We've discussed in the recent past what the proper dress for church is. We didn't agree. Should we dress "appropriately" with a sense of "the holy" and the presence of God, or does God not care and we can do what we want? It is abundantly clear that God did not prescribe the proper clothing for church. Doesn't that mean it falls under the "Christian Liberty" concept where, if it's not in God's Word, we're under our own consciences? Or not? I'm not rehashing that debate. But I'm looking at the principle.
Romans 14 is the "go to" for the doctrine of Christian Liberty. There are other places, but there it's neatly packaged and pretty well rounded. Paul talks about food as an example (like me and my "church clothes" example). He writes, "Who are you to judge the servant of another?" (Rom 14:4). Christian Liberty ... but ... that was only part of Paul's concern. Here's the crux of it. "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way" (Rom 14:13). That is, "Yes, we if it's not in the Word, we don't get to judge one another ... so don't trip up your brothers." We never discussed that on the church clothes dialog. We rarely discuss that in the whole discussion about what is or isn't allowed. Paul says we're asking the wrong questions. It's not "What is or isn't allowed?" but "Am I causing my brother to stumble?" In a similar passage, Paul writes, "So, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble" (1 Cor 8:12-13). That's ... extreme ... which makes the point.
We've gotten used to thinking about us ... ourselves. "Is it okay for me to ... or not?" "What's best for me?" It's human nature. Scripture asks us to "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Rom 12:2). We are to have the mind of Christ who didn't regard being "self" as God as something to be grabbed onto (Php 2:5-8). We are to be "crucified with Christ" so that "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Gal 2:20). Maybe, the question of clothes and church is asked in the wrong direction. Does it cause my brother to stumble? For obvious reasons, it's not the normal question ... but it should be.
15 comments:
Another aspect we need to consider is what our conduct says to the world. Yes, we should be concerned about not causing fellow believers to stumble, but we should also be different from the world. It's why "seeker sensitive" church didn't work. If we appear no different than the world to the world, then who's hearts and minds are we reaching. Clothing is one such item, though minor and often not even a thought in our minds, that can speak volumes. You know a Quaker just by looking at them. Do those we work with know our faith simply by looking at us. If we can't even be bothered to give God glory and honor when we gather to worship by such a simple thing as clothing, what does that say to the world about how important God is to us?
Excellent point, that this is another instance where we focus on ourselves not on YHWH or on others.
Is it possible that a church where everyone dresses up is doing so out of pride? Or that their dress might exclude fellow believers?
As always, it seems as though it's not as much about what we do as why we do it.
Where is the balance? If it's possible that what we do or wear might cause one believer to stumble, while possibly attracting a non believer to ask questions, what is the correct choice?
Stan, you wrote, “Should we dress ‘appropriately’ with a sense of ‘the holy’ and the presence of God, or does God not care and we can do what we want?” Personally, I would not embrace the exact sentiment of either of those positions but have settled somewhere in the middle ground of that spectrum.
I do see the matter of “how to dress for church” as different from the “eating meat offered to idols” dilemma, however, as the latter concern arose from a desire to eschew idolatry (a clear biblical command), while the former issue is not dictated in scripture, as you point out. I can’t imagine how my choice of attire (other than, say, immodest clothing) could be a stumbling block to anyone nor can I envision how I would go about offering deference to a weaker brother/sister in that area.
Perhaps you can elaborate on what that would look like.
David, My honest opinion of your comment is that you sidestepped Stan’s entire point. Do you have any thoughts about what it might look like to offer deference to others in the matter of “dressing for church” so as to not be a stumbling block? I would be most interested in learning of them.
Lorna, I know there are people deeply offended by the manner in which people dress in church. I'm not talking about emotionally (although there is that ... but not the point). People have asked me. "I was raised to dress nicely for church because it's God's house and I see people dressing for a beach party. Am I holding God in too high regard by dressing a certain way for church?" Exactly the same question of eating meat.
Craig, you're right. Some can dress to impress at church. Motivation is very much an issue. It's certainly possible to do a "right action" for the wrong reason.
Craig, I can't imagine a type of clothing in church that would both cause another believer to stumble and not attract a non believer to ask questions, unless you're thinking of wearing a speedo to church, but then everyone's got questions.
Lorna, an easy example for dressing for church out of deference to other believers would be revealing clothing on women, something that would entice others in a wrong way. Or perhaps wearing a death metal band t-shirt.
Also, it's not exactly true that God has nothing to say about how people should dress. The Old Testament is full of specifics, though admittedly that's mostly targeted at the priests. But we all know about Paul and his problem with jewelry and braided hair. I know that nobody takes that as an absolute ban, but if we look at the historical context, maybe we can understand why he said what he said. Plus there is always the warning from Moses to Aaron, "Among those that serve Me, I will be regarded as holy." That was after "unusual fire" was used in worship. If God cares about the type of fire used, maybe clothing does matter a little bit?
David, I'm pretty sure we're not worried about God's prescriptions for dress based on how the priests were required to dress, but I do think that we take the whole issue of how we appear to others way too lightly. Nadab and Abihu died for ... "strange fire." Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark. Moses had to remove his sandals. There is a LOT of things in Scripture that connect seemingly innocuous externals with deep spiritual truths, and we often ignore them. If God demands, "Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified" (Lev 10:3), I think it would be wise to pay heed.
David, I did mention immodest apparel in my comment; that’s about all I could think of as well (and, sure, Satanic-themed or otherwise distracting clothing). I was wondering beyond the obvious, though, since you seem to fall at the one end of the spectrum Stan mentioned, which would presumably require some big concessions on your part in a spirit of acceptance. (Since I fall roundly in the middle ground, I am not bothered so much by those at either end--and certainly not “offended” in either case.) How do you manage your high standards in this area within the spirit about which Stan wrote?
That was what I was aiming at. We take small things like clothing as meaningless, but God didn't seem to think they were.
Let's start with the obvious, I agree in principle that we should dress for church in ways that demonstrate our honoring of YHWH.
Having said that, I can think of several examples that could be problematic to others.
The obvious would be clothes that are revealing or contain inappropriate messaging.
How about someone who dresses in such a way as to provoke envy?
How about a church where those who are unable to "dress up" would feel excluded?
What is the standard? Khakis and a polo? Suit and tie? How much is about the attitude of the heart, and how much about the clothes? Did not Jesus suggest that it is what is inside of a man where the problem lies, not the outside?
Again, I do agree with you in principle. As someone who is up front regularly, I would submit that those leading should dress to a higher standard and hold myself to this standard. Yet, isn't a pastor in an Armani suit, with fancy/expensive accessories problematic is a different way?
When I heard the song Dirty Church Clothes, it hit made me re think how this applies.
"
Lyrics
In order to persuade you
My Levi jacket has seen better days
Ain't here to get it, just give out the praise
My jeans are holey and my Bible is torn
But you know where I'll be come Sunday morn
I comb my hair with a Saturday grease
I'm just thankful to have shoes on my feet
I'm missing buttons on this hand-me-down shirt
It ain't the style, but I'll make it work
'Cause it's hallelujah, I ain't strikin' no pose
Came to wash my soul clean in some dirty church clothes
It's hallelujah, roll Jordan roll
Came to wash my soul clean in some dirty church clothes, all right
Now I'm catchin' looks when they're passin' the plate, uh
Worse than things they'd never say to my face
I know they want me in a black suit and tie
They can dress me how they want on the day that I die."
I'd suggest, as Stan seems to be doing, that too much focus on the right clothes for church (especially when evaluating others) might be idolatry in itself. I grew up with the "You can't wear a hat in church" crowd, and they expected that to apply every time you were in the building. I'm with Stan on this in that it's more about why you choose to wear what you choose to wear, than what you wear.
I agree that most, if not all, of the Biblical prescriptions around dress are aimed at the Levitical priesthood, and only applied when they were actually serving in the Temple/Tabernacle. It does seem like those sorts of pre/proscriptions centered around "holy" things or locations.
As far as the Pauline problem with jewelry, that seems more about taking dressing up to the other extreme.
Post a Comment