Is there a reason behind getting dressed up for church?

Answer 1

Yep - it is the holier than thou trying to be better dressed than thou!

The better Christian is probably the poor man on the street they ignored on their way there who prays quietly and meaningfully with no witnesses.

Answer 2

There is no valid reason to get dressed up in fancy clothes for church.

Jesus was very critical of the Rabbi's and Synagogues who offered the best seats to those who were well dressed.

I prefer churches where the Pastor does not wear any type of clerical garb or garments.

My favorite church is one where I've never even seen the Pastor wearing a necktie.

I've preached to many wearing a suit and tie.

I've preach to many more in shorts and a t-shirt, or blue jeans and a sweatshirt.

The Bible says that women and girls should dress modestly but that's about it as far as advice goes from the Bible on how to dress.

There is a church I like to visit which sent out some advertising post cards about a year ago.

The post cards contained a top ten list of reasons to go to church.

Item 6 was this:

6. Dress Code: Wear something

Last night the pastor was weaing a grass skirt and a flowered shirt. I've never seen him wearing a tie either.

Whatever the "dress code" is in a local church, its whatever those poeple like to do.

I visited a Baptist church several years ago and this Deacon dude wanted to kick me out before I had even taken off my coat.

Why? I was wearing in his words, "Worldly and sinful bell bottomed trousers."

What was I wearing?

My official US Navy Dress Blue Uniform. That was in 1974, and I had recently gotten home from the Vietnam War.

Pastor Art

Answer 3

Sort of. As far as the Catholic faith goes, you're kinda looked down upon if you're not in a collar (for guys) or a dress (for girls). In any Church I've been it is extremely looked down upon to show any skin (cleavage is acceptable in my Catholic Church).

I just dress up in my T-shirt and shorts and they can ***** all they want (***** please...I'm from California comes to mind) but I'm still there to worship God like everybody else. I'd refer you to my other post answering along the lines of "Is That What Christianity Is About?" where I try to answer the question about all the priests who raped little boys (not me...although I was an altar server) in that religions all have their little things but they're cool little social things so let's just hold hands and do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.

Goodness knows the last thing we need in this world is more seriousness.

Answer 4

I think it is a tradition and custom that came about when people where taught that they would be in the presence of God at church and therefore, you should look your best. It is out of respect.

I rather liked it, but now people look and dress the same, whether they are at Church, work, play or at home.

I still try to look like I am going to Church.

Answer 5

There are several, here are two:

On the day of rest, whether you celebrate on Saturday or Sunday, it is marked by being different. We do not wear our work clothes because of that.

If you were going to a dinner with an important person, you would dress appropriately. So it is with going to church. We are being fed, whether with the Word of God or Communion, at a special feast and we dress for that.

Answer 6

If you were going to have a meeting with the President or the Queen of England you would present yourself at your best. By the same token if you were meeting to have lunch with your Daddy you would wear comfortable clothes. I guess it just depends where you are at with the Father, if He were King. Which He is. I would not want HIM to be ashamed of the way I dress yet He would be happy to see me no matter what.

Answer 7

Speaking as a Catholic I do get dressed up for Mass because it is in the Mass were we celebrate the Holy Eucharist and it is always good to show this celebration of joy by dressing for the occasion.

Answer 8

It's just a tradition that's more societal than religious. Dressing up before you went out somewhere with your family, whether it was to church, a family gathering, dinner, etc. was just the expected thing to do.

Answer 9

Some people do it as a way to show their respect for God.

The bible teaches us to dress modestly but does not tell us to dress up for church.

We are not required to, but if we choose to in order to worship God, than that is a good thing. People who wear jeans to church are not sinning, they are glorifying God in different ways.

Answer 10

I was always told by my parents that we dressed up in order to show appreciation, respect, and honor to the Lord.

I always imagined that it was like when you are dating and you dressed up nice for the one who you were dating.