Why I Still Wear A Tie To Church

When in Rome… Modest dress is dressing in a fashion that does not distract, and that is appropriate to the situation. If you are attending an IFB church in Greenville, chances are that a tie will not be distracting, and wearing one may be necessary if you want to fit in. If you are attending a church in Elko, Nevada (non-LDS), chances are that people might think you are the pastor if you wear a tie. Different norms for different cultures.

Personally, ties are uncomfortable. I always disliked wearing them. I think they are unnecessary.

You act as though someone said if you don’t wear a tie you are a sinner at worst, or don’t love God at best. Did some one say that to you? If he did he is a fool.

What do you recommend for “formal wear” for men?

Remember men, the ladies are out there dressing well. What do we have?

[Jim]

That’s why I go barefoot … even in the winter time!

Actually, if we truly wish to honor God and be respectful to Him, there is Biblical precedent for going barefoot:

“Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5 ESV)

=)

It’s worth noting that if your shirt fits, your tie does not compress your neck. Just sayin’.

[Mark_Smith]

I think you all just can’t handle anything that remotely “smells like” tradition. Throw it all out!

In my opinion, the problem is when someone requires tradition just for tradition’s sake and it is masked as a spiritual issue. Not saying that is what is going on here, but that is the times when I can’t handle anything that remotely smells like tradition.

Ricky wrote:

In my opinion, the problem is when someone requires tradition just for tradition’s sake and it is masked as a spiritual issue

Amen to that. You should have seen the reaction when I altered our prayer meeting format and had the church actually … pray together as a group, rather than splitting off into groups of men and women. Judging from the reaction, you’d have though I’d burnt a Bible and poured whiskey on the ashes from the pulpit … while wearing a tie.

Let us make sure to remember that a neck tie is the world’s standard for what it means to dress up, not God’s standard. That does not make it bad (even though they originated from worldly French mercenaries), but it should also remind us that we can still be dressed up without a tie. I live in South Dakota, and a nice western sport coat with a nice (not ripped or faded) pair of jeans is considered dressed up. If you go to certain places in India- rather than wearing a tie- they would wear a colorful robe to dress up. No doubt, the tie has a much more universal recognition than the western sport coat or the Indian robe, but it has that recognition based on man’s standards, not God’s.

Exactly where did this “Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes” idea originate? Is it a tradition or doctrine? As long as a believer dresses in a neat and modest manner what else would matter? Where is the scripture for “dressing your best for God”? Where is the scripture that says you’ve got to dress up even if it is uncomfortable? I have no problem if someone wants to wear a tie. They have that liberty just like I have liberty not to wear one. Basically the article is a reaction that goes from one extreme to another. They see the sloppy dress of some and decide they will counter with their Sunday best! I understand the importance of modesty, but do you really believe God is impressed with your Sunday best clothes? If you do then that’s a good sign you’re wrong on the inside.

It’s about reverence, people. Reverence is a common denominator to legit worship from beginning to end in Scripture. It is applied in many forms, and dress is one of them.

The issue is not that every culture has different identities of reverence, as per someone’s previous comment comparing Indian attire with western attire, but that every culture has some identity of reverence. It recognizes reverence even in something as banal as attire. For example, some years ago I sat in a courtroom and observed a young lady cited (and charged) for contempt of court on nothing but what she wore to the courtroom.

I’ve no issues one way or the other about a tie as a fashion statement. There is certainly nothing intrinsically spiritual about a tie. However, in many (if not most) venues that trumpet the virtue of tie-lessness the worship emphasis inclines towards planned irreverence. I have issues with anything that seems to purposefully diminish reverence.

[Craig]

Exactly where did this “Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes” idea originate? Is it a tradition or doctrine?

I believe it originated in the Old Testament, where God Himself described His plan for the priestly garments (Exodus 28). No one is claiming that the passage directly applies to believers in this dispensation; however, it isn’t unreasonable to draw some conclusions/principles regarding God’s expectations of those who serve Him in an official capacity. Does it require a tie? No - but it doesn’t mean we approach the subject of our physical appearance before a Holy God lightly. Furthermore, we’re a royal priesthood. Does our appearance during corporate worship support that statement, given the OT precedent?