To wear or not to wear: wearing jeans to church.?

Question

In your opinion, do you think it would be nicer to dress up to go to church or do you think it doesn't matter? This question came up to me in the middle of services today.

I normally don't dress up for church anymore as I was forced to by my parents when I was a kid. I usually wear a nice pair of jeans or slacks with sneakers or dress shoes. I haven't been criticized for my dress code at church and many people at my church (about half) dress casually.

However, there's the argument that you're in a church and you need to show respect to God. I don't think God judges you based on how you dress to church as long as it's not too inappropriate (scantilly clad clothing, vulgar t-shirts, etc).

What do you guys think?

Answer 1

The bible has your answer.

Matthew 6: 25-34

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Answer 2

There is really nothing biblically that would suggest a "proper" way to dress for service. Being a 23 year old youth minister, I very rarely find myself in dress slacks and a tie. I have found that dress has very little to do with how much I can engage in worship, and have even felt at times that I feel more comfortable coming before God in jeans rather than dressing up in something that would be peculiar to my normal wardrobe. I know from my interacting with people who don't go to church (both students and young adults) that often they see the church as a place where you go to be fake, pretending like everyone is perfect... they have said that the "Dress code" of some churches only enforces that already distorted view of the church. I think from watching how Jesus interacted with the people of his day, that being reverent to God has more to do with the heart than with the outward appearance.

Answer 3

I agree with your comments and I used to think you should dress up, if for any reason out of respect. Now, I'm more lax. I mean I wouldn't go to church in the same garb I'd work on the car in, but a decent pair of jeans, dress shirt, and pair of sneakers would be fine. The point is to go to church. People should be mindful of what they wear to church, but what is most important is what you get out of the service.

Answer 4

I wish people would stop dressing up for church altogether. I know for a fact that God does not really care what we wear to church as long as it is not too revealing. The bible says over and over that God looks at a person's heart. That whole thing about respecting God is nonsense. The bible says God does not look at people like we look at people, looking only at the outside. He knows that everybody doesn't have a nice suit to wear every Sunday so there is no way he would cut people out of church who don't have those type of clothes. So keep doing what your doing and don't worry about what people say. Any mature Christian should know better that God doesn't care that much about our clothes.

Answer 5

I believe that it's between you and God. I mean, going to church isn't the same as going out to the movies with your friends, and you do need to show respect for him, but as long as you are dressed appropriately, it's probably not that big of a deal. I never wear jeans to church, mainly because that's how I was raised, and honestly, I kind of enjoy looking nice every once and a while (haha I usually wear jeans and sweatshirts to school). But I think as long as your heart is in the right place, you come to worship God, and your clothes are not distracting to anyone else, you're probably just fine.

Answer 6

I just came home from church, and I wore clean jeans, a nice v-neck sweater, and black (Bates) military style boots. I still believe in God, and He in me. I Think that man's idea of respect, is just that, an IDEA, and not a fact. What if all your dress pants, or clothes were dirty, or lost in a fire, or just nonexistent, would you stay home, or stop going to church?What if you are a coal miner and are accidentally killed on the job, do you think that God would feel disrespected, because you were dirty, and therefore not let you into heaven?
I humbly believe that it is far more important to focus your thoughts, while in and out of church, on being less judgmental, more courteous, kind, and loving to one another, for our intentions should be more noticable than what we are wearing on Sunday.
But having said that, I do know that people are people, what we preceive to be good or bad is our preception, just as every situation. If you feel that a trial is negative...look for the light in it, it could just be a lesson we need to learn, and sometimes we just need to ask ourselves...How important is it?
Good luck, God Bless, and may your jeans always be clean!

Answer 7

I agree. God looks as your heart and your intentions. Now I also agree with you, that you don't want to go dressed with inappropriate words or sayings or scantilly clad. But where in the bible does it state that you have to wear a dress to church? You dress by your convictions.......and you don't live your life by the convictions of others. Neither should you be judged by their convictions. Seems like too many people are trying to judge you, instead of looking at themselves in the mirror. Sounds like the church I quit........First Church of the Frigid Air. Best of luck to you.

Answer 8

Where what you want as long as you are comfortable enough to focus on the message and the purpose of you being there. Respect the Lord by giving your attention and your heart. That is what you will leave here with. When the rich and poor go to heaven the clothes don't go with. It is written that you will leave as you came in. (naked) The argument is petty. I will worship God sitting barefooted in shorts and a tank top on a horse riding in the woods, just as dirty as all get out and do you think God is going to ignore me because I aint in a dress or turtleneck? NO, He is there because I am sincere.

Answer 9

To me, going to church is like visiting the temple, or the throne room of God, to have an audience with the King, so to say.
If I were to visit the President, or Queen Elizabeth, would I go to visit them in jeans? I think that even though it doesn't matter to God really, it is a manner by which we can Honor Him. To me it is important to honor God in everything we do, by placing Him above and on top of everything. There is no one greater than God, so I like to make that known by honoring Him as I would in the Highest, giving Him the respect that He deserves. Also, even an earthly father loves to see their own children dress up when there is a special event or a birthday in his life. It makes him feel special and loved to know that they took the time to make it special , to distinguish it from any other ordinary day.

Answer 10

I guess I would have to ask myself, "Does God care if I am dressed to the 9's when in church or is He just glad that I am there at all? What others think about the way someone dresses says more about them than you.