Over the last several generations, American attire in general has lurched dramatically toward the informal. A feature that quickly dates an old photograph, for instance, is the men wearing fedoras; most today wouldn’t know where to find one. Those who are old enough can remember when travelers got spiffed up to board an airplane. Today’s travelers think nothing of flying in duds they might wear to the gym. Or consider the rise of the term “business casual.” In most parts of the country, though not all, even the corporate setting has grown less formal.
These changes are part of a broad shift toward the convenient and comfortable. It’s a shift we see on display every week in our worship services. In many churches casual wear is de rigueur. It’s easy to imagine how one might look over-dressed there, but less easy, short of immodesty, to imagine being under-dressed. Jeans or shorts, tee shirts or tank tops, flip-flops or sandals: these draw scarcely any attention, while full dresses or a suit and tie appear strangely out of place. Relaxed, even rumpled informality is in; suiting up in our “Sunday best” is out. The question I want to raise here is, What should we make of this shift in worship attire?
Many seem convinced it’s a good thing, because, again, it’s the heart that counts. Yet precisely for this reason””because it’s the heart that counts””I want to suggest that what we wear in our public worship may matter more than we think.
Very well said!!! How we dress says volumes about with whom we are about to meet.
Hmm, now I’m glad I wore a tie to church last Sunday (I wasn’t functioning as a priest, so I didn’t wear my collar).
This is vintage Duane Litfin stuff. The former president of Wheaton College (for 17 years!) is eminently reasonable and well-balanced, without being legalistic. I particularly liked the Richard Foster and Dallas Willard quotes (especially the latter) Litfin threw in.
David Handy+
proud Wheaton alum (’77)