SUBJECT:  Dress Code

QUESTION:  What is the proper dress code for women?

ANSWER:

The church does not have a specific dress code for either men or women but relies on the individual church member to use the Bible and his or her own common sense as a guide.  Clearly, if something was disruptive to the congregation including someone’s extreme dress, the minister would counsel with the individual.  Following are some common sense guidelines gleaned from a number of web sites on etiquette of dress.

Please ask these questions when selecting clothing and hairstyles:

1. Is it immodest? (1 John 2:15-17)

1 John 2:15-17

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2. Might my appearance be disruptive to others in the congregation by calling attention to itself?

3. Does my appearance identify with a counter-cultural group or a rebellious element of society?

4. Does my clothing present a health or safety hazard?

5. Is my clothing faded, worn or improperly fitted?

Note:  If the member wears the best they have, no one is going to judge them.

6.       Is the design and purpose other than for normal church service dress?

On one web site I found the following reference made to Christian Dress:

The Scriptural support for a dress code may be found in 1Timothy 2:9, 10; 1Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 3:3, 4; and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

1 Timothy 2:9-10

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Principles

   1.The Bible enjoins us to dress modestly. Modesty refers not only to avoiding that which is sensual but also to avoiding that which calls attention to oneself.

   2.The Bible teaches that we should recognize and honor the God-ordained distinctions between male and female.

One question we often receive is, “Is it proper for women to wear pantsuits to services?”.  Again, it is up to the woman to decide before God how she will dress.  It has been acceptable for women to wear modest and tasteful pantsuits to services.

 

See our other letters on the subject of women:	Listen to our introduction to Letters on Women
	Women ...what will be the role of women in the Kingdom of God as Spirit beings Women: as priests or ministers  ...from the Plain Truth in 1955 Women: in general and in church Women: dress in services  ...does the ICG have a dress code for women? Women in church   ...what does the Bible say about women teaching, preaching and giving opening/closing prayer?