Wearing Suits to Church
A Shepherd Thoughts reader asks, "Why is it so important to wear suit coats for church services, rather than a simple shirt and tie? I have been a stickler about always wearing a suit coat for church services, even when my pastor does not."Wearing suits to church has been a common American tradition for decades. (It continues in many churches today, though not all.) What is the biblical reason for this?Advocates for wearing a suit to church commonly point to Matthew 22:11-12 as a biblical reason.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
They conclude that since we wear appropriate clothing to a wedding, so we should wear appropriate clothing - a suit - to church out of respect to the Lord. This desire to respect the Lord is commendable. However, it is difficult to make a strong case, using this verse, that men should wear a suit to every church service.Those who advocate for a casual, "come as you are" approach to corporate worship often remind us that God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7). Is this true? Yes, most definitely. As you know, looks can be deceiving. But regardless of the clothes you wear, God looks past outward appearances to the inner condition of your heart. Not everyone who wears a suit to church is worshiping the Lord in his heart. At the same time, there are many who truly worship the Lord without wearing a suit.So are the clothes you wear to church irrelevant? No, they are still important to consider. We have to admit that our clothing is a form of nonverbal communication that conveys a message. If I wear a tank top, shorts and flipflops to a job interview, what does that communicate? If I wear pajamas to the grocery store, what does that convey? Are these appropriate choices?
We have to admit that our clothing is a form of nonverbal communication that conveys a message.
While God is able to see our true inner condition, those with whom we worship at church see our outward appearance. Therefore, our worship attire should convey the right message about what we are doing.Would it be wise for me to wear blue jeans, along with a Mets baseball jersey and ballcap to church on Sunday? Probably not. Why? Because it sends the wrong message. I could argue that I am worshiping God in my heart, and maybe I am. But my baseball outfit sends confusing signals that distract others from worship, for understandable reasons. By wearing this outfit, I am not saying, "I am here to worship the Lord."So here are some thoughts for you to consider as you evaluate your church service attire:
Dress in a respectful way. You are worshiping the Lord God. If anyone deserves respectful attire, it is Him. This may not require a tuxedo, but not all clothing shows appropriate respect (Malachi 1:8).
Dress in a holy manner. Worship is not a ballgame. It is stepping away from the affairs of this life, the evil and the trivial. It is "setting apart" yourself to give undivided attention to the Lord. If there is ever a time not to be pressed into the mold of the world, it is corporate worship (Rom. 12:1-2).
Dress modestly. Dress in a way that does not draw attention to yourself. Avoid clothing that stands out from the crowd (Mark 12:38, James 2:3). A full suit, complete with a vest, handkerchief, cuff links and wingtips may be respectful and common in Southern U.S. church, but it would certainly be immodest in a village church in South Africa!
One pastor has said this, and I like it:"May the Lord help us to so carry ourselves ... that the congregation cannot remember what we had on, but cannot forget the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ!"So in conclusion, should you wear a suit to church? The answer to that question will be different, depending on your church and culture. There is no one right answer for every congregation and every service. But whatever you wear to worship, dress in a respectful, holy and modest way and worship the Lord from your heart. That should never change.For more helpful thoughts on this topic, I highly recommend that you read the thorough and helpful article, Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church.
