I think some people loose perspective as to who or what they are dressing up for. I’ll bet in most people’s heart they are dressing up because either they were brought up that way or that’s what everyone else does or it’s their chance to “shine”. I guess I struggle with what is the difference in what you wear to church and what you wear everyday. Are we not to constantly be in the Lord’s prescence in constant communication with Him? Should we be reverent in our everyday clothing? Why have to dress up to go to His house on Sunday when we are His temple and He abides us at all times?

I am such a supporter of modesty and it breaks my heart to see God’s people so blinded to what they are portraying. Some know what they are doing while others are clueless.

Thank you so for your strong stand on your convictions. I am looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.

Yes, these things should not be what people notice or remember about us.

You ask an excellent question. I really wrestled with it several years ago, and I’m not 100% sure of my opinion on this even now and would always welcome further discussion. What led me to my current position, which I’ll explain in a minute, was comparing Timothy to a parallel passage:

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 Peter 3:3-5

If you take 1 Peter as a prohibition against the things on this list, then you wind up with a command to nakedness, since “putting on of apparel” is among them. That can’t be right because it would clearly contradict other passages (the command in 1 Timothy among them) about covering our bodies. This led me to the conclusion that the purpose of these passages is not to absolutely forbid everything on these lists, but rather to forbid making these things our “adorning,” the things that people will notice about us, the things that make us beautiful. God wants us to be beautiful because of our meek and quiet spirits and our good works, not our ornate hair, fancy clothes, and overblown jewelry. I do wear a wedding ring and an engagement ring. These are very simple and unpretentious. I wear them not to draw attention to my giant rock of a diamond, but to show that I belong to my husband and am therefore unavailable (also that the children I nearly always have in tow are legitimate). I also don’t think it would be wrong to wear your hair in a simple braid, but I would be wary of doing your hair up in some very elaborate style that would make your hair your adorning rather than good works and your meek and quiet spirit. (This is no longer an issue for me since my hair is always under my headcovering anyway.)

I think the point is modesty, in the broad sense of the word (like in “a modest house” or “a modest salary”). Nothing we put on our bodies, or do to our bodies should take any focus away from Christ. Everything in our outward appearance should be nice, but simple, understated, not the focal point. People should notice what we do (good works) and who we are (meek and quiet) as godly women, not how beautiful or well decorated our bodies are.

I suppose the case can be made for “dressing up” by generalizing from the command to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy… holy being “set apart”. But, again, that isn’t prescriptive for dress.

I have mixed feelings about the idea of “dressing up” for church. As a child, I associated dressing up with uncomfortable scratchy clothes that I couldn’t play in, and resented the whole idea! But, on the other hand, I can see a point to dressing up (not a competitive, fashion thing, but not wearing your everyday clothes) as a part of making the day special.

Karen Mains wrote a book, years ago, called “Making Sunday Special”. I don’t remember it dealing with clothes, specifically, other than having them prepared in advance so you aren’t rushing or distracted on Sunday morning, but she made me think more about what I can do to make Sunday set apart – to honor the Lord in a special way.

For instance, many families have a bigger meal for lunch (more like the typical evening meal) on Sunday. This also isn’t prescribed in Scripture, but may be a tradition that marks Sunday as a special day.

Though my family doesn’t usually “dress up”, it’s worth thinking more about the attitude behind it.

You’re completely right that we should not be drawing attention to ourselves, but glorifying the Lord! And, as you said, we should always be aware of our appearance.

BTW… how literally do you apply the verses from Timothy? (I’m not being sarcastic :0) ) Do you believe we need to avoid braiding our hair, or that wearing gold (like a wedding ring) is wrong?

Linda brought up the valuable truth that the Proverbs 31 woman’s clothing was “silk and purple.” But I think it’s important to point out that this verse has nothing to do with church. It’s a statement about the virtuous woman’s general, everyday appearance. As Christians, we should seek to look nice all the time, not sexy, not rich, not loose or available, but clean, neat, well-groomed, and ready to do the Lord’s work. I think Julie’s quote from John Newton was excellent:

So dress and conduct yourself so that people who have been in your company will not recall what you had on.

I also want to reiterate that I do not see the idea that dressing “up” at church, i.e. looking somehow “better” than you usually do, is showing respect to God, anywhere in Scripture. Several women have said things along this line but none have shared any verses to back up the claim. How does looking “extra good,” going beyond the general well-groomed, careful appearance appropriate for Christians every day of the week, really go along with adorning ourselves “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 2:9)? Does anyone have a verse about how going above and beyond in our appearance for church meetings is truly what the Lord wants, and not just something culturally ingrained?

If I had a “role model” in this area it would be my friend DeeDee. (She actually used to be a model!) Honestly, I can’t exactly picture any particular outfit I have seen her wear, but she always appears gracious, modest, and lovely.

In general:

“So dress and conduct yourself so that people who have been in your company will not recall what you had on.” – John Newton

As you get older, the flour sack doesn’t cut it anymore. Not for them–but for me! I need to remind MYSELF that I am pretty and attractive once in a while.