You're So Fancy

I’ve been studying church culture and habits for years. Being raised in the church but having a brain wired for critical thinking, that’s just what I do. Things that congregations do, not because they are biblical, but because either ‘everyone else is doing it’ (the new fad) or ‘it’s what we’ve always done’ have always both fascinated and irked me. My current study has been on dressing up for church. 
Why do people insist that God is impressed with men wearing a suit and tie and women wearing a dress, skirt, and heels? Do people even know why they dress up? My guess is no, it’s just what they’ve always known. Well let me educate you.
Dressing up started in the Anglican Church as a way to separate the rich from the poor. Only the rich could afford fancy clothes, therefore only the rich were worthy to attend church. The poor could not read which means they could not study the bible for themselves. The only way they could get access is if someone taught them outside of the church walls. Thankfully there were some good, honest preachers and ministers that actually cared about spreading the Gospel to the common man.
Fast forward to the 1600 and 1700’s. It’s the New World – YAY!!! Let’s leave England and go to this new country where we killed off some folks and took their land. Oh and let’s make a pit stop down by Western African to pick to up some slaves with us for the ride. We got persecuted back home so we’ll start our own churches. We’re the rich ones now so we have to dress up for church. And them slave folk can’t read so we’ll teach them what we want them to know, but not everything. They sure enough can’t dress up for church so they won’t ever hear the real truth. Thankfully there were some good, honest preachers and ministers that actually cared about spreading the true Gospel to EVERY MAN and teaching them slave folks to read.
Fast forward 245+ years to the end of slavery. Negroes now have churches of their own, can read and hear the Word for themselves. Just one thing. Let’s keep separating ourselves and dressing up for church. That way the better off Negroes will get better seats and better treatment. Your fancy dress and hat, your spiffy suit and tie mean that you are closer to Jesus. He’s impressed with your clothes you know.
Reverence for God. That is another spin that is being put on this lately. We have become a people who take God too casually. I can see that, in a sense. But that is an American thing, not a what you are wearing thing. The casual heart and casual mentality is on the inside. Are you telling me that someone who is homeless or can’t afford fancy clothes but loves the LORD with all their heart is taking God casually? I have actually seen the opposite to be true. It is the affluent and privileged that more often have a lackadaisical view of their relationship with the LORD.
Hold up. Let me back up a bit. Who am I even to say what someone else’s relationship is like? That’s not my place. My job is to preach the word, live a genuine life before others, and love the LORD my God with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my strength. Oh and to love my neighbor as myself (the really hard part).
Do I love my neighbor if I am judging him harshly because of his outfit? Be it a three piece suit, or boots, jeans, and a hoodie, I am to love my neighbor. Short skirt and tight shirt or turtleneck and maxi-dress, I am to love my neighbor.

Stop alienating the very people you are supposed to be trying to reach by putting stipulations on their attendance. God’s not impressed. You can be just much of a hellion with a dress or suit on than you can with jeans and boots.

Clothes don’t make the believer. How do I know? God’s word backs me up –

“⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
“³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

So, tell me again why I have to get fancy for church?
Bottom line, clothes don’t make you Christ-like. Following His example does.