I’m distrustful of people who wear suits. No, I’m not reliving a painful moment of my life where a business man stole my candy. I’m speaking for my generation.
Politicians wear suits. Used car salesman wear suits. Business men wear suits. They’re all trying to sell me something. And many of them are somewhat dishonest. That’s why I’m not a fan of suits from the pulpit.
People don’t want to be “sold” their faith. They don’t want to be “convinced”. I can be convinced to buy a used car. But I know I’ll leave the car lot with buyer’s remorse. Why would I want to associate that feeling with church?
Many people believe dressing super nice is a matter of respect. Which is true. I’m not saying wear a shirt from the dumpster. But I am saying people don’t want to be intimidated or convinced into belief. They don’t want to be impressed into the kingdom. They want to be won over by a genuine experience. They want a faith that works in real life.
When was the last time you wore your Sunday best in the real world? We need to understand the group of people we’re reaching and be real.
If your church is in downtown NYC, your congregation may be used to wearing suits. But if you live in rural Kentucky…you’re alienating your congregation.
What do you think about suits in church?
My grandfather has been pastoring for 41 years and I’ve always heard that wearing a suit is something you should do because of a few reasons: you should wear your best, people won’t respect you, or my favorite “just cause”. But when I look at scripture, which by the way the should be the motivating factor in any decision we make, I see that Jesus came into this world in a way that no one would expect a King to set up a kingdom would come. Jesus was born in a rural town, through a teenage mom, wrapped in raggedy clothes, and put in a feeding trough. It’s no wonder the Pharisees rejected him. He probably wouldn’t be able to “keep up with the Joneses” in our society. That why Isaiah 55:8, God says, “My ways aren’t your ways, My thoughts aren’t your thoughts”. All I’m saying is, we give too much credit to the lights and sounds of church, apparel, and other stuff…and if we are not careful, we’ll forget that Jesus is enough…whether I’m wearing a three piece suit or jeans and NASCAR t-shirt (for all my country folk in the South).
definitely true! Without Jesus in focus all this stuff is just noise. but just like a cake is the substance and the icing is the packaging…Jesus is the substance and our efforts are the packaging. These little things all do matter…but only if the cake is there in true form.
For sure…we should be the most creative people on earth, because we are made in the image of a creative God. And you are that. Thanks for all of these websites. They’ve really helped our church branch out, since I found it about 2 months ago.
Thanks, Jarrod!
Respect isn’t about clothes, it’s about the actions of a person. Do any of us really think that wearing a suit to church makes them a better person? It’s about individual choice. Jesus doesn’t tell us in the bible what to wear…he instructs us in our actions. I would love to see a Pastor show up to preach a message in tattered clothes and see the reaction. What a interesting time that would be. I wonder how many people would really listen and how many would be distracted with the clothes. It certainly would be quite the object lesson.
It would definitely stick in people’s minds!
I don’t always wear a suit but I do once in a while. I don’t think Jesus cares much one way or the other.
Having said that I’m not sure your view accurately portrays young peoples skepticism of “suit wearers”. There are plenty of them out there that young people not only listen to but idolize. Most sports casters sport suits. Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert wear one every night and even some rock bands sport suits for fun.
Its a matter of preference for sure but I have people dressed in all types of outfits try and sell me stuff!
Hey Jamie! Thanks for chiming in!
I’d say in every example you gave they are either trying to impress or mock. Sportscasters want to seem knowledgeable. Colbert wears a suit to be ironic/mock newscasters. Rock bands are being either ironic or trying to get your attention.
The problem is…none of those people are trying to convince you to make a major life change. Many visitors to your church are already entering with skepticism. If it looks like the person at the pulpit is trying to convince you to do something…it can raise those guards a little more.
I’m not trying to say no pastors should wear suits…otherwise there would be no variety in the world. A pastor needs to “sport the coat” that will help them reach their culture.
If suits are your way to reach…more power to you!
Let’s said aside the “wardrobe” issue since we both seem to think it’s neutral.
If we shouldn’t try and “convince” someone of something, what’s the point of preaching? If people don’t want to be “convinced into belief” why have try and reach people in the first place?
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
It’s God’s job to convince. It’s our job to be plain and simple–deliver the message.
Thanks for the response! I appreciate the dialogue.
I think it’s important to note that Paul said he didn’t use “eloquent” speech(1 Cor. 2). He defintely used “persuasive” speech!
Just a few examples…
“Every Sabbath he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue, trying to PERSUADE Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4
“He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to PERSUADE them about Jesus.” Acts 28:23
And finally…2 Corinthians 5:11 “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to PERSUADE others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”
The last Scripture is the most sobering! Because we know the fear of the Lord we try to persuade others! Persuade them to what? The Truth! How do we know the Truth? Because we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
Excellent points! Perhaps I misused the word persuade. When I think of a man in a suit trying to persuade…I think of a used car salesman.
When I think of Paul trying to persuade…it’s as a peer…witnessing what he’s seen. Like a friend telling a story his friends need to know.
So I guess I’m referring to our persuading being a witness rather than a business proposal. Ya?
I think there is a lot of truth to what you are saying however I think we can give the Holy Spirit a little more credit. At the end of the day isn’t it the Holy Spirit who convicts us and speaks life change into us during a service? Does a suit really have the ability to discredit the Holy Spirit and prevent it from working? I say wear whatever you want. It matters more to the listener and most importantly to God that you speak the truth than whether you wear a suit or not. God will let his Holy Spirit work regardless of our attire.
Now obviously there are cultural style issues that are a major part of our society and certain preconceived ideas are attached to them. WEaring a suit can definitely conjure up images of a used car salesman just as you said however, imagine a 60 year old pastor trying to look super-young-trendy-awesome in a v-neck and skinny jeans. To me, THAT says your being “sold” something more than a suit. We all have our own style. Be true to YOUR style but most importantly be true to God.
Very good point! I guess what I’m saying is where what you would normally wear.
And it’s true…the Holy Spirit does need to do the convicting…unfortunately…we get in the way at times. Two churches both have the Holy Spirit working strongly in their services…the one that grows is the one that removes barriers and obstacles for people to listen to the Holy Spirit.
Not to mention that wearing a suit and tie just sucks!!
Haha! I actually would love to wear a suit…it’s just expensive to get them tailored…and I look awkward in a poorly tailored suit.
ah, its the same ol rebellious attitude you kids have. Always trying to justify your actions just so that you can do what you feel like doing. Some may remember how mom forces us to dress our Sunday best and get so uncomfortable… Being in NYC I’m used to suits. Being dressed is not about convincing someone, its about being appropriate.
Let me ask you this, if you were invited to meet the queen in Buckingham palace, would you wear your comfy shorts and flip flops?
MyView is you are entering God’s temple, I want to give him my best in mind body, voice, etc. That includes what I wear. He has given me finances to buy some decent clothes, why should I not wear it for Him. You wouldn’t want to give a crappy light show? Why bother spending thousands on staging? Its certainly not going to convince most people to give their life to Jesus
Haha. I believe you misunderstand me. Who am I rebelling against? Nobody is asking me to wear a suit.
When writing this post I actually considered NYC might be a bit different than my area. You guys are used to suits. I live in a beach town (perhaps I should have led with that). Very few people are used to suits.
And please don’t misunderstand me. We will never convince someone into the kingdom. That’s not what it’s about it all. Modern church is about preparing an environment free from external distractions so that the Holy Spirit can speak to a visitor/congregant’s heart. If a light show is a distraction, throw it out. Same with a stage. Same with a suit. Same with jeans and flip flops.
I think the biggest point is, you should come to church as you feel comfortable, and you shouldn’t feel one bit of concern one way or another how someone else is dressed.
if you want to wear a suit go at it with all you’re worth.
if you want to wear shorts and flip flops whether its culturally relevant or not, then do that.
if you want to wear 500 gold chains around your neck and have people stare at you, then by all means do that too (yes watched this happen Christmas Eve)
Everyone was raised different, has different convictions and interpretations of scripture and it isn’t really anyones place to tell us how to dress when we go to church. Cuz I could stay home in my underwear and do church online
I’m 35 – and was reared in a church where the pastor wore a robe – over a suit – and the acolytes wore robes as well. This tradition has now been relaxed, but i can’t help but feel we are poorer for it – that somehow the “come as you are” tee-shirt and jeans with (as noted before) flip-flops – is somehow disrespectful.
I’d dress for church better than I would for any other event – and similiar to the way i would dress for a funeral or a wedding.
The idea of somehow not giving God the respect that his house deserves, and my fellow worshippers the affirmation that I’ve made my best effort to prepare myself to be in the presence of the Holy, seems foreign.
Although i too would rather have people in the pews dressed however they are able to dress – church somehow doesnt feel as special as when people prepared themselves for the event. We needn’t look farther than our African-American contemporaries who still dress their best for church- because, regardless of what we wear in everyday life – coming before God – and one another as people of faith- is a special occasion- worthy of showing our best efforts to be there, reverently aware of where we are, why we are there, and the context of our presence in worship.
I believe their needs to be reverence for God. Requiring our Sunday best in church services may garner respect for God on Sundays…
But often that “Sunday best” mentality can create duplicity. We revere God on Sundays when we’re gussied up…but we live irreverently the rest of the week.
By making our church buildings somehow “sacred”…we unintentionally say that the rest of our lives aren’t sacred.
Excellent point indeed.
great article, and I totally agree–context has a lot to do with it. My church is very blue collar, and I would lose some serious credibility if I were to wear a suit.
I read a discussion about this on a blog years ago that only fueled my revulsion against dressing up for church. One woman said that she could just not imagine why someone would not dress up for church, denoting that t was almost sinful not to. She said–and I am not joking–”I feel ashamed about talking to Jesus before brushing my teeth!”
She said that bad dress is symptomatic of a weak relationship with God. Which makes me think that sometimes overly polished appearances can be more symptomatic of the religion of the pharisees.