Why don't people dress for church anymore?

Question

Why don't people dress nicely for church? When did it become acceptable to wear shorts (or jeans) in the house of the Lord (in ANY religion)?

I'm not saying buying an outfit from Dillard's or Kohl's, but maybe not wearing a tube top and spandex into church???

GREAT ANSWERS! KEEP THEM COMING!!!

Answer 1

I agree with you I am not a religious guy, I am Christian and I disagree with what kimberly0627 says, you have no clue what you are talking about. God maybe does not care about what you are wearing but, he does care if you have respect towards him. God bless you all anyways.

Answer 2

It's a shame but we've become a society that is into clothing that is no longer glamorous, well styled or even appropriate to where we are going. I have been to weddings, funerals, church, out to dinner at an expensive restaurant and no matter where you go there is someone in jeans, sweats, whatever. A wedding is very special to the couple getting married and I think their guests should take as much time with their appearance as I am sure the bride and groom have with theirs. It's a sign of respect for them. The same applies to a funeral. It is a sign of respect for both the deceased and their family. I won't even go into the church part. There is a difference between having to and wanting to, most don't want to. The question I hear the most is "Why should I have to?"
Personally I want to look my best at any given time.
A good example of having to and wanting to is in these posts. How many use spell check?

Answer 3

Dressing smartly for church shows respect. If i was meeting the Queen I would probably buy a new outfit, and God means far more to me that she does.

I know that I can pray to God anywhere, wearing anything, but when I come to His house to worship I dress in my best clothes to show that it is something really special. I wouldn't wear jeans to church, or anything too ostentatious or revealing. (Don't want anyone else being distracted by my attire, and I have respect for my own body too).

Since many smart restaurants and clubs won't let people enter wearing shorts or jeans, since when did the House of the Lord become more downmarket that your local pizzeria?

Answer 4

is the Lord going to judge you by what you wear or don't wear to church? NO!!!! i don't believe there's any place in the bible that says how a person must dress to come in to the Lord's house. worship is not based on your Sunday best or your weekend gear. man started that tradition of dressing up on Sunday; the Lord says come as you are (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually). Does dressing up make one worship more or better? i think not. since when did church become such a fashion show? since when did it matter what one wears to church? the clothing, whatever it is should be reasonable and appropriate attire for the occasion. plus, sometimes those big hats get in the way and i can't see. its like trying to watch a movie with someone blocking your view!

Answer 5

I don't believe that it really matters what you wear to church. What is nice clothing anyway, it is just a societal norm, if you were in another country "nice" clothing would be completely different. The belief that you are supposed to dress up nice for church is a myth perpetuated mostly by older legalists within American Churches.
Christianity is not about following little rules, like what to wear. God is interested in having a deep relationship with you through Jesus Christ, that you accepted Christ as your savior and are seeking a more loving relationship with God Himself. So, who cares what you're wearing.

Answer 6

i dont know bout shorts but some nice jeans and a nice top not the worse to wear in church. but i was always taught that if you just make an effort to go to church then its fine but shorts arent appropriate. plus i have never seen anyone in my church wear church. God loves us no matter what. i mean he knows that at least you made an effort to goin to church unlike the other people sayin they to busy to go. and church is a place were you get away from bein judged by what you were or look like

Answer 7

Well, a few years back, evangelicals decided one of the barriers in getting people to try coming back to church was that they weren't used to dressing up. Better to wear jeans and make the newcomers comfortable, than to leave them thinking you have to wear floral-print dresses to get into heaven.

If you'll notice, society on a whole is far more casual than it used to be. I've seen footage of people back in the '40s all dressed up to go to a BASEBALL GAME. Today, we wear flip-flops to go to the White House to meet the president.

It really is a shame in some ways because there are times one would really LIKE to have something to dress up for and there's nothing really left. I've seen people dress in jeans at weddings. (Not the bride - usually.)

But it's also nice that we no longer preach that you have to clean yourself up before coming to God. Let Him worry about the cleaning up once He's got you.

Answer 8

Great question Jen-Jen! I went to a wedding in a church the other day and there were people there in JEANS!!!!! I woulda been floored if i was the bride. As for church, I see it all the time. I don't know why people don't take more pride in their appearance when they go to worship. It's too bad.. Maybe they're just lazy?

Answer 9

I always thought that God prefered the silent worshippers who just love god, not the flamboyant, well dressed people who bragged about what great works they did for him. Personally, I never understood who thought that dressing up was important for religion. Piety isn't a popularity fashion contest; the purpose is to venerate the word of the Lord and celebrate his deeds and sacrifices.

Answer 10

This is what's wrong with the world now. People judging what people wear to church. It doesn't matter. Are you saying you wouldn't let a homeless family into your church because they are wearing torn and tattered clothing? That's shallow if you do think that.

Answer 11

My church is pretty casual. (I live in Southern California where everything is pretty casual!) Any given sunday you'll see people in jeans or shorts at church. Personally, I like to dress it up a bit... it is, I suppose, more respectful. However, it doesn't bother me that people wear flip flops to church. God looks at our hearts, not our attire.