January 29, 2010 - A Dialogue About What Christian Wear At Worship

Meditation on Exodus 28

This chapter was devoted to the description of the dresses for the High Priest and priests in the tabernacle. What they wore was described as holy garments. (v. 2) These clothes were for glory and beauty. (v. 40) Certainly, God has designed for Aaron's colorful garments to be special and carried the names of the twelve tribes on his chest. He was to remember to pray for the people whose names he bore. He wore a gold plate on his forehead with the engravings of a seal, "Holy to the LORD" (v. 36 NASB) These dresses were to set them apart as anointed and consecrated for the LORD.

Most Bible students took Aaron as a foreshadow for Jesus, our High Priests. Certainly he is glorious, pure and sitting on the right hand of the Father today still interceding for us. But all believers also belong to the royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9) Since we are priests serving God, shouldn't we also be gloriously, beautifully, and holy in our hearts as well as in our dresses during our worship in God's house if at all possible? The psalmist says, "Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array." (Psalm 29:1-2; cf. Psalm 96:7-9)

Though we should be sensitive to those who are unbelievers yet are seekers coming to our services, should we need to cater to what they wear in order to make them comfortable in our service? Should we dress like a vacationer or imitate the latest cultural style in order to reach them for Christ in our church? I don't believe so.

Indeed our worship should be very welcome and warm to all regardless how anyone dresses. But our clothes and especially the minister's clothes on the platform should be the best we can afford in order to glorify God. We should first please Him rather than people. The seekers in our churches would soon learn from our example to worship the Lord with our best. I don't think that they would be turned off and feeling too embarrass to come to worship.

The entire Russian congregations who worship in our sanctuary always dress their best every Lord's Day.