I do think that many people make too big of a deal of church attire.
I also want to point out, I’m a fan of looking good and well-dressed for church.
I do like wearing suits once in a while.
But, what bothers me is that many people, I feel, try to say that God doesn’t approve of certain looks.
I honestly believe, God could care less, as long as our worship is God-centered and God-focused and our hearts are the same. As long as the worshiper is there to worship God and none other, everything else is secondary. Of course, I don’t know that for sure.
However, I think this is more of a ‘me’ issue than a ‘God’ issue.
Like the worship wars, it’s not really about what God prefers, but what we prefer.
And what we wear, it’s more about what we feel is right.
I think that the dress code is a modern variation of the circumcision issue in Paul’s day.
Whether you were circumcised or not, it didn’t matter, as long as there was a circumcision of the heart.
I, though, still haven’t explored the wearing of jeans to lead worship on Sundays yet.
Maybe one of these days, I’ll give it a whirl.
Most everywhere in both church and business the dress code has been relaxed. At my UMC, youth will wear jeans but rarely adults. I probably dress more casual (in khaki type pants) than other women do there. I’ve visited some large non-denominational churches and during their contemporary worship services, the ministers wear jeans – the high priced ones. To me, it seemed very forced as if they were really trying to make a statement about being casual.
I lead two services in our church and I’ve worn jeans a couple of times. For the “non-traditional” service, I usually wear khakis and a polo. For the “traditional” service, however, I wear a robe over whatever else I’m wearing.
I’ve had one person question me about it, and the answer satisfied her.
But it seems that our associate pastor is always getting flack for his clothes, even when he intentionally dresses up for the “traditional” service.
Or maybe it’s that nobody has the guts to confront me, the senior pastor.
What about dress codes outside the context of worship? I was told that the informal rule of district meetings and events is a collared shirt and no jeans. Yeah, I ignore that.
Because of heel pain due to plantar faciitis, I wear black Vibrum 5-fingers (they’re flat-soled toe shoes). The make my feet not hurt so much, and I kinda like not limping. I was told by my mentor (I’m an elder candidate serving as a student local pastor in a different conference than I am a member), that another pastor at district check-out day wanted my mentor to tell me that I shouldn’t wear those shoes, as they were inappropriate for a pastor to wear. I don’t wear them to preach, but I wear them every other day.
I’ve never had a complaint from a congregation member, even after I preached in my “camp uniform” which consists of a camo boonie hat, tank top, gym shorts, sandals, and a camelbak. Oh, did I mention that my goatee was dyed bright green?
At what point are we gonna realize that the old ways aren’t always the right ways?