Topic(s): Church, Worship

Bob Prichard

Paul told the evangelist Timothy, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). The emphasis is not so much on prescribing the appropriate outward clothing, but on making the inner person what he or she should be. If we are what we should be spiritually, our dress will reflect this.

It is difficult to separate ourselves from our culture. Controversies over things such as school uniforms shows how important we consider clothing to be as a reflector of attitudes and basic outlook. Scripture does not directly prescribe attire for worship. The worship setting says something about what is appropriate. Dress for a more casual worship situation, such as a church camp might be different from what is appropriate for a more formal worship setting, such as Sunday morning worship.

Whatever the worship situation, whether very formal or very informal, however, the worshiper should never dress immodestly. God made clothing of skins for Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:7-8). Much of the casual clothing of today is definitely immodest, and should not be worn any time in public by Christians, much less in a situation of public worship.

Under the old covenant, the priests were to be especially careful to be covered properly when they led in worship. God’s instructions were “thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach” (Exodus 28:42). These linen pants were in addition to their regular clothing—an extra precaution about dressing immodestly. There is no Levitical priesthood today, but instead every Christian is a priest before God. Peter says of Christians, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). He tells us as Christians, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Since Christians are a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, then we should be concerned about how we dress when we come into the presence of God to worship. Clothing reflects attitude. How would we dress if we had an appointment with the governor, or the president? How do we dress when we come into the presence of the Creator of the universe for worship?