We've been working with a congregation out in central Florida and for the first time in my life, we're in a place where the emphasis isn't on how we dress but on our heart and attitude in coming. Many visitors who have come have acknowledged how good it is to visit a congregation where people didn't look down on them for not having a fancy dress or wearing a 3-piece suit...just normal everyday people coming together -regardless of what they're wearing, so long as it is decent of course.

In most places I've been, you BETTER have a shirt and tie (especially if you're a preacher - it's almost an uninspired requirement to preach haha) and if the elders would want me to be dressed like that if I'm preaching or leading in a public way that morning or night i will happily submit and comply. There is some validity to the fact that if we're going to dress up for graduations and weddings we should perhaps have the same standard when we come together, but when we have small groups in our homes we usually aren't wearing fancy suits or dresses - and that's Christians coming together just as much as on Sunday morning...

But at the same time i really think there has been too MUCH of an emphasis on what we're wearing (people worrying about looking good instead of thinking about coming before the presence of God with the body. Though it's good at times, i think sometimes there can be just a little too much business philosophy (dressing professionally).

Several years ago i remember one morning an older brother was upset that one of the teenagers who was passing the trays didn't have a shirt and tie on. I remember my brother asking him "What if that's the nicest thing he has to wear?" There's a lot of truth to that.

Another time a good friend of mine visited a congregation and was asked by one elder to lead a prayer. But then after some of the other elders spoke with him he came back to my friend and said, "Actually, we got someone else to lead the prayer." When my friend talked with him a little further he was told it was because he was wearing a BLUE dress shirt and he didn't have on a WHITE dress shirt. I think that's really sad...how many garments did Jesus have? In fact, weren't the Pharisees the ones dressing in fine clothes and looking down on those who didn't measure up to them?

There's certainly nothing at all wrong with dressing up and looking your best...i'm just suggesting that once in a while we need to step back and remember that it's our heart and our attitude in worship that far outweighs what color our shirt is or how many times so and so wore that dress this month.

David,

I appreciate your thoughts here and agree. I used to be one of those who insisted on the coat and tie. I fell for the "dress your best" thing hook, line, and well you get the point. I was trained at a preacher training school that said wear a jacket and tie for everything. Although I know these who insist on this mean well, I have changed my view. I think we have made more of outward appearance. I also find it interesting that dressing your best only matters on Sunday morning. I serve as one of 2 ministers and our congregation still has many who wear a tie on Sunday morning, but most do not Sunday night and hardly anyone on Wed. When I lead worship I am about a 50/50 between coat and tie/khakis and dress shirt. When I preach that goes up to 90/10 but I often find myself wishing it were not such a big deal. Maybe the problem is that our services have become to cold and business like. However I am not so arogant to think I have it all figured out as it was not that long ago I might have made a big deal out of dress myself.
God forgive and help us.

One Sunday morning about 3 years ago a couple who were near divorce due to his acohol addiction walked across our parking lot toward our building. They were "trying churches" as a last ditch effort to salvage their marriage and had been to another church nearby the previous Sunday where they felt very under-dressed and out of place. As they nervously drew near the front door they were greeted by one of our members dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt. He smiled, greeted them and headed on inside. As he walked away from them, the husband looked at his wife and said, "I think I can fit in here." A few months later they were both baptized and continue to raise their young son together.

We have some guys who wear a tie every Sunday... but they are in the minority. I wore one today... but I usually don't. For me perhaps the best thing is that it doesn't really seem to matter. I like that!

Our preacher and worship leader both wear suit and tie. Our choir wears khakis with a choir shirt (everyone in choir has the same choir shirt) and brown dress shoes, so everyone looks the exact same. Our praise team wears black pants or khakis with a nice shirt (not t-shirt). and everyone in the congregation just wears whatever, (jeans, tennis shoes, etc...a few of the women will wear a dress, but that's rare in our church).

tim magill
kansas city, ks

I'd say at least half the men wear at least a tie on Sunday mornings, but no one really seems to mind that many don't. Some of the guys who serve communion wear jeans and sneakers. The preacher, Mike, usually wears a coat and tie, as do most of our worship/song leaders (although sometimes I'll wear a sweater in the fall and winter.

Sunday nights are pretty casual for everyone.

I really appreciate the spirit that these comments are being shared - especially with a humble heart, admitting that we may not have "all the answers" on any given topic. Well, I used to have all the answers, but now realize that many things I once thought were primary issues - fall dramatically away in comparison to knowing Christ -- serving and worshiping Him.
- KL

Amen.