Does the Church Need a Dress Code?
Dan Richardson
via "Search", May/June 20073
used by permission
The church of our Lord constitutes the people of God. In order for God’s people to worship and work together collectively, God has authorized the local congregation - like this one - Christians in a given area agreeing to come together in order that God may be worshiped and that they may work together to save souls locally and abroad.
Christians, in and out of church service, must be devoted to faithful, holy living before
God. While before we were converted to Christ, we were in this world of sin, now, having
obeyed the gospel, we have been translated out of the power of darkness into the kingdom of the
Son of God’s love (Col.1:13). We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt.
5:13-15). We are now “an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own
possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you our of darkness into
his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). In our devotion to God, we must be dedicated to holy living,
and strongly determined to be different from this sinful world - “perfecting holiness in the fear of
God” (2 Cor. 6:14 - 7:1).
While we always need God’s warnings and admonitions to be faithful in our lives
generally, it is apparent that we need to be reminded of such even in our worship services! If little
emphasis has been given to holiness - in action, dress and speech - one may come to accept such
as the norm and have no qualms in bringing worldly behavior into the worship services of the
church.
The question of whether this church needs a dress code is a case in point. Whenever
Christians have no problem with dressing immodestly in our worship - wearing shorts, tight
fitting and low-cut apparel, mini-skirts, etc. - the question has to be asked. When one feels the
need to check themselves when greeted by others - tugging at and attempting to rearrange their
clothes so as not to expose themselves in outright nudity, they ought to be ashamed. When those
who serve the Lord’s Supper feel the need to turn their heads because a dress to too short or a top
is too low-cut, there is a problem.
Should it be a surprise to learn that God has already given us such a dress code? “In like
manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and
moderation... which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Tim. 2:9).
One’s outward appearance is merely a reflection of their character - what’s in their heart. The
apostle Peter teaches us this when he says our clothing / appearance should be governed by “the
hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price” (1 Pet. 3:3-4). That’s why God admonishes us to “Keep thy heart
with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov.4:23). That’s also why the scriptures
refer to the “attire of a harlot” (Prov. 7:10). Yes, clothes do make the person.
Therefore, to be holy and pure before God requires we dress modestly in and out of the
worship services of the church. Indeed, the fact that this problem exists demonstrates our need to
give serious thought to our general holiness before God.
Please consider the following points:
1) The “god of this world” - the devil- is in the business of trying to blind us to the truth of God’s
word, even to the searing of our consciences to that which is decent and right. However we can
resist the devil (James 4:7); he won't take control UNLESS WE LET HIM (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Tim.
4:1-2).
2) We dare not be naive to the nature of sexual desire and the power of its temptations. We are
commanded to “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6: 18), which necessitates an understanding of lust.
Rather than just understanding that the act of sexual immorality is wrong, Jesus said, “...that
every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in
his heart” (Matt. 5:28). While this imposes duty to the “looker,” would we deny, in light of the
scriptures above, that it also demands responsibility in dress / appearance to the one being looked
at? Any type of dress - be it a swim suit or any other type of dress - which draws attention to
oneself in a sexual way is clearly involved in what the Lord condemns here (emphasis mine -
KS).
3) True to the character of the wicked is a loss of any sense of shame and the inability to “blush”
because of their indecent lives (Jer. 6:15). We know why a prostitute dresses the way she does,
but what excuse does a Christian have for doing so?
4) We have an awesome responsibility to present ourselves as a good example before others, that
by our influence, “they may see our good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt.
5:16). One duty in our worship services is that we “consider one another to provoke unto love
and good works” (Heb. 10:24). What kind of example does your dress set for fellow Christians in
the worship? And what influence does it wield to non-Christians who may be visiting our
services? Will they leave our service thinking that “God is among you indeed” (1 Cor. 14:25),
when they witness some of the members dressed like the world? Such an appearance, in or out of
the church services, destroys one’s influence for good.
5) Parents are duty-bound before God to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even
when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Godly parents will “nurture them in the
chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Entrusted with the souls of their children,
parents must not set aside these commands so that their children can blend in with the world in
order to save them from the embarrassment of feeling different. Instead, we need to be teaching
them that Christians are to be different! (2 Cor. 6:14-18)
Are these concerns merely the ranting of a fanatical preacher? Have I “stopped preachin’
and gone to meddlin’”? Some may think so and consequently dismiss these things as such. Rest
assured, though, that your disagreement is not with the preacher - it’s with God! Those who want
to please God will prayerfully consider what God’s word says and recognize the gravity of these
matters.
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