Anytime you talk about making visitors feel welcome and comfortable in church, someone somewhere assumes that you'll eventually want to "water down the Gospel." You won't find that anywhere in this series, because I believe that when people set foot in a church, they anticipate the message that is preached will itself be uncomfortable and life changing.
What I'm hoping to accomplish with this series is point out areas that folks who don't attend church use as excuses for not coming. Today, we're focusing on the dress code.
This is one that you can't really argue with someone who has done the Sunday best their entire life. However, I think there is some wiggle room that allows reason to step in and help a church overcome the three-piece-suit-or-full-length-dress dress code.
Unchurched folks feel really out of place when they come to church in jeans and a t-shirt, and have to sit in a room full of suits and dresses. Don't believe me? Try doing it yourself some Sunday morning. You'll notice the people staring right away. That's the same thing that greets the casually dressed newcomer.
But, there's an even greater thing to consider regarding the attire of your church. If visitors feel like they have to drop a few hundred dollars on clothes just to come to church, they won't be back. It's inappropriate to suggest to first time visitors that they return home until they have the appropriate clothes (that's almost pharisee-like).
So, the alternative is to relax our personal dress code. It doesn't mean that we come to church looking like a slob. Instead, it means that we aren't afraid to throw on jeans and a t-shirt or slacks and a polo instead of the three-piece suit.
"But, I paid over $300 for that suit," you say. All the more reason to ebay it and come more casual. If you're more worried about how you look on Sunday, then you're likely not too worried about what God is doing in your heart and that of the casually dressed visitor you keep staring at two rows in front of you.
"But, Paul gave a dress code in the Bible." Indeed he did. In 1 Timothy 2:9, Paul said that women should dress modestly. I think similar can apply to men, too. Note, however, that modesty is not defined as "Sunday best." If anything, it's the exact opposite. Modest can mean both decent and humble. Fancy and expensive don't fall in that category.
"But, what about Jesus? What did he think of lavish clothing?" Well, in speaking about the Pharisees in Matthew 23, Jesus said this in verse five, "They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long."
Let's break that down a little. Phylacteries are leather, cube-shaped boxes that contain pieces of paper with scripture on them. The Pharisees would wear one on their left arm and one on their head. The fringes were the hemline and tassles on the garments they wore. What Jesus was pointing out was that these people wanted everyone to believe they were more spiritual than regular people by the way they dressed and the things they wore. And, they did it so everyone could see how much better they were.
When we criticize what newcomers wear when they show up in our services, we are essentially doing the same thing as the Pharisees.
So, I challenge you to start going more casual to church. Dump the suit and tie or formal dress. Settle for more modest, relaxed clothing. (And, let your pastor do the same. In fact, encourage him to dress down.)
That relaxed culture will be welcoming to someone who has never set foot in the door of a church.
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