's a t-shirt & flip-flops & no shave & nasty hair kind of guy.
but, he says that God deserves our best. and part of "worship" is rightly presenting ourselves to Him, as we enter His presence, that we present ourselves to Him in the best way we can – because He DESERVES it.
For my husband, its a motivation of reference, not pretension.
he changed my perspective immediately…
mandys last blog post..WC – 5-26-07 – too fast or too slow?
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Lorie
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 am
My thoughts are similar to Mandy's husband's, if I understand her correctly…
I believe that, historically, the reason for wearing one's "Sunday best" was not just an effort to be socially impressive but also appropriately reverent and respectful.
I've heard it expressed this way, and it's a sobering thought: would I dress better to meet the President of the United States than I do when I go to church? If so, why? It has to do with respect, does it not? As I was thinking through this, I even thought about whether I put more thought into what I wear on a date than what I wear to church…
The Lord IS primarily concerned with our hearts, but our outer appearance does (to some degree) reflect our hearts (modesty is a case in point) and the amount of respect we have for where we are and who we're with. Don't you think?
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Jeff M. Miller
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Thanks for all the responses. I took some down time over the weekend, so I didn't comment back. Let me address each of you and give my 2¢.
@Mud Puppy: See, that's what I'm talking about (referencing the "old hens"). It's akin to what Los mentioned a little while ago on his blog about someone making the comment about him as "the lowest common denominator" because of his tats. What's all that about? Pride I'm thinking.
@D Rho: "God is not pleased with performances." Agreed, except I would add the caveat at that He is pleased by our actions when they are done in sincerity of heart and are for His kingdom, not our own.
I also hear you loud and clear on the "postmodern" dress issue. I'm seriously thinking about a part 2 on this issue to address the other side. Buying stuff from Buckle/Hollister/Ambercrombie/etc. and looking cool makes one no more spiritual than does a suit and tie.
@Eric: You're absolutely correct, sir. I WAS the same pastor. Good times…good times.
@Patty Cake: Fantastic. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I don't want to take away anything from those who desire to dress up, but when its been turned into a cultural requirement so strict that someone with difficulties is expected to follow it, there's a problem. How can someone worship God if their frame of mind is totally blown before they even get out the door to go to worship?
@Bob: "I couldn’t care less what he wears, he knows the gospel." That's the #1 issue as far as I'm concerned. is the Gospel being proclaimed? To God be the glory.
@Marcus: I hear you. Ditto.
#Bobby: I know exactly what you're saying, and like I said to D Rho, I may address that in a part 2. I do think there is problem on the reverse side of the issue, one that says, "If you don't dress in a cool fashion, then you are not relevant." The term "relevant" has come to mean spiritual in some circles. Relevancy might be a good thing in today's church, but being irrelevant doesn't make one lake spirituality or sincerity. I completely agree with your sentiments.
@Mandy: I hear you and your husband, and completely feel what you're saying. I agree with this stance as well. For those who want to dress up, that is between themselves and the Lord. From what I've read from both of your blogs, I don't picture either of you ever looking down your nose at someone who is not as dressy as you. That's really what I'm getting at, this false idea that a level of dress is an exhibition of one's level of spirituality.
@Lorie: Just like with Mandy's comment, I hear you and I get it. Let me give you this take on the meeting with the President idea. I, too, would dress up in a suit and tie, out of a show of respect (for the office, not the person in the chair), but this too is just a reflection of society's expectations. If we lived in a culture where showing respect meant dressing up in a blue suede robe, then we would do that rather than a suit. So, for me, it still comes back to social expectations and dressing to impress my fellow man. Add to this that I would dress up to meet the President even if I had zero respect for them, the analogy is not entirely applicable.
Again, not trying to be contentious, but I still think the heart issue trumps the dress issue. As with the term "Sunday best," what does that mean? In the church where I serve, for some that means a starched Western shirt, pressed and creased jeans, and shiny cowboy boots that NEVER get worn except at church. For another guy in our congregation, one from California, that means he irons his t-shirt and wipes his flip flops clean.
Thanks to everyone for all the comments. Let's do it again some time.
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Levon@Garage Doors
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 am
I can't believe that thing about your mum and Sunday School. At my church people wear whatever they want, although the older folks seems to dress up still. We also have a lot of activities that a lot of churches probably would frown upon such a Christian rock days.
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DanaF
June 15th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Hi, Jeff's sister here. The comment about the preacher and our mother is the truth. I started church in the fourth grade, first in the family. As a teenager in church our clothes were always being harped on. no pants, shorts. skirts too short!!!!!! One year in church camp all the girls were told that their skirts and culotte dresses had to be a certain length or you could not wear them. Many managed to let out the hems. Me, I didn't sew and decided to wear the same outfit the whole week, even though mine were not that short, but of course they scared me senseless. But that was what I focused on too much of the time instead of mainly on God. I did learn about God and his word but unlike my brother I rarely go to church. Also I hate dresses with a passion. I used to have a nightmare about showing up in church in pants, which stopped after I went to hear my brother's college group sing in a church and afterward I changed into jeans at the church. I also wore a dressy pantsuit for our father's funeral, which our other brother thought was cool. I do believe in modesty in what is worn to church and not to be sloppy. If you can only afford certain clothes, then wear that. I do think those working for God should be respectful to God in what they wear but it is your conscience not mine. I am not your judge and everyone needs to remember that in all things but sometimes we don't heed that. Anyway that is how things were in the late 60's and 70's and later. Everyone have a great day! CHEWTEK
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