Why do some Christians dress up for church?

what does the bible say?

Christians often wear their “Sunday best” to church as a sign of respect and devotion, but it is a practice more rooted in cultural tradition than biblical mandate. Clothing in the Bible is often used to symbolize holiness and righteousness, such as when priests wore spotless garments to serve in the temple (Exodus 28:2–4; Zechariah 3:4–5) or when believers are called to clo the themselves with Christ (Romans 13:14). Blessings and salvation are often depicted as being clothed in purity or righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 7:13–14). Yet God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7), and He calls us to live modestly and avoid showing favoritism based on clothing (James 2:2–4; 1 Timothy 2:9–10). Cultural norms, such as wearing “Sunday best,” should never overshadow the biblical call to humility, godly character, and a heart devoted to Christ. True devotion is expressed not by the clothes we wear but by a life transformed by God’s grace and lived for His glory.

from the old testament

• Clothing has been the means for covering the shame of our sin from the beginning (Genesis 3:21)
• God required anyone who came before Him in the tabernacle or temple to wear clothing that was spotless and holy (Exodus 28:2-4, 35:19)
• The Psalmist desired the LORD’s priest to be clothed with righteousness (Psalm 132:9)
• Isaiah expressed joy at being clothed with garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10)
• In Zechariah’s vision of Joshua, the high priest, an angel commanded that Joshua’s filthy garments be removed and replaced with holy clothes (Zechariah 3:4-5)

from the new testament

• Finer clothes are symbolic of a relationship with God (Matthew 22:11-12)
• We are to symbolically clo the ourselves with Christ (Romans 13:14)
• We are also encouraged to wear the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11)
• When Christ returns, the multitude will wash their sin-stained clothes (Revelation 7:13-14) and we will receive new, symbolically pure garments (Revelation 19:8)

implications for today

Christians’ history reveals the tradition of dressing up for church services is a relatively recent convention. Throughout the Middle Ages and early Protestant Reformation period, most European Christians did not have different sets of clothing that could be selected for church services. While Christian writings sometimes spoke of being clean on the day of worship, dressing up for church services was typically not even an option. This pattern began to change in the early nineteenth century in England. Mass manufacturing and a growing middle class led to a new variety of clothing for the common people. By the mid-1800s various churches in Europe and America began to emphasize the idea of “cleanliness is next to godliness” in regard to appearance. Emphasis on “giving your best to God” through one’s clothing and appearance at a Sunday service developed as a part of Western church culture during this time. (See Pagan Christianity by George Barna and Frank Viola for more information on this topic.) A biblical look at this issue reveals two important things. First, God looks at the heart rather than at one’s clothing. In 1 Samuel 16:7 God said, “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Second, an emphasis on nice clothing can sometimes reveal a sinful, prideful attitude. James 2:2-4 teaches, “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You st and over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” First Timothy 2:9-10 adds, “women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” In today’s culture, there are many perspectives regarding what is appropriate to wear to a church service. The Bible, however, emphasizes modesty and wearing something that does not cause discrimination within the church. In other words, believers are taught to dress appropriately and to treat one another without favoritism regardless of how well one can afford to dress. A good guideline for when a person has the choice is to dress to fit what is appropriate to the context of the congregation. For example, the apostle Paul sought to remove any barrier to the message of Christ (Romans 14). He also wrote, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). His concern was not on his clothing, but rather in living in a way that best allowed him to make disciples among those he served.

Recap

understand

• Christians often wear “Sunday best” as a cultural sign of respect, but God values the heart over outward appearance.
• Clothing can symbolically represent holiness, righteousness, and salvation.
• Modest, appropriate dress is fine, but true devotion comes from a heart transformed by God.

reflect

• How do your clothing choices for church reflect your heart and attitude toward God?
• How can you ensure you are focusing more on cultivating a heart of devotion rather than appearances?
• How can you seek to honor God through modest dress while keeping your focus on spiritual growth?

engage

• How does our culture influence the way we perceive “appropriate” church attire, and how should we respond as Christians?
• How can we encourage believers to prioritize godly character over outward appearances?
• In what practical ways can we help make church a welcoming place for people regardless of their clothing or socioeconomic status?