Casual dress in the pulpit?

[Guest]

I recently received the following email, and sent the following reply:


Steve,
What does the Bible have to say about how the pastor of a church dresses? In this particular church, the pastor wears shorts, t-shirts, and on occasion, a cap, while preaching. He does preach from the Bible, proclaiming the Word of God. I ask because I come from a conservative Baptist Church where the men dress in suits with a tie and women wear dresses. The women are urged to wear dresses even when they are not in church. What does the Bible have to say about this, especially where the pastor is dressed so casually.

J—



Hello J—,

Thanks for writing about your concerns.

I don't think it matters a great deal how anyone, including the pastor, dresses—unless it specially matters in a particular setting. If one is in a formal setting, but dresses casually, this may be evidence that the person has an attitude problem and wants to offend or gain attention. This would obviously be inappropriate.

Many churches are just such formal occasions, and this principle would apply in those churches. However, many churches do not assume that formal dress is necessary, and there is nothing in the scripture to suggest that this was expected in the first century.

In the days of Jesus and the apostles, people seldom had more than one set of clothes, unless they were of the richer sort. This means that Jesus and the apostles, most likely, would have preached in their "street clothes."

Some people feel that one should dress up in their best clothes when presenting themselves before God, just as they would do if they were to be invited to meet the President. However, there are several aspects of this comparison that fall short. One, the President cares more about how you dress, than does God, who looks on the heart; two, we should be presenting ourselves to God daily in every circumstance—regardless how we are dressed (or even undressed); three, dressing up for church might be more of a custom to please (or impress) other people, than to meet some requirement that God has set; and four, there are some scriptures that might be applicable to the attitude of Christians at church to how they or others are dressed

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:1-4)

"...in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." (1 Tim.2:9-10)

For these reasons, I do not think the pastor is violating any scriptural mandate in dressing so casually, but there may be more people than just yourself who are put-off by it. He might be grateful to hear your concerns about it, in case he may inadvertently be offending others as well.

[Guest]

Seems to be a cultural thing. I am of the older generation (grew up before there were hippies). I am not comfortable going to church unless I wear "nice" clothes although I have given up on ties and dress shirts long ago.

Interestingly, my physician of about 30 years retired a few years ago. He always wore a jacket, dress shirt, and tie to work. After he retired, a nurse told me that many of the older generation were appalled at the casual dress of the younger doctors and wanted to be cared for by my doctor (its a clinic with several doctors).

I would suspect the issue of "dressing up" at the Baptist Church mentioned in the email receives its impetus from the older generation.

[Guest]

2 thoughts:

Romans 14:13-19
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Dave