Dearest ones,
About a year ago, I wrote a column about clergy wearing Hawaiian shirts, which I said was a NO-NO. A comments war ensued, but this is one that just came in today and I just want to say RIGHT ON to its author. RIGHT ON, TM. Damned eloquent, my brother, and thank you for saying it better than I did. A PeaceBang Halo Of Praise to you, and a kiss of peace and appreciation:
Indeed, it is the Gospel you preach and the Gospel you live that matters. What you wear is part of how you live and part of what you preach. And “Hakuna Matata†is not part of the Gospel that the Christian Church preaches.
As for being taken seriously, it is worse than just taking the preacher seriously, it hints that the preacher doesn’t take God seriously. “So, like, there’s a God and all, but whatevs, dudes.â€
“Regionalism†isn’t by itself a (complete) answer, because regional clothing isn’t just random, it comes partly out of regional attitude, and regional attitudes that say, “Nothing really matters all that much, [not enough to bother dressing up for]†are (like plenty of much worse regional attitudes endemic to other places) some of what the church is up against, not what it should go with the flow on.
But that might be hard to see in a culture that can sing about Awe and Worship in fun, rockin’ songs that are completely contrary to anything resembling what Awe and Worship actually mean. (The dignified and proper Northeasterners or Midwesterners who sing about falling down on their knees and lifting up their hands in worship, but who would be horrified if anyone actually did either of those things in church, are a subject for a different rant about a different set of regional attitude failings.)
If you go to a red light district, does a prostitute’s attire become appropriate for a preacher because it is simply a local form of dress? If the answer is “no,†then there is some kind of wider issue with clothing beyond simply local habit– local habit is expressing something, and we should think about what else we’re expressing when we’re there to express the word of God. “God’s just another bro, and is on our level– there’s no ‘above-ness’ or ‘below-ness’ in our relationship with God– is part of what excessively casual clothing helps convey.â€
However, black shirts with white collars, and all manner of vestments (which were based on imperial Roman garments and co-opted by the Church once the Church had the opportunity no longer to be the oppressed, but to do some of the oppressing itself), are also no part of the gospel.
So, one must be careful about one’s decrees.
Not only casual dress, but casual attitude, has un-done many a good minister. With clothing, hairstyle, personal hygiene, conduct, even choice of wording for the sermon, I ask myself one simple question: does X either enhance my ministry or betray it?
Oh–and one can be professional and warm at the same time. You don’t have to choose one or the other.
I live in a very small town with a very large congregation. I have many interactions each day with people (churchgoers and others) outside of my role as pastor. I guess I don’t see it so much as making a positive impression for my sake, but upholding the integrity of the office to which I have been called. I don’t have too many hard-and-fast “rules,” but I do err on the side of caution most of the time.
I do have to weigh in (again) as a Hawaii resident–here, Aloha shirts are not casual. They *are* dressed up. They are what male bankers and professors and newscasters and funeral guests wear. (I have to admit that I was taken aback the first time I saw a funeral service full of Aloha shirts.) They are what men wear out to nice restaurants.
“Casual” would be more along the lines of a tattoo-flaunting tank top emblazoned with the motto, “If can, can. If no can, no can.”
I am a dignified and proper midwesterner. I would really love to find a church that is congruent with my liberal religious beliefs and open to people falling down on their knees and lifting up their hands in worship. Suggestions?