How Should A Christian Dress?

How Should Christians Dress

Sunday, March 13, 2011 AM

By Pastor James May

Getting dressed in the morning is a standard procedure for each of us. With the rising of the sun there is always that choice to be made, “What shall I wear today?” We often try to pick out garments that will make us to appear the best we can to those around us. We try to make sure that everything is clean and in good condition without rips, holes or missing buttons. Before we walk out the door to take on the work of the day we always take that last look in the mirror to make sure that all is well. We want to make this old body look as presentable as possible and that’s a good thing.

One of the things that is always associated with the word Pentecostal is something that we call a dress code. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “Are you one of those Pentecostals who believe in strict dress codes like women wearing long dresses, or men wearing coats and ties all the time?” All I can say is, if that’s what we believe in then there are a whole lot of us who are backslidden this morning. In fact if I saw some of you with a suit and tie or really dressed up nice, I’d be worried something strange was going on, like maybe you were getting ready for your own funeral because you’d never dress that good for anyone else’s funeral.

While I do believe that the Bible teaches that we should dress modestly and not in a manner that we should bring attention to ourselves and cause lustful thoughts in other people,

I don’t believe that we should have to line you up every time you come to church with a strict set of dress codes that we use to judge whether you look like a Christian or a heathen. I will admit though, that there have been a few times when I’ve had to enforce certain dress codes, but it has always, always been in connection with those who stand in front of the congregation on the platform. I do think that those who choose to be in a ministry that stands before the people should hold themselves to a higher standard so that we won’t be a stumbling block to those in the pews.

One thing that every Christian should always keep in mind is, would you want to meet Jesus dressed like you are, at any given moment, when you walk outside of your home. The fact is that we are always portraying Christ to the world if we are a Christian. We should always desire to present Christ in the right manner, and that includes the manner in which we dress.

I’m preaching on a dress code this morning, but it’s not on the dress code of the outward appearance. I want to talk to you a few minutes on the dress code of the heart and of the spirit.

The Bible tells us that God looks upon the heart and not just upon the outward appearance. Now some people might think that God doesn’t look upon the outward at all, but he does notice that too. The important thing is that the condition of the heart will always determine the outward appearance. If you heart is right before God, I won’t have to worry about your outward appearance, and if I ever feel the need to speak to you about your outward appearance you can rest assured that there is a deeper spiritual problem that you need to take care of more than your outward dress.

So what kind of dress code am I talking about? Look with me into the Book of Colossians chapter three and you will see where I’m coming from.

There are some things in your life as a Christian that we are instructed to put on all of the time. From those words, “Put On”, we can assume that these things can also be put aside, and I believe that’s true because as we go through this you will find that there are a lot of Christians who often forget to get fully dressed spiritually before they leave the house.

Colossians 3:12, 13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Here’s the first thing that we all need to do in the morning. We should look into the mirror and look into the eyes of the person staring back at you and tell that person, “You need to remember that you are supposed to be one of the chosen people of God; part of the very elect – the greatest people on the earth; a people with a manifest destiny to make Heaven their home. Remind yourself that you are holy people, separated unto God, made righteous through the Blood of the Lamb, and that you are loved deeply by God as one of his own dear children.