OUR DRESS IN WORSHIP

 

Our Dress in Worship

By Ron Boatwright

 

     Even though worship is not a "dress parade", many times we become sloppy, and revealing in the way we dress for worship.  Our clothes do contribute to the emphasis we place on worship to God.  This does not mean we have to wear fine and expensive clothes.  But the way we dress should be in keeping with the dignity of the occasion.

     God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation…which is proper for women professing godliness with good works."  Modest clothing is the way women who are "professing godliness" dress.  Certainly, a woman or man whose clothing is not modest is not professing godliness by the way they dress.  As Christians we should not dress like the world, with their revealing midriff attire.

     A woman who wears clothing that exposes herself to men is contributing to their sin of lust.  Our Lord says in Matthew 5:28, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  She becomes guilty of contributing to his sin of adultery, so she also becomes guilty.  In our actions as well as the clothing we wear, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

     Some think they have to follow the style and fashion of the world, regardless of how short and revealing or inappropriate clothing gets.  But we are told in Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world."  Why?  Because this world is going to be lost, and if we conform ourselves to this world, we will also be lost with it.  We are "to keep ourselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

     When we worship, we are actually in the presence of the Lord.  He deserves only our very best.  We are told in Romans 12:1, "That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God".  Our dress should show a moderate opinion of our own value.  Our dress should be pure, proper, chaste, and decent.  It should not call attention to ourselves because it is showy, sloppy or lewd.  Let’s honor the Lord with the way we dress.

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