Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: August 24, 2008
OUR DRESS SPEAKS VOLUMES
The way we dress has been called “non-verbal communication.” Our dress sends a message and makes a
statement. Our clothing has a language all of its own. In Genesis 38, Judah believed Tamar to be a
harlot. Why? It was the way she dressed. Her clothing had a language all its own.
I filed the following remarks years ago and the author’s name was not given:
Men MUST wear dress shirts, ties, dress slacks and dress shoes. (2) Jeans are not allowed. (3) Tennis
shoes are not accepted. (4) Shirts with writing and cartoons are not approved. (5) Hairstyles must be
neat, trim and clean.
Women are required to wear dresses, skirts and blouses, all must be conservative in style. (2) Strapless
or spaghetti strap dresses and bare midriffs are not acceptable. (3) Dress shoes and hosiery are required
(4) Jeans are not allowed. (5) Shirts with writing and cartoons are inappropriate (6) Hairstyles must be
neat, trim, and clean.
No, the elders of a local congregation did not impose the above guidelines. The above rules applied to
Sears Roebuck and company salespersons in the Los Angeles group! An explanation was offered: “There
is no substitute for good judgment in appropriate dress. Our customers deserve and expect to shop in a
pleasant, professional appearing, courteous environment. Our employment relies on our ability to attract
and retain the business of our customers”
IS WORSHIP MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR JOB?
— Marvin Weir written in Sept. 2003
COMPILATION OF THOUGHTS ON DRESS
[NOTE: The following information on dress is a compilation of quotes from various articles.]
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Whatever happened to our Sunday best? The way we dress should show that we honor the Lord! One
trend I have noted in local churches in recent years is carelessness. Carelessness in dress. Many
people attend the house of God attired the same way they would dress for a rodeo or a football game.
When people are to be guests at the White House for a meeting with the President, they dress up —
suits and ties for the men; pretty dresses for the ladies. Appropriate dress indicates appropriate respect.
When the President speaks to a joint session of congress, the gallery guests as well as the lawmakers
are all dressed in their best.
Does not our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, deserve as much consideration and respect as
our President?
I grew up in a home with two brothers and three sisters. My job every Saturday night was to polish eight
pairs of shows. My parents taught us six children to “dress up in our Sunday best” for the house of God.
Let’s not allow our local churches to become sanctuaries of the sloppy and temples of the tacky.
Source:
www.middletownbiblechurch.org/lochurch/casualness.htm
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There are certain garments that are to be worn for certain occasions. To be gathered together with
brethren for worshipping God is an important event. Of course, the giving of the Law cannot be construed
as a pattern for New Testament worship; nevertheless, God gave them certain instructions:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash
their clothes” (Ex. 19:10).
They were to be clean inside and out. While we are not receiving the Law on Sundays at Mount Sinai, we
are gathering to worship the same holy God Who appeared there. Does not our dressing down reflect an
attitude of lesser reverence toward Him? Are we showing honor to the Creator of the universe by coming
to worship in the same garb we would wear for common things?
When Esther appeared before her husband the king, she “put on her royal robes” (Esther 5:1). [The
author thanks his wife for this point.] When Pharaoh had the dreams that unsettled him, his butler
informed him about Joseph’s ability (actually, God’s ability) to interpret dreams. The ruler sent for
Joseph, who was yet in prison. First, however, before going to see Pharaoh, Joseph “shaved” and
“changed his clothing.” There is a proper decorum when coming into the presence of greatness.
The point is not that people today must dress formally — or else — when coming to worship; the point is
that there is such thing as decorum. Is it not within the realm of possibility that God might expect us to
come to worship clean inside and out, wearing some of our best clothing in honor of Him?
Source: Gary W. Summers, “Spiritual Perspective”
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The way we present ourselves reflects our attitude toward life in general. We have become so casual in
our dress, we think casually about events toward which respect should be shown. A lax dress code shows
a lack of respect.
While on a trip sometime back we attended worship services at two different congregations of the Lord’s
people. At the morning service I found myself one of three or four ladies in a dress. At the evening
service I was the only lady so attired. Imagine being conspicuous in a dress at a worship service! The
attire of the women was not a nice pantsuit but rather the ultracasual attire one might wear to the ball
part. Some were dressed in the same manner as that formerly worn by women working the field. This
was true of both the older and younger women. The attire was not due to a need for warmth; the season
was summer time. The slogans on some of the shirts were not appropriate for home let alone a service
designed to pay honor and respect to the Lord. It was not surprising that the conduct during the service
fell short of the respect due to the God of heaven.
There is a principal in a beautiful hymn which used to be sung frequently in our services, “Give of the
Best to Your Master.” This song suggests a standard which needs to be revived today.
Too often we dress more appropriately for weddings and funerals than for our worship to the God of
heaven. The former is to honor a human; the latter is to pay homage to Deity. Who among us would
appear in the presence of a ruler of any nation in the same attire some wear in the worship assembly?
Source:
www.bible-infonet.org/ff/articles/women/111_04_21.htm
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Who Sets The Dress Code For Worship?
If the question deals with what each person must wear, then there is no dress code for worship. It would
seem, however, the concern of Christians should arise from what is proper for the situation. Some
outings which I may go on require old clothes or blue jeans, based on the activity I would be engaged in at
that time. Some employers require a certain dress code for all their employees. This comes about
because of what image the employer wishes to convey to the customers who come into their business.
Such things as funerals, concerts, weddings, and so forth all have an accepted dress code for the occasion.
Christians should keep in mind that they are coming before God in worship, and dress according to the
occasion which brings us together. We do not come together for entertainment nor the relaxed
atmosphere of our homes. We come together to worship God, and we should dress according to the
occasion. If the above question deals with how men are to dress in regard to serving the congregation in
public worship, that is something which falls in the realm of the authority of elders to decide (Heb. 13:
17). We should strive to respect that authority.
Source: Charles Blair