Church: Is there a dress code?
It’s Sunday morning, and you’ve just woken up. You walk over to your closet to decide what you want to wear to church. You’re trying to decide whether you should wear your nicest dress or just go casual in jeans and a sweater. Over the past few years, there’s been an increasingly public debate about whether there is (or should be) a dress code to attend church.
Some believe that wearing anything less than your Sunday best is disrespectful to Christ, while others believe that there shouldn’t be a set dress code to attend church. So where did the idea of a church dress code even come from? And what does the Bible say about what you should wear to church?
Where did the idea of a “church dress code” originate?
Defenders of wearing your “Sunday best” to church argue that your appearance matters, not only in front of your church, but in front of Christ. Often, the argument goes something like this: “You wouldn’t dress like a slob to go to a wedding or to a nice event, so you shouldn’t dress like a slob to be in front of Jesus,” or even worse, “I’m sure Jesus is ashamed of how we dress for church now.” There are major flaws with BOTH of these arguments.
You don’t have to step foot in a church for Jesus to see you or be with you. In fact, the physical church is nothing more than a building and a vessel for praise and worship. If believers of this argument truly practiced what they preached, they would be wearing their “Sunday best” every single day, because we’re always presenting ourselves in front of Jesus. We’re with Jesus when we’re going to the grocery store. We’re with Jesus when we’re just driving around with our friends. We’re with Jesus when we’re watching a movie in our own home. We don’t only experience closeness with Jesus in the physical church on Sundays.
What does the Bible say about what to wear to church?
God doesn’t judge us the way that people on this Earth judge us — He looks at our heart, not our outward appearance or dress code. We should do the same. “But God told Samuel, ‘Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG).
Physical appearance can be deceiving (and often is). What you wear doesn’t matter; how you love others is what matters. “People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds” (Matthew 23:28 MSG).
Inner beauty is true beauty and it isn’t dependent on what you choose to wear. Vanity and pride don’t gain us anything; grace and kindness do. “What matters is not your outward appearance — the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes — but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in” (1 Peter 3:3-4 MSG).
We don’t gain anything by focusing on what we wear. We don’t get into heaven by wearing the fanciest clothes to church. There’s beauty all around us that God has created — He created us just as beautiful. We don’t need to dress up for church to prove that. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion — do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them” (Matthew 6:28-29 MSG).
So what’s the truth?
An established church dress code is nothing more than another barrier to Christ. Jesus died on the cross for all of us and He loves all of us — not just those who wear the nicest clothes or present themselves the “best” in front of the church. Whether you choose to dress up or you choose to dress casually, church is a place for worship and community with fellow believers. It’s not a place for judgment or shame.
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s purpose and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.