Comments on: It Shouldn’t Matter, But… (Part 2)

By: Jim Wellington

Jim Wellington — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:29:03 +0000

I had an interesting experience teaching English as a Second Language in a large church. The students from Asia, Africa and South America were so confused by the “trendy slob” look of the people attending church. They perceived it as disrespectful. They mostly had much less money than we did, but they always wore their best clothes when they went to church.

In one sermon, the youth pastor (who was wearing a tee shirt and jeans) said he “distrusted pastors in suits” and that “God looks at the heart”. My students were not impressed. I think they saw through the whole “I’m holy because I’m a slob” routine that is now so popular in the American church.

I thought about this a lot. It really seems now that we have moved into a reverse snobbery, where only people who dress like adolescents (even if they are 50) are perceived as Godly - even when they drive SUVs nad make large salaries, and mature men and women who dress well are ridiculed.

The students were disappointed and surprised. I felt somehwat ashamed for the pastors and the rest of us.

By: Kem Meyer

Kem Meyer — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:12:38 +0000

Gotta say… I’m grateful you and Bobby are blogging. And, I gotta say… I appreciate your innovative ministry. And, your humble leadership. Great work, men. I’m proud of you and I look up to you. Few bloggers catch my attention these days and you are one of them.

By: Reverend Scottie

Reverend Scottie — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 03:27:21 +0000

I often have the opportunity to speak at chapel services held during secular events. I recently taught at a car show while wearing my favorite Valvoline T-shirt. Afterwards one of the guys at the service came up and commented how much better he could relate to a guy who dressed more like he did. Contrast this to another show I attended where the “preacher” was shouting on the side of the street in his 3 piece suit and everyone just ignored him and passed on by.

By: Terry G

Terry G — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:01:55 +0000

I was shocked the first time I saw a video of Craig G wearing a suit. It just struck me as out of place.

Kinda like a story I heard about a pastor in the middle of farmland. It’s my understanding that he probably preached in his overalls, because He was one of them. He didn’t set himself apart by wearing a suit and tie. Which makes sense to me. If a person feels like their pastor is one of them they’re more likely to listen to what he has to say and open their minds toward God.

By: Derrick Henslee

Derrick Henslee — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:22:24 +0000

I think it’s funny that our desire for meeting our culture in the USA is scrutinized. It’s pretty acceptable that when a missionary goes to any other culture they dress like them, learn their language, eat their food, sing their songs, dance their dances, and participate in everything that they do, short of sinning, in an effort to reach them for Jesus.

For some reason in the USA we think that because I live in the same state or town as the other guy that we’re the same. That couldn’t be further from the truth! We’re different. Jesus alludes to this paradox in his prayer in the garden. To be in the world but not of it. We’ve got to start approaching our culture the same way a missionary approaches theirs.

By: Craig Groeschel: “It Shouldn’t Matter, But…” at PastorResources Blog

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:12:43 +0000

[...] In the second post he addresses the issue of dress—whether a pastor dresses cool, professional, like a slob, or like a pimp. As pastors, our goal is never to be “cool.�? But we can discredit ourselves with some people before we even start talking simply by the way we look. Or we can gain some credibility when someone thinks, “Well at least he/she looks normal.” [...]

By: Rocket

Rocket — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:39:27 +0000

Isn’t it redundant to say “Dressing like a pimp or Wayne Newton”? I believe Craig should wear a coat of many colors and a big pimp hat like Kramer did on Seinfeld.
Danke Schoen

By: mike

mike — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:54:47 +0000

it absolutely does matter how you present yourself. its funny craig that you would be almost stoned for such a common sense idea. btw, i shop at target for my clothes and i look dang good. its not what you got, its what you can do with it :)

By: phill longmire

phill longmire — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:45:00 +0000

DANG IT…no more speedo’s while preaching..>!!!!

Thanks alot

By: Clif

Clif — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:26:11 +0000

Don’t you all remember the Disciples and Jesus Himself dressing up went they went out to preach, oh wait a minute, they didn’t! LOL. Seriously, if you look like your average Joe then you can still dress nice, dress up, or dress down and if the Holy Spirit is with you then you will get the message across. But dressing like a ‘pimp’ or Wayne Newton…you’re probably not going to be reaching to many lost souls that way.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:13:38 +0000

Kyle,

I didn’t say image/appearance is everything. It is not and never will be. But for some people, it matters. It is one of many details (including much more important things like prayer and the Holy Spirit) that I think about when trying to do anything and everything to reach people for Christ.

BTW, I resemble that big nose remark! :)

By: Rocket

Rocket — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:36:34 +0000

I think there are so many important things to be concerned about that clothing style is not critical. Be who you are as far as style is concerned. I will admit that I am very amazed at the lack of modesty I see from people who in other aspects would be considered spiritually mature. I serve in a large Christian organization and there is a significant amount of cleavage on display. Guys struggle with their thought life enough without having a jug fest.

By: Kyle T. Panter

Kyle T. Panter — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 21:45:48 +0000

I don’t know if I would absolutely agree that image/appearance is everything. My pastor has a big nose (by his own admission) and I’ve never paid much attention to it either way. ;) The X-factor in this whole line of thought is the power of the Holy Spirit grabbing someone’s attention irregardless of what a pastor is/isn’t wearing. John the Baptist wore camel skins and ate locusts - and I would jump at the chance to go back in time and follow him around for a day. So for me, appearance is only a very small part of influence (if any at all). We can not improve the Holy Spirit’s power of influence by what we wear.

By: Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:21:40 +0000

A planting coach one time told me to “dress one notch above your crowd”. He criticized me for wearing jeans and shirts that were untucked. Said I should wear business casual based on my crowd - Khaki’s and a polo shirt to be exact. I tool his advice literally. Did it help? I have no clue. We didnt reach people because of that and no one said - Hey you seem like the pastor because you wear polo shirts.

I repented from this sin of trying to please people and doing gimmicky things and started being me. I like jeans. I wear them to work. I wear them to shop. I wear them when I go out with my wife. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t at church to impress people. I wasn’t impressing God.

Now - I don’t wear the same jeans to church that I mow grass in for obvious reasons. And I do pay attention to my wardrobe and try to have on nice jeans and nice shirts (untucked when appropriate). I don’t want to be a slob. But I dont want to be someone Im not. I just want to be me - authentic, and real.

I know a pastor that preaches in flip flops and is reaching tons of people. He’s just being himself.

By: Jonathan K.

Jonathan K. — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:17:35 +0000

Craig,

Out of curiosity, how many successful business people do you know call LifeChuch home???

I’m just curious cuz I know you don’t wear a suit and tie every week. :) LOL.

By: Brenton Balvin

Brenton Balvin — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:38:26 +0000

Great series of posts Craig.

I really liked Nate’s comment that the dress of a pastor should compliment who he is. I would then venture to guess that a majority of the people who attend his church will be people with a similar style. Which kind of goes back to what Robert was saying.

A pastor should be true to who they are (thank you Amy), and then they should go after those people whom they are best suited, pardon the pun, to reach.

I would be even more interested to hear the opinions of people outside the church on this question…

By: Paul Lowe

Paul Lowe — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:55:59 +0000

Sunday I preached in jeans and a nice shirt. I received a lot of complements from my young adults. I might try it again soon may be on Easter. I think people some relate to me better however, I have some who would much rather see me in a suit and tie.

O well!

By: Charlie Wallace

Charlie Wallace — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:08:11 +0000

Craig,

I think you are absolutely right. It goes back to “missional” methodology. Obviously, if I gelled my hair and wore Diesel jeans and went to plant a church in Zambia the fact that I looked “trendy” wouldn’t matter. As one who has lived in both the South (South Carolina) the new South (Raleigh/Durham) and Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) there is a definite difference in those three locations and how people dress and what is considered ‘normal.’ I wore a searsucker suit on Easter to a church in Ft.Worth in 2003 and was laughed at. In SC, that would have been considered, and still is, normal. However, when I tried to gell may hair here they called me Dracula. So, it’s good that we don’t copy fashion since its so different in different parts of the country - let alone the world.

By: Travis

Travis — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:23:50 +0000

I’ve seen Craig preach for about 9 years now in his typical casual attire & I think I’ve been warped.
Our lifegroup started a DVD study a few weeks ago. The first thing I saw was a pastor dressed in a suit & tie and I commented “Oh great. A suit & tie. Somebody wake me up when it’s over.” The study has actually been quite good, but those were my honest first thoughts.
On the other hand, I remember the first time my parents (typical southern baptists) came to church with us and they commented on the fact that Craig was preaching in jeans. (I guess that falls in line with dancing amoung baptists.) They got past it and really enjoy coming to church with us now, but their was an initial judgment. So I would say dress to your crowd. However I think the crowds that need to be reached typically won’t appreciate a suit and tie.

I’ll leave you with this:
In a movie that was recently released, a guy goes in for a job interview not exactly dressed the part of an interviewee. The interviewer asked him, “What would you say if a guy walked in for an interview without a shirt on, and I hired him? What would you say?”
He replied, “He must have had on some really nice pants”.

By: Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:16:40 +0000

Amber and Nate,

I like both your thoughts. I love the idea, “Be your best self” and “ones attire should compliment style.”