Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Acceptable Christian Attire
Whether we are a man or a woman, we should use a little thought about how we dress. Not only in Church, but every day in public as well.
Paul says women should dress modest and there are other verses saying how we should dress. I'm not even going to bother looking up those scriptures for this. I am simply going to lay down some simple reasoning.
Think back to some of the wives of evangelists we have seen on TV in the past. With the big hair styles, the make-up practically caked on the face and the gold necklaces and earrings, how many times have you or someone else criticized them for their appearance? They were supposed to be Godly women and they had this almost harlot-like imagery going on. Is that a good representation of what God wants us to be like?
When you see a Preacher wearing big gold rings and a $1000 suit, then you turn around and see a man wearing Jeans and T-shirt in a park preaching, which one comes across in your mind as the more Godly of them? God does not want us to care too much about what others think of us, but God surely doesn't want us giving Him a bad representation either.
If a woman over dresses to go to church, one almost has to wonder if she is there to worship God or to look good in front of others. Same with men.
I am not saying you cant dress up to go to church, but one can dress up and stay modest at the same time.
More importantly however, women should use a little thought about what they wear when it comes to wandering eyes. Lets face it. We all know men are basically pigs. Especially when they have been going without for too long. Which is most men. It doesn't take very much to get a man thinking of ungodly things. Women should not show off cleavage. They shouldn't wear really short tight skirts. They probably shouldn't wear form fitting spandex around. A man is in danger of letting his thoughts run into the gutter if a beautiful woman is wearing a snowmobile suit. He sure doesn't need cleavage and spandex dragging him into the sewer.
Is that the man's sin for thinking that way? Yes it is. It is also a sin to cause others to sin. Think of it this way. It is not a sin to wear sexy clothes. It is only a sin to cause someone else to sin. If a man lusts after a woman, he is committing one sin. If a woman wears sexy clothes that causes a dozen men to lust after her? She is not committing a single sin. She is committing a dozen sins. Every man who lusts for her because of what she is wearing, is another sin for her. Just chew on that thought for a bit.
When we go to church, we are there to worship God. Not have a glamour contest. When we are out in public, we should represent our selves as servants of God to others. We represent Christ who is in us.
On the other end of the spectrum, we don't need to dress down either. What is it saying if we have nice clothes to wear and we go to church in torn jeans and a grease stained t-shirt?
If you want to dress up, then by all means dress up. Just don't get gaudy with it or sexy with it. If you don't like to dress up, then don't! Just try to wear clean clothes at least if you can.
At the same time, if you are in church and a woman comes in wearing spandex and a tank top, don't turn your nose up at her. Don't make them feel uncomfortable. If she is a regular member, maybe someone can talk to her aside and try to explain that she shouldn't wear certain things. Do it with a gentle and loving demeanor. If she is new to the church, still welcome her with loving smiles. If she keeps coming and wearing bad things, then gently try talking to her in a loving way. The same thing can be said if it is a man who is dressing inappropriately. The most important thing is to never make anyone feel ashamed.
In the end, it is always important to remember who we are representing. Whether we are going to church or just to the mall to do some shopping, we are representatives of God!
Paul says women should dress modest and there are other verses saying how we should dress. I'm not even going to bother looking up those scriptures for this. I am simply going to lay down some simple reasoning.
Think back to some of the wives of evangelists we have seen on TV in the past. With the big hair styles, the make-up practically caked on the face and the gold necklaces and earrings, how many times have you or someone else criticized them for their appearance? They were supposed to be Godly women and they had this almost harlot-like imagery going on. Is that a good representation of what God wants us to be like?
When you see a Preacher wearing big gold rings and a $1000 suit, then you turn around and see a man wearing Jeans and T-shirt in a park preaching, which one comes across in your mind as the more Godly of them? God does not want us to care too much about what others think of us, but God surely doesn't want us giving Him a bad representation either.
If a woman over dresses to go to church, one almost has to wonder if she is there to worship God or to look good in front of others. Same with men.
I am not saying you cant dress up to go to church, but one can dress up and stay modest at the same time.
More importantly however, women should use a little thought about what they wear when it comes to wandering eyes. Lets face it. We all know men are basically pigs. Especially when they have been going without for too long. Which is most men. It doesn't take very much to get a man thinking of ungodly things. Women should not show off cleavage. They shouldn't wear really short tight skirts. They probably shouldn't wear form fitting spandex around. A man is in danger of letting his thoughts run into the gutter if a beautiful woman is wearing a snowmobile suit. He sure doesn't need cleavage and spandex dragging him into the sewer.
Is that the man's sin for thinking that way? Yes it is. It is also a sin to cause others to sin. Think of it this way. It is not a sin to wear sexy clothes. It is only a sin to cause someone else to sin. If a man lusts after a woman, he is committing one sin. If a woman wears sexy clothes that causes a dozen men to lust after her? She is not committing a single sin. She is committing a dozen sins. Every man who lusts for her because of what she is wearing, is another sin for her. Just chew on that thought for a bit.
When we go to church, we are there to worship God. Not have a glamour contest. When we are out in public, we should represent our selves as servants of God to others. We represent Christ who is in us.
On the other end of the spectrum, we don't need to dress down either. What is it saying if we have nice clothes to wear and we go to church in torn jeans and a grease stained t-shirt?
If you want to dress up, then by all means dress up. Just don't get gaudy with it or sexy with it. If you don't like to dress up, then don't! Just try to wear clean clothes at least if you can.
At the same time, if you are in church and a woman comes in wearing spandex and a tank top, don't turn your nose up at her. Don't make them feel uncomfortable. If she is a regular member, maybe someone can talk to her aside and try to explain that she shouldn't wear certain things. Do it with a gentle and loving demeanor. If she is new to the church, still welcome her with loving smiles. If she keeps coming and wearing bad things, then gently try talking to her in a loving way. The same thing can be said if it is a man who is dressing inappropriately. The most important thing is to never make anyone feel ashamed.
In the end, it is always important to remember who we are representing. Whether we are going to church or just to the mall to do some shopping, we are representatives of God!