Should there be a dress code in Church?

Willow, I do not believe there is ever a time that it is okay to wear shorts in church for a Christian. Even at Bible school this should be unacceptable from a Christian. Now if the person is lost or a young Christian I understand but if you claim to be saved for any length of time you ought to know better. Church is not the beach, it is not your backyard, or the YMCA. You don't go to church to dress down. Now I am not saying everyone has to wear a tie or the most expensive dress. But I heard one preacher say it like this "When I go to church, I dress as if I were going to see the King." And so we should, church shuld be a reverent place and a holy place. We go to worship and pray and seek God and learn from the Word and listen to preaching not to just relax or lay back. We all can't afford the most expensive but what's wrong with giving God your best even in your dress. Now one might say God looks on the inside and man on the outside, yes that's right but that is a good reason you should dress right because man can only see the outside and many times that's where he draws his conclusions. Many times what's on the outside reflects what's on the inside. When we dress every day, we ought to be able to say, I am ready to meet God in these clothes because we may just do that.

 

Good post CD!

Blessings,
Sue

 

I'm sure it depends on the church. At my church woman and girls mostly wear dresses...formal, casual...always at least to the knee. But at Vacation Bible school during the summer...it's perfectly acceptable to wear coulots...or (bermuda) shorts like you described. Our church believes that modesty would be covering up thighs (among other things).

Laurenda

 

In all the churches I have been associated with, we have dressed our best for the Lord. Men are in shirts and ties, women in dresses, or skirts. We believe the dresses should cove the knees when sitting. Men do not wear shorts, even when not in church. Their nakedness is just as important to be covered as women. I had visited a church one time where the people came for a special meeting on a weeknight. I felt extremely uncomfortable when the women and men were in shorts. We looked out of place in our best clothes.

 

CD

When we first started going to church, we asked what was proper for a man to wear. The pastor said "the best". My husband didn't own a shirt, tie, or even a pair of dress pants. The pastor recommended we go to good will. Amazing how we found five suits that fit perfectly, and it cost us under $30.00. The Lord supplied his need.

 

The dress code for church begins in the heart. Period.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Amen Jim!

I got saved when I was 32. No one had to tell me to start wearing my dresses longer or to get rid of my short shorts and tight sweaters.

God is the one who told me to dress modestly. I started reading His Word voraciously and didn't have a problem figuring out what I should wear.

Blessings,
Sue

 

Amen Bro. Jim,
my thughts exactly, you can force a person on the outside, it's the heart that matters most.

What happens when a new christian doesn't have the money to meet the dress code for their family?

 

Dress Codes in church? ABSOLUTLEY NO WAY.

Jesus never ever is recorded as dressing up for an occasion, either is any other Apostle or anyone else in the New Testament. The Church is for the people. Dress codes are oppresive to the poor.

In The northern areas of Australia it gets to around 43 degrees celcius which is hotter than you can imagine, yet at the same time the Humidity can be nearly 100%. Try wearing a Business shirt and slacks, you will faint in under 10 seconds. Many countries in the South Pacific are exactly the same.

Being insulted because one of the Congregation or a member of the leadership wears a pair of shorts is judging that person, which Jesus said specifically not to do, lest ye be judged yourself.

If the New Testament does not state a dress code then there is not one. Dress Codes are a really quick way to get the class system going in a church, resultingly they are to be opposed.

Well thats my 2c

 

Evening services at our church are casual.

I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing them to the Sunday am service, but that's just me. If someone else believes it's OK, that's between them and God and I wouldn't judge them for it.

That having been said, during the summer, my church usually consists of dockside chapel services and Bible studies where shorts are the norm and shoes are optional. Shorts and t shirts are the uniform of the day.

Do you mean VBS? If so, I don't see why not.

Same.

I don't think so, at least not as I think you mean it.

Assuming what you're wearing isn't immodest, I think it should be dictated by your own conscience.

 

I live in a rural area and dress is usually casual. A man could wear a suit & tie without being noticed or jeans and a plaid shirt with the same effect. A lady could wear a dress or she could wear pants and most people (not all) would not raise an eyebrow (even mentally). We used to be quite legalistic with suits & ties for men and dresses for women almost mandatory but over the last 30-40 years it has gradually relaxed with our growing realization that we were being legalistic. Now we are running into the result of saying that clothing is unimportant for so many years. Modesty is becoming a problem. As Ben W. is so quick to point out, taste is in the eye of the beholder, climate local standards, individual tastes, etc. Should we not err on the side of caution. If modesty is left up to the individual then I promise you someone will come to church is very immodest attire. If you say shorts are all right if they are to the knee then you can count on a number of people coming with shorts 1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches and so forth above the knee. I have seen men come with the top 2-3 buttons of their shirt open to reveal a nice manly crop of chest hair or blue jeans so tight they looked like they were sprayed on. I've seen women with split, short, and or tight dresses or skirts and for the first time with definite cleavage showing on purpose. My question is how do you deal with situations like that? The kids are always a step or two below what the parents are doing (on the whole, not all, of course) but if we set the standard for the adults at just on the edge of acceptable what will the kids do? What will be their culturally accepted norm? Then, of course, their kids will have to be a step or two below them.

 

My goodness no. How much more legalistic can you become then to institute a dress code?? Don't answer that, I'm actually scared to find out.

We are told to dress modestly(and without expensive clothes), anything beyond that is going beyond the scope of Scriptures.

As for dressing up because I'm going to see my King, Scarlet hit it dead on. My King is omnipresent.

Obviously, but if your going to church to dress up, you have a problem. Disclaimer: I'm not implying that you DO go to church to dress up, just making a counterpoint to show how silly the original remark was.

I'd be ready to meet God stark naked if I had to. Clothes are going to be the last thing on my mind at that point.

 

No. A persons whole life should focus on God on a daily basis, not just for a few hours of church. I don't dress any differently for home or church. I don't go put on certain clothes to worship God while I'm at home, what's the difference for church days if you're doing the same thing except there's others around?
Gina

 

A dress code for church? I like the thought but it's impracticle! Would you chase out those who didn't dress the way you want them too.

I once wore shorts to church!!! I did it in Bermuda just to say I did. I wore a nice shirt and tie too. Even though I didn't stand out in the crowd I felt uncomfortable. Too many years of conditioning on what was proper I guess.

 

There is a difference in dressing modestly and having a 'dress code'. I have work clothes and I have church clothes. They are both modest.

I don't care what people wear to church as long as it is clean, (soap and water are cheap), and modest.

Dresses, slacks, suits, bib overalls..whatever.

I would not wear shorts and a halter top to church; but then I wouldn't wear them at home either.

I enjoy getting out of my work clothes once a week and dressing 'up' if that's what you want to call it. I would have to go some to dress 'down' from my work clothes!

I'm doing it for me, not anyone else, and I have never looked down on ANYONE who came to church no matter what they wore.

Blessings,
Sue

 

Im with BEN W - and it has nothing to do with him being an Aussie.

Casual dress but clean and tidy is the way to go.

NO DRESS CODE FOR THIS LITTLE BLACK DUCK!!!

 

YES