Clothing has changed a lot over the years. Fashions come and go at a steady rate. What was in style last year is out this year, only to return in another five or 10. But it’s clear that, for the most part, our culture has traded button-down dress codes for business casual and comfort. Jeans and polos have replaced suits and skirts in most offices. The church is not immune to these cultural shifts.

Regardless of what was considered proper attire for weekend worship services and office hours just a few years ago, society at large has decided to rewrite those rules. But ministers still face a choice every day about what to wear. And what ministers wear matters.

In what follows, we present two different perspectives on what pastors and other church leaders should wear as they lead. One perspective takes a more traditional approach to dress code, while the other focuses on informal attire. But each perspective takes the stance that dress is a serious matter relating to how we present ourselves to the world and to God. In fact, as you’ll see, clothing is an important component of evangelism strategy in most churches.

Formal Attire
What we wear says something about who we are. I’m glad to wear a suit and tie on Sunday mornings when I’m in the pulpit. And during the week, I wear slacks and a collared shirt. It’s a conscious choice I’ve made about how I present myself to the world and to God. Let me explain why.

How I dress makes a statement about how I approach God with seriousness and care. He is not an afterthought, but God is in the forefront of my mind and actions. He deserves the respect of my care and attention. It takes time to press your slacks or skirt, to take a dress to the dry cleaners, to starch your dress shirt and knot your necktie. These all display a willingness to take our professions and relationships seriously.

But this is also about how we relate to a lost world around us. By grace and the blood of Christ, God makes us holy and calls us to be holy (Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Shouldn’t that include our manner of dress? In fact, a better interpretation of the word translated “holy” in Scripture could be “set apart.” And what better way to set ourselves apart than by what we wear?

Consider a basketball team. Each player on the court wears a tank top and shorts, but the coach wears a suit and tie. Why? He must distinguish himself as the leader. And a letter carrier has a unique outfit to distinguish herself from anyone else who may walk onto your front porch. Our dress as pastors can distinguish us from the world around us or merely make us blend in to the background.

When we distinguish ourselves as leaders, we declare to the world we are here to help. We identify ourselves as spiritual leaders who can be trusted. When people need someone to serve and protect them, they look for a police uniform or security guard outfit. When someone needs help at a hospital, a doctor in a white coat stands out. It’s the same with evangelism. When the lost are looking for answers, they want someone with authority over relevance.

Clothing is an important component of evangelism strategy in most churches.

In a casual culture, a formal dress code stands out. Jesus has called us to go and make disciples. That takes authority and leadership. Instead of blending in, we need to make a mark, even if it’s by how we dress.

Informal Attire
Does what we wear matter? On the one hand, 1 Samuel 16:7 says that while people weigh our outer appearance, the Lord looks at our hearts. On the other hand, Jesus said that whatever is in your heart will show up on the outside (Matthew 15:18). So, what we wear is actually an expression of our heart.

In a sense, our clothing is part of worshiping God. In my opinion, informal clothing expresses a sincere heart. In Exodus 3, Moses went barefoot to honor the solemnness of God’s presence. And David dressed down to a simple linen gown in 2 Samuel 6 to worship before the Lord. In other places, people wore sackcloth and ashes in fasting, which is definitely informal attire. Each of these cases represents people worshiping God with a sincere heart.

Worship is both personal and public. When I show up for church on Sunday in casual and comfortable clothes, I’m showing my most sincere self to God and others. But if I were to dress up, I would be putting on airs and hiding behind a mask.

Our clothing is not just a matter of worship; it also affects our evangelism. Whether fair or not, people judge us by what we wear. Shouldn’t church be a place where people withhold such judgments? Those of us who hope to attract the unchurched usually dress down to show that we accept them regardless of how they choose to dress. When they see our honesty, even in such a small gesture as our clothing, they feel more at ease and are more open to the gospel.

People who have hang-ups about more traditional religion are immediately more open to a church led by a pastor who dresses casually. Many people want to go to church but don’t have suits and ties or dresses and skirts in their closets. So, the prospect of a formal worship service turns them off to the idea of church attendance. When these people find out the dress code is “come as you are” at our church, they are more attracted and more receptive to our message.

Informal dress does not mean sloppy, wrinkled or dirty. Nor does it mean improper or distracting. But it does make a clear statement to the lost. A church without a dress code tells the world that we aren’t judging, that all are welcome and all are respected. That should be the focus of every worship service.

This article originally appeared in the April/May 2017 edition of Influence magazine.