That Outfit?

Depending on when and where you have attended a church service, you will see many different people in many different outfits, representing many different cultures.  We know that the house of the Lord is for all and all are welcome, but we have some thoughts and traditions that we love. I know when I see those beautiful, ornate hats on an Easter morning, it tells me that someone has come dressed to the nines to worship the creator of the universe. There is never anything wrong with wearing your Sunday best when your heart is set on bringing your best to God. This is a personal conviction and concerns the individual's heart, but we have to understand that the attire we wear to church does not define where we stand with God. It is best said in 1 Peter 3:3-4

Over my years of ministry, I have been to churches where the unspoken or maybe even audibly spoken requirement is to wear only suits and ties, but I have also been to churches where there is no requirement on your attire to attend their church service. The reason for my attire is to ensure that anyone who attends can instantly see that everyone is welcome, no matter what you are wearing. What we have on as our outer layer can be what people judge us by, and where we feel truly welcome. If you were to walk into a hospital gala trying to raise $50 million while wearing jeans and a t-shirt, you would feel very out of place. You will instantly start looking at everyone around you, what they are wearing, and then what the key speakers are wearing. If you find yourself not dressed like the others, you will instantly start to question whether you belong there, worry about judgment, and, more than likely, leave feeling embarrassed. I understand the thought process that we are going to be communing and praising the creator of the universe, and this may make us want to dress to impress, but God wants your heart above all, and all are welcome. I have personally been told by multiple people that when they walked into our service and saw what I was wearing, they felt they could belong here, felt comfortable, and were ready to learn more about the one who created it all. That is what the church is all about. Romans 10:11-13 says,