July 10, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - On July 1 we distributed a short piece entitled "How to Dress in Church." It was part of a larger article entitled "Modernize or Perish" by Pastor Alan Morrison of Derbyshire, England. Pastor Morrison merely commented on the modern trend toward a very casual attitude toward church worship meetings. This trend is reflected in dress habits.

We received a number of interesting letters from readers who did not appreciate Pastor Morrison's thoughts. Consider a few examples:

"Where in Scripture does it clearly tell us that there is a certain place and a certain day to worship God? Where does Scripture command, or give examples on wearing our 'Sunday Best'? I give reference to John 4:21-24. I believe HOW TO DRESS IN CHURCH is an opinionated article. We all have opinions: And we can get legalistic you know."

"Let's not play church as though we play 'dress-up'. Let's be real!"

"Please be aware that messages like 'HOW TO DRESS IN CHURCH' are not supported by Scripture. I cannot support such thinking, because it is not based in God's Holy Word, but in making up rules with which to judge other people (usually Christians)."

"Does this mean that when it is 98 degrees F., 98% humidity on a Texas summer day that God is more pleased when I where a suit and tie as opposed to a pair of jeans (no slits) and a short sleeve shirt (collar, tucked in)?"

"I wonder if Christ would wear a three piece suit and a tie if he came to church this Sunday?"

"What you may end up arguing for, if you take the view you took above, is for some sort of liturgical garb to become requirement for all worshippers. That way, our worship will look different from any other activity."

SOME COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC BY THE O TIMOTHY EDITOR:

1. SPEAKING PERSONALLY, I AM DEFINITELY NOT A DEFENDER OF FORMALITY AND RITUALISM IN THE LORD'S SERVICE. On my trip to Ireland and England in March of this year, I attended services in almost 20 churches. I don't hesitate to say that I found many of these to be stuffy and overly formalistic. Everything was solemn and conducted according to strict ritual. I do not want to be critical and I realize there is a significant cultural difference between Britain and America, and this cultural barrier will account for some of this. The point I am making is that I am not a defender or a lover of formalism. To the contrary, I have been an enemy of formalism since my "hippy" days before I was saved! I agree, therefore, with those who want to "be real" in our worship of God, but I do not agree that this means we must adopt the modern extreme of complete casualness in dress and attitude or that we can sanctify any type of music for the worship of the holy God or that we can turn the house of God into an entertainment forum.

2. MANY OF THE LETTERS I HAVE RECEIVED MISJUDGE THE INTENT OF THE COMMENTS IN QUESTION. I do not sense that Pastor Morrison is attempting to make a legalistic rule regarding what God's people should wear to church. He is not setting down commandments. I have learned to be suspicious of those who are so quick to cry out against "legalism." Pastor Morrison is not making laws; he is expressing his concern about certain trends today. He is trying to make people think. In particular he was responding to a pastor who, at a preacher's meeting, made comments such as the following: "We need to be so much broader in our outlook. I'm thinking of things like whether congregations put their arms in the air during worship, whether they sing modern choruses, whether they have orchestras and drums rather than a piano or organ. We desperately need to modernise. We should first of all throw out the A.V. because it's archaic and we should get much more with-it in other areas too. We shouldn't encourage stuffiness in dress or any other aspect of church life. I know of a man who was given the cold shoulder in a church recently because he turned up in Bermuda shorts. This is ridiculous. We have only ourselves to blame if we cling to archaism and have only tiny congregations." It was in the context of his reply to this popular "Modernize or Perish" philosophy that Pastor Morrison gave his comments about dressing for church.

3. DRESS IS PARTIALLY A CULTURAL ISSUE. During our years in South Asia, we faced different challenges and issues in regard to dress than those we face in North America. Pastor Morrison recognizes this. He is writing in the context of Britain (which, by the way, has a cool climate). Most of those who wrote to us from Africa and other places and challenged his statements have completely ignored this. There are biblical principles about dress and appearance, but the application of those principles will vary from culture to culture.

4. I DO NOT SENSE THAT PASTOR MORRISON IS SAYING THAT THE ONLY PROPER ATTIRE FOR A WORSHIP SERVICE IS A THREE-PIECE SUIT OR SOME OTHER VERY FORMAL TYPE OF CLOTHING. RATHER, HE IS WARNING ABOUT AN ATTITUDE OF ALMOST COMPLETE CASUALNESS TOWARD THE CHURCH AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD, AN ATTITUDE WHICH ONCE ADOPTED IS A DOWNWARD SPIRAL. Those churches which follow this philosophy are on a downward spiral which has no end. DOUBTLESS THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, BUT WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT, GENERALLY, THOSE CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS WHICH REJECT "DRESS STANDARDS," SOON MOCK ALL SUCH STANDARDS; AND GRADUALLY THEY LOWER THE BARRIERS OF MORALITY. Whereas at first they allow "modest" shorts, they soon allow shorter and shorter shorts. Whereas at first they allow "modest" bathing suits, they soon allow bikinis. Whereas at first they allow "modest" pants on women, they soon allow tight pants on women. Whereas at first they allow only "feminine" pants for women, they soon allow masculine unisex pants on women. Once a high standard is rejected, all standards tend to be rejected. I have been to many ecumenical type Christian meetings which are controlled by those who are the forefront of the hue and cry against what they consider to be antiquated "legalism," and I have observed firsthand the indecent dress by many of the girls and women who participate--the shorts, the tight pants, the bare midriffs, the low necklines, the tight blouses. I have observed that the casual attitude quickly deteriorates into immodesty.

5. OUR OWN CHURCH, BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF OAK HARBOR, HERE IS QUITE INFORMAL IN ONE SENSE, BUT WE DO REJECT THE MODERN TREND OF CASUALNESS TOWARD THE SERVICE AND WORSHIP OF THE LORD. We certainly are not solemn and formalistic, but neither are we flippant and worldly. Apart from proper modesty and decency, there is no pressure for people to dress in a certain fashion when coming to our church services. Many men come to the services directly from their various jobs, and they do not feel out of place in their work clothes. The pastors wear a tie to the main services, as do many of the other men, but there is absolutely no pressure for a man to do so. Many times I have not worn a tie to a service and even as a full-time preacher supported by this church I have never felt awkward. Those who like to dress immodestly will obviously feel ill at ease at our services, but this is not the fault of the church but of the one who refuses to dress properly. We do not have dress standards for those who would attend our services, but we do have dress standards for those who serve as officers and workers in the various ministries. I praise the Lord for this. I believe it is unreasonable to complain about a church's dress standards. People don't complain about the military's dress standards or the dress standards of a fine restaurant. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. It is the house of God. It should have high standards, and I praise the Lord for every church that does. May their number be increased greatly.