I came across this article on The Gospel Coalition yesterday. It was titled, ‘Why I Changed My Mind About Dressing Up For Church’.
I thought about writing a specific response to it. But as long time readers will know, I’ve addressed this question a number of times on this blog. Specifically, you can read here, here and here.
However, I wanted to specifically share the below post that I wrote back in 2018. I share it because it was written long before this TGC article, so it cannot be misread as a ‘response’ to it. But also, despite writing it 7 years ago, it directly addresses some of the key arguments made in the TGC post.
I should point out here that the TGC article does close with this important statement (which you will see reflected in my post below too):
I recognize this is a matter of freedom. Church dress isn’t a core doctrinal issue. It’s not a matter to divide over. The Bible is largely silent on this topic. As you think through your philosophy, you may come to a different conclusion. “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5).
I am grateful for this recognition and think the discussion must be had at this level. But I feel it’s important to re-post an alternative view because there is a majority culture assumption at play which I am not convinced ought to hold nor holds in the face of what the bible explicitly teaches.
You’re absolutely spot on Stephen!
I just don’t even think this sort of thing (whether to dress formally or not to attend a Aunday garhering) is that important here in the UK, or maybe it depends on context? I see some posts on TGC and think sometimes people have just overthought things or are just talking VERY culturally (in most cases, the culture being conservative America), rather than Christianly/Biblically.
As you say in your original post, God is more concerned with our hearts and also, our whole lives are worship and lived for Him – should we not dress formally all day every day then?
Great post, thanks.
I wonder how the author would react if people did come dressed as they would for a wedding or a funeral, or come to think of it as most under 30s would if dressed up for a night out in Birmingham!? The article is rather nonsensical and pointless “here’s something Scripture doesn’t talk about and that isn’t actually that important”
I think it matters a bit, but not for any of the reasons the article argues about
Stuart Olyott has recommended somewhere that preachers should wear whatever people in their societies wear to make important announcements (seeing as the Gospel is the most important announcement). I’m sure he wouldn’t be dogmatic about it though.
I wonder whether the Apostle Paul put on his best toga for his audience at Mars Hill, in the spirit of being all things to all people, or whether he just wore his tent making or regular clothes. We’re not told because it isn’t that important. Mankind looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart as it famously says in the good book.
I’ll go and order my town Cryer outfit! On a serious note, I don’t think that approach has ever been followed
Do town criers make important announcements?
I remember him making an argument for suits because (he believed) it was culturally what conveyed seriousness and importance. I just think that comes with a particular cultural assumption that doesn’t always hold. It is even harder in a context where there are so many cultures present; you can communicate entirely opposing things to different people by doing the same thing.
Nowadays politicians for example won’t wear suit jackets and will roll their shirt sleeves up to make it look like they’re ready to ‘get the job done’. Even in a multicultural society, newsreaders tend to have somewhat of a dress code, but I agree that God doesn’t hold his people to a dress code (as long as it’s modest of course!)
I completely agree with the argument against requiring people to dress formally for a service of worship. In my view, the author of the TGC article lost his case with the first sentence: “Does it matter how we dress when we enter the Lord’s house?” A church building is not the Lord’s house – the last building that he indwelled was the Temple in Jerusalem, and that ceased about 2000 years ago. In the New Covenant period, God, through the Holy Spirit, now indwells born-again Christian believers, not a building.
There’s one point in the linked article from 2018 for which I would like to give an alternative view, and respond to “What is more, John the Baptist was called great by Jesus and was a herald for the coming Christ. He did not wear the clothes that were culturally deemed to denote the importance of his message.”
My understanding is that actually, he did wear clothing that culturally indicated the significance of his message, which is why Matthew bothers to record it in ch.3 v.4. John the Baptist was wearing the traditional clothing (and had the diet) of an Old Testament prophet. After a silence of 3-400 years since the last of the prophets recorded in the Old Testament literature, here we had the very last of the Old Covenant prophets, proclaiming the forthcoming Messiah – and the associated New Covenant – and he was dressed appropriately for giving that prophetic message.
Angus J.
Thanks Angus. I agree with what you say, I was just making the point that the Pharisees did not agree within the culture of the time!
Jesus preached against the Pharisees for their long flowing robes. I’m sure unlike the Hollywoodised caricature Jesus didn’t wear a Daz-zling white toga 2,000 years ago!