In an age of celebrity pastors and social media accounts highlighting what they wear, the question must be asked if God cares about how we dress. Is it necessary, or even possible, to have a Christian ethic when it comes to your wardrobe?

Adjacent to my lifelong pursuit of ministry has been a fascination with fashion and how the way in which we dress expresses deeper truths about who we are. Growing up with parents who were officers (pastors) in the Salvation Army, my wardrobe was almost entirely made up of second-hand goods that were well-worn. It was a secret that I held closely as thrifting did not have the positive connotation that it does today; it held a stigma of poverty and desperation. Even at that young age I was aware that, for better or worse, what I wore expressed something about my identity.

While I have realized through my life that those unkind judgements did not speak to my value, it remains inevitable that others will make assumptions about my inner values based upon my outer appearance. We live in a watching world, and each aspect of our lives serves as an opportunity to exemplify Christ accurately or wrongly.

Believe me, I am aware that we are treading touchy ground here and realize the threat of legalism in creating biblical standards where there are none. My desire in writing this article is not to give you specific rules of how you must or must not dress, but simply to offer a broader ethic of Christian living that seeks to prioritize glorifying God in every aspect of what we do.

Are We Faithful Stewards?

In James 1:17 we are reminded that every good gift in our lives has ultimately come from God. Every paycheque, good friend or family member, promotion, or satisfying sip of coffee has come from the creator of all things. You might ask how that might be, as the barista was clearly the one who poured your latte. However, was it not God who made you and them, grew the tree that gave fruit to the coffee bean, and made it so you could taste? So, when it comes to your finances, are you handling them in such a way that recognizes and respects God’s incredible provision? Do your purchases preach the truths of the gospel? A good steward realizes that they are managing the property of another and seeks to honour the rightful owner.

Bringing Glory to God

 I can hear you saying, “but what about the luxury items that were found at a respectable price, or even received as a gift?” Is it fair to judge the pastor donning a Rolex or draped in Balenciaga if not a cent of the Lord’s money was spent on it? That is a fair and thoughtful question.

At the church where I am employed, we have a surprisingly sparse dress-code. Aside from the very obvious offenses (no bare feet in the kitchen please) we are trusted to use our better judgement. All we are asked is the introspective question of “is it distracting?” The question within the question being “is what I’m wearing going to direct attention away from God and point it towards myself?” As unsatisfying a guideline this might be, especially for those who like life black and white, the answer must truly come from an introspective assessment of where your heart is at.

While the literal preaching of the gospel is of utmost importance, it is amazing how much the way in which we present ourselves speaks of who we believe Jesus to be. As believers, we are called to reflect Christ, and the more we are sanctified, the clearer the image of Him ought to become. 1 Corinthians 10:31 serves as an encouraging reminder that in every aspect of our lives, down to the smallest details, we are presented with the option to give glory to ourselves or to God. Which will you choose?

God Created You Uniquely, and That Is Good

Amidst these conversations, it is easy to fall into the potential pitfall of believing that the Christian thing to do is to lose your unique identity–but nothing could be further from the truth; it is actually a Buddhist ideal to strip yourself of all ego to the point where there is no real sense of self. In Christ, you have been created and gifted uniquely for the specific purposes He has for you. We are not called to fit within one specific box, but to embrace the beauty and breadth of creation. Yet, at the root of all those differences is the uniting similarity that each and every one of us is made in the image of God.

So, yes, it is okay for you to express that uniqueness through how you dress. But, always remember, whether it be in the perfect outfit or in sack cloth, the depth of your value is in who you are and to whom you belong, not in what you wear.