Properly Attired
I was dumbfounded. For Wednesday Bible Study one older woman was dropped off weekly by her daughter. Bible study night, like most churches, is very informal and having moved to South Texas from colder climes I adopted the practice of wearing shorts and sandals for such times. I wear regular pants if the day includes a meeting or something where shorts are inappropriate, but I encourage those who come for Bible Study to make themselves comfortable, and I am a firm believer in doing what I encourage others to do.
One week this older woman went back out and shouted something to her daughter in the car. When she returned I simply asked if everything was OK and she said that her daughter thought about coming in for Bible study, but would not do so if I was wearing shorts. To say the least I was shocked. This woman (the daughter) is very sweet, so I would not dream of saying something against her here. However, I was surprised that someone who speaks highly of my teaching would allow something as petty as shorts get in the way. This behavior does not surprise me, anymore than it would surprise anyone who grew up in church. It was just surprising that someone associated with our church felt that way.
Growing up in the south, like most American Christians I am familiar with the idea of Sunday best. We were always taught that one showed respect for God by wearing the best clothes they owned on Sunday. To do otherwise was supposedly disrespectful to God. Of course, it was not intentional that this develop into a weekly fashion show for the wealthy or a weekly embarrassment for those in humble circumstances. People would feign graciousness by saying that it didn’t matter what you wore, so long as it was the best you had. This sounds good, but when each wears the best they had it quickly becomes apparent that some are in very humble circumstances.
Years ago I was asked to fill-in for a pastor friend in a small Kansas church. Knowing it was a conservative group I wore a suit, because I figured this would be expected. During church several of the men had suits on so it was obvious I had guessed right. After the meeting one elderly farmer came up and apologized for what he was wearing. He had on Bib overalls with a worn sports coat. The idea that a hard working farmer would feel a need to apologize for his garments in the one place where acceptance was to be assured was educational for me. The fact that he felt the need to apologize to me, grandson of a poor farmer, was especially heart-breaking. I responded: “Sir, I have one rule when it comes to church clothes. So long as everything is covered that is supposed to be covered, you are dressed for church.”
I have come to reject the entire idea of “Sunday best” or “church clothes.” The early church met on Sunday just as we do today. One easily forgets that historically Sunday was not a day off—anywhere. The Jews took Saturday off but the Romans had no weekly day off. Sunday, throughout the world at that time, was just another work day and the average person worked from sunrise to sundown. The church came together before sunrise, headed off to work and came back together after or near sundown to worship and share a meal. The clothing worn to church was whatever one wore to work. The idea of special clothing worn only to church would have been a novelty seen as out of keeping with the spirit of a church assembly.
We need to get over our hangups on clothing today. More important is why is a garment being worn? Is it worn to cover and display modesty or is it worn to show off, attract or even illicit lust. Under this standard the finest dressed among us should probably reconsider.
