What should I wear to Church?

It has been said that you wouldn’t wear jeans to meet the Queen, so why would you wear them to Church? Well, truth is, some people do wear jeans to meet the Queen and have survived to tell the tale, also, some jeans are more expensive and dressy than some suits these days. Anyway, coming to Church is not meeting the Lord, it’s a meeting with God’s people, in His presence which is everywhere at all times, even when we are wearing our jeans. So why is that people think you have to wear Sunday best?

I suppose it’s a way of showing respect, and giving praise, and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as you don’t then look down on someone who is not wearing a shirt and tie – or visa verso for that matter. A lot of people have realised too that the Lord knows them, and accepts them just as they are, and so to show their trust in that, come as they are, in whatever they find comfortable. Some people are comfortable in a suit and tie, fine – the rule needs to be each to his own.

Now I know the Bible warns us to dress modestly, distracting everyone with what you are wearing, drawing attention to yourself, is not very helpful as the one we want to concentrate on is the Lord. That doesn’t mean we all have to dress the same, because that would be to impose a conformity that Scripture doesn’t demand – we are to have one mind – Christ’s, not one uniform. So, the answer is there is no dress code, and that is not code for smart casual which is somewhere between dressing up, and not. There is no code, just come, that’s what counts, we want to see you, suited and booted, or in jeans and t-shirt, just come. Wouldn’t it be crazy to miss out on the opportunity to meet together because you didn’t have what you thought you ought to wear.

If there was one code though, it is this, to be in God’s presence, whether in Church or anywhere else, we are taught the need to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness and not our own. That is essential. If you don’t have that, then get it, you don’t need to come to Church to do so, you need to pray and ask God to forgive you your sin, and ask Him to cover you with Christ’s perfect work where ever you, and He will.