Should there be a dress code in Church?

Excellent point, Scarlett!!!!

 

I Don't care, as long as its modest

Church should not have a dress code

It's not a social club. People should be able to come in whatever they have without feeling like they are unclean lepers.

I dress up for church, because its a tradition, so do my wife and kids, Wednesday that is not always the case, I go in what I wear to work, or I'd be late. If I'm in the nursery, its jeans, I really don't care what anyone else wears, and would not make an issue out of it even if I did.

If there be any contentions among you, against such there is no law, even the churches of God - Paraphrase of 1Cor 11:16

Its talking about hair length, but the principle is the same

We don't wear to church what they wore in the NT, it is a cultural issue that is influenced by Biblical Principles, it is not a hard and fast rule

 

My church has a dress code. Whether it should or not, doesn't change whether it does or not.

 

No dress code. That is up to the idividual. I believe that believers should dress with modesty and respect wherever they are. Of all the posts that I have read on this topic, Scarlett said it best. Good post Scarlet.

Ronnie

 

I used to think people "should" dress up for church. In fact, my family and I still do. BUT . . For those who say a dress code is needed, I have one question: chapter and verse? How dare an institution such as the church lay on men's shoulders burdens that the Lord has not instituted. Not one of you who waxed eloquent as to how people should dress up for the Lord supported your claims with Scripture. There is only one short, passing remark in the NT that is applicable at all. Women must wear modest apparel. What's modest? The Holy Spirit will teach them. If it's not in the Word, no one has any right to lay it upon God's people.
Someone complained that if you left it up to the people, they would dress immodestly. Three things about that:
First, it betrays a condescending view of the saints. Unless some authoritarian structure takes away their freedom, the saints of God will commit sin. They cannot be trusted; they must be controlled. (OK, so who controls them? The pastor and deacons? But aren't they sinners, too?)
Second, it betrays a carnal community. Saints are supposed to be listening to the Holy Spirit. If in your congregation the saints don't have the discernment to dress modestly, they are immature Christians. Probably because their growth was squelched by authoritarian leaders.
Third, what are you doing looking at how immodest the other people are dressing? I was a Sr. Pastor before and in my church a woman came to me complaining that a young lady (her own niece) was coming to church wearing tight pants. She wanted me to talk to her about it. I told her I absolutely would not approach the women of our church and inform them that I felt their pants were too tight. I could imagine her thinking, "What's he doing noticing?" I told her that if she was concerned about her niece, then as her aunt she should lovingly talk with her.

 

Response to "First" - It isn't a condescending attitude it is an "oversight" responsibility. The elders in a church are obligated to keep a keen eye on the members of a church. When a member or two or three begin to clearly violate the scriptural admonition against immodesty then someone must deal with that. Of couse, it can be done in a bad way with a bad attitude but, it can also be done in a right way with a right attitude. Your use of the phrase "authoritarian structure", and the word "controlled" seems to indicate that you view church discipline as a bad thing.

Response to "Second" - "carnal community", Yes. Not "listening to the Holy Spirit", Yes. "immature Christians", Yes. "growth was squelched by authoritarian leaders", No. Growth was squelched by insufficient teaching by mature Christians.

Response to "Third" - Is that a not so subtle implication that if I notice that a person is dressed immodestly then I must be having immoral thoughts about them or that I am somehow at fault here? The reason immodesty is wrong is because it is something people notice and THEN go on to immoral thoughts or actions. Noticing is not a fault. You were right to decline from personally approaching that woman in your church who was immodest. That is something for the elder women or her husband or father to do.

 

We have a dress code:
Dress modestly.

That is all; it should be enough.

 

David,

It is called placing extra yokes upon people. Jesus mentioned this.

The problem is that too many people are keen to be like the Pharisees. Who would love nothing better than to enforce dress codes.

We could translate the word Pharisee into the word "Control Freak" of which there are a number of. Which is a pity as it can only harm the church, although it is funny when they rub up against each other, usually one or both will leave in huge temper tantrum.

 

My dress code is in my heart! As pastor I dress for Sunday like I'm the company CEO fixin' to present a multi-million dollar deal! Of course, at the same time I am presenting the deal in the board room--I know that there are several janitors waxin' and polishin' the floors on the floors above and below mine--and I know that those fellas aren't dressed just like me--

Now, I ain't gonna stop what I'm doin' and go "get onto" my janitors just because they ain't dressed like me--

Now, I've done this before--I've been dressed nice--slacks, shirt, polished shoes, tie, jacket, etc.--and I have seen toilets at church needin' a wash--and it just wouldn't wait--buddy, it don't bother me to stoop down in those nice clothes with some cleaner and a rag and dip my hand down in there--clean what needs to be clean and then hop up from there and drive on to the preacher meetin'!

Wear you nice clothes--but don't be afraid or ashamed to get um dirty if you need to! Wear your "rag tag" clothes if you want to--but don't be ashamed if I can out dress you that day!

Blackbird

 

That statement makes me sad.

I'm going to wear my new Easter frock to church this Easter and I certainly hope no one thinks I am doing it out of pride.

I buy one complete NEW outfit twice a year...Easter and Christmas.

The rest of the time I buy my clothes from a thrift shop. It's not because we're poor, it's that I'm frugal and I find a lot of good bargains in those thrift shops!

I wear a dress EVERY Sunday because that is my choice. Just because someone dresses up for church doesn't mean their heart is not in the right place or they are vain.

I don't look down on people no matter what they wear to church, (although I would prefer it be modest). So, please don't look 'down' on me for dressing 'up'.

Blessings,
Sue

 

I agree Sue. Easter is a new beginning. Usually, it coincides with the beginning of spring. Wearing new or old spring dresses is a tribute to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who died for us.

It goes back to what is in our hearts. The little girls look so beautiful in their new spring dresses, like the spring flowers.

In our church we usually wear what we want to, but for the most part people dress in their Sunday "Best" on Sunday morning.

A few years ago I was concerned about the dress of some of the young girls, but our youth director's wife has had a great influence on their dress. She is a very quiet, modest person who sets a good example for them and they are following it. I always try to compliment the youth when they are appropriately dressed. I know that they do not have much money to spend on clothes.

So instead of expecting the pastor to do something about dress...He can set an example for the men, let the women set the example for other women.

I agree that there are some people who go to church to show off their finery, but I don't believe that is true at our church.

Oh, I forgot to answer the question. I think it depends on what one means by dress code. Modesty should be the dress code, but I had rather see people in church than be concerned about what they wear to church.

I have to admit I was shocked the first time I saw someone in shorts in a morning worship service, but no one wears shorts to our church for Sunday Worship.

 

I'm gonna blush when I tell you guys this story--and I pray that some of us will understand proper dress codes at church--

Not long ago on Sunday morning right before Sunday School I was out in the parking lot with a deacon--we were greeting folks comin' in! A teenage girl gets out of her vehicle--she was dressed in a skimpy skirt--you needed a micro-meter to measure the distance between the waist and the bottom of the skirt. She passes by me and the deacon and smart eilleky remarks, "I see ya'll lookin' at my skirt!" Believe me, she hasn't worn that skirt again to church since--

God help us! Ladies, you dress yourselves like you are saved! Don't come struttin' your skirts in my church parkin' lot--dress like a saved lady!! Nothin' wrong with skirts--but you shouldn't allow your church men to raise questions in their mind--nor should the preacher have to go get his micrometer! Deacons ought not to have to comment to the preacher--"Look yonder--she's comin' to church in her pajamas!"

Men, dress like you are comin' to church--fixin' to die--and what you have on is what you want your wife and children to dress your dead body in to be displayed in your casket! Probably about 99% of us could dress for church better than we do!

Blackbird

 

Blackbird

 

AMEN my fine feathered friend!!!

I have belts wider than some of these skirts are long!

Blessings,
Sue

 

Amen Sue! My thinking is, if I have nice clothes hanging in my closet, what better place to wear them than to the house of God? I don't wear jeans or other casual clothes to funerals or weddings, not because I am vain, but out of respect for the occasion. I'm not saying that people who don't "dress up" for worship should be judged or looked down on, I am only saying that in my own case it's a question of respect.

 

The church I attend does country gospel music and is definately country in it's atmosphere. I and my family dress in suit, tie and dresses. Many of the othr members wear clean neat jeans.

In the summer we allow shorts and t-shirts to be worn for VBS but they are modest. The t-shirts also are color coded and have the theme logo on them for our vbs. We would rather the people come and are comfortable and clean rather than put on a fashion show.

Then again we live in Phoenix AZ so in summer it is so hot dressing to the nines would be crazy.

 

Should there be a standard of dress in the Church? Absolutely.

The primary purpose of clothing is covering, but dress is a mode of communication as well as a means of protection, and has been since it's institution by God in the Garden. When they sinned, Adam and Eve made coverings for themselves out of leaves, but there were two problems. First, their coverings were not sufficient. The leaves were flimsy and easily torn, and soon their nakedness again would be exposed. Second, their clothes did not communicate their station in life. God could just as easily have woven cotton or wool clothes for them, but he used the skins of animals to communicate to them that the wages of sin is death. (Aside: I don't believe the animal skins were the rough, rug-like things as usually depicted in art. I believe, since God was the tanner, they were the best-fitting, most utilitarian and versatile leather suits ever made.) From the very beginning we can see that God did not leave the styles of clothing to be determined by society.

In the New Testament, clothes are still a mode of communication. The Apostle Paul told us plainly that the insignia of our rank as male and female should be obvious in our clothing at church as well as in society, 1 Cor. 11. Paul appealed to nature and the angels (not society) to bolster the authority of the things he said in that chapter, vs 10 and 14.

Modesty, or covering, is the primary function of clothing. Adam and Eve because of sin were, rightly so, ashamed of their nakedness, and that is why they made clothes for themselves. In the New Testament, modesty is still the central focus, as you all know and have confessed in this thread. The reason we cover our bodies is to protect them, not mainly from the elements, but from the eyes of sinful men. Therefore I agree that this is mainly a heart issue, not mainly the heart of the one who is wearing the clothes, but primarily the heart of the one who is seeing the clothes . We know what is in the heart of man. Man is sinful, and his sexual lust is enticed mainly by what comes in through his eyes. I made a covenant with mine eyes, why then should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1. We dress modestly also to avoid defrauding our brothers.

Now when the apostle used the word "modest" in the context of describing clothing, he was speaking of God's will for women. Though men are not free to dress any way they please, the greatest danger is where women are concerned. The word "modest" means well-ordered and well-behaved. The word "apparel" is describing a "loose outer garment." I bring this up to say that even though a woman may be covered head to foot, if the clothing is what we generally call "form-fitting" and not loose, then she is still not dressed the way God desires she dress. An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words,Vine, Unger and White, makes this observation:

In a past debate I asked whether Seven of Nine, or Commander T'Pol of Star Trek fame could be considered modestly dressed. Both of the women were voluptuous members of the crew who wore form-fitting, full-body suits. Most avoided the question, but one brave soul was honest. He said no. And, of course, that was the right answer. The Scriptures would call them naked.

I've made a post that is longer than I like to make. I doubt many actually read it, and even fewer read it carefully. But this should demonstrate that the Scriptures are more specific than vague about our styles of dress. Neither Paul nor Peter left it all up to the heart or conscience of the believer. They both laid down very specific guidelines:

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• Our clothes should be modest, that is, well-ordered.</font>
• They should be loose fitting.</font>
• They should cover our shame and respect the needs of others (shamefacedness)</font>
• They should communicate a sober attitude</font>
• They should communicate our rank and role as male and female.</font>

 

I attended a church for a while where the young ladies don't understand anything at all about modesty. They come to the church with dresses and skirts so short that it is embarrassing. One Sunday a young lady was allowed to come to the platform to sing a special and she had a sleeveless dress on that was probably 3 inches above the knees. It was embarrassing to say the least.

What was amazing is when my wife tried to speak to their mothers they always found excuses such as it is too hard to find longer dresses or skirts. THe most amazing thing to me was the attitudes of their Dads. They were proud as peacocks that their daughters were so skinny that they could attract the male population. Their Dads were not ashamed their daughters were tempting young men to lust after them.

Not only did the young women dress immodestly but a lot of the married women dressed immodestly also. Many came to the church in short shorts on Sunday nights and wearing halter tops. I would walk down the halls at times even on Wednesday nights and here comments coming out of so called Christian men when they saw one of these women that was very wrong.

Most of them were the moms of these young women I spoke about but not all and the same men who were these young ladies dads who are these womens husbands thought it was so great their wives are this sexy looking. I honestly heard men say this.

This seems to be the norm in large BAptist churches around Oklahoma City. I have visited at least four and the same thing went on.

 

Excellent post Aaron!

We were talking about this on another thread and KateB brought up the thought that God may have used a lamb to clothe Adam and Eve.

The wool would have been soft and the lamb would have been a symbol of the Lamb who was to die for ALL sins.


Blessings,
Sue

 

What an interesting question. I am grateful that God does not require a dress code in order to approach Him. The positive responses to this question show the extent to which legalism has permeated itself into many of our baptist churches.

For a church to have a dress code is preposterous. If you have to mandate what people wear, you are not being effective with teaching people how to live. Changes from immodesty to modesty should be a natural outgrowth of coming to a more full understanding of our Savior and what would please Him.

However, if a person is serving in a leadership position, the church does have a right to expect certain standards to be met as far a dress is concerned.