Yesterday I was sidetracked by a debate about casual dress at church. Should Christians dress up for Sunday service? One opinion was expressed with such passion by a sister in Christ, and I love her heart on this. She believes that we demonstrate our reverence for God by putting on our best when we come to church. How we present ourselves is a reflection of our heart, and to give God the proper glory, we should wear our "Sunday best". In her opinion, it shows a lack of seriousness about our faith if we come dressed in a casual way. My sister clearly loves Jesus and wants to be the best she can for him. This is consistent in her life. She is loving, thoughtful, eagerly seeking to hear from God in her prayer life and wants to do His will.
But I must respectfully disagree.
I'm 1000% sure that what we wear matters.
We will dress in a way that is modest.
1 Timothy 2:9-109 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
We will not find our beauty in clothes, jewelry, and braided hair, but in a sweet spirit.
1 Pet. 3:3 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
If we don't have money for clothes, we will not worry about what we will wear.
Matthew 6:28-30 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
But the need to dress "up" for church to honor God? I don't believe that is Biblical. Instead, we are not to show favoritism to people due to the way they are dressed. We are not to be impressed by expensive clothes. If a person comes to church in their yard work clothes, we aren't to take notice. There is to be no favoritism.
James 2:2-3 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
I believe that the Bible points us to a different way of honoring God on Sunday morning. And that would be by honoring Him every day. Rather than cleaning the "outside of the cup", we should bring the most beautiful "inside" that we can.
Matthew 23:25-26 25 "...You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 ...First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
We should prepare our hearts with humility, repentance, and forgiveness. And not just on Sunday morning, but every. single. day. Honoring God who washes us clean and makes us beautiful as we grow in His likeness. He personally and individually created us. Then He made an infallible way for us to be with Him forever if we would choose to. He will one day give us a new white robe to wear.
I want to kneel at Jesus' feet every day, and Sunday is no different. It's the same me, and the same God. Only there are more people there on Sunday. Some who are broken, and it shows in their appearance. And others who are broken, who hide it very well with shiny new dresses.
Revelation 7: 13-17
17 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16 Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
