Can I Wear Shorts to Church?
ALERT: on Saturday, the temperature will climb to approximately 415°. Sunday will cool down to a balmy 101°.
When you arrive this Sunday, expect to see a lot of people wearing shorts and flip-flops to church. If you grew up outside of California and the Pacific Northwest, or in a more traditional church, you would be used to seeing people in their Sunday best—suits, button-ups, dresses, etc.
Different churches have different attitudes towards the clothing people wear to church. At our church, we want to be a place where anyone feels welcome. We believe that the Word should be what offends people, rather than our preferences. So on any given Sunday, you will see shorts, khakis, slacks and the occasional suit being worn.
"God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
When Samuel went to anoint David as king, he had assumptions about what the future king of Israel would look like. God reminded him that our attire and appearance is not what's important. Again and again, Scripture drives us to foremost consider one's heart.
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2)
The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matt 12:34)
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
When people visit church, our attention should be on their heart. When someone walks through our doors, the question isn't about what they're wearing. It's whether they'll be met with love and whether they'll hear the Word clearly enough to be convicted by it. Their clothes are less important than our welcome.
For that very reason, James 2 warns us against showing partiality to people based on their attire/clothing. When someone dresses up and another looks shabby, we can often sort them quietly in our heads, before even saying a word. James 2:4 says that sort of categorization is 'judging with evil motives.' Ouch!
So this Sunday... if your personal convictions lead you to show up in a wool suit, we are going to welcome you with open arms. And if you're wearing flops and a pair of shorts, that's fine too. We want you to be able to worship and hear the Word preached without distraction. And being sweaty hot is distracting. Everyone who joined us for worship at the football stadium a few summers ago can attest to that!
The one significant bit of guidance that God gives us on our attire is to be modest, so that your identity does not rest in our clothing, accessories and how put-together we look. Speaking to women, Peter writes,
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. *(*1 Peter 3:3–4)
Paul says something very similar in 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Our identity is not found in what we wear. God is not pleased when you're in a particular outfit, nor displeased when you're dressed comfy. He cares about your heart. And, in the same way, we should care about one another's.
So enjoy worship with the AC cranked and full hearts as we sing in our varied outfits together!