I know, for some people this just about constitutes fighting words.
But this squirrel isn’t really about what pastors should wear. Not really. I have my own thoughts and I know what I wear every Sunday. However, one of my favorite pastors, David Platt, usually wears a polo shirt. And some pastors who wear suits don’t belong anywhere near a pulpit.
So this isn’t about what pastors should wear.
It is about the justification that some give for what they wear. At least, one reason that I hear all the time.
We can’t reach younger people if we wear suits.
And ties.
And pocket squares.
But that isn’t even remotely true.
And I can prove it to you.
Think of it like this.
Turn on any late-night talk show host. You know, the ones that connect with younger people every night. Guess what they all wear.
Suits and ties.
Or turn on SportsCenter. Or any of the NFL shows. Guess what the commentators and hosts wear.
Suits and ties.
And pocket squares.
And they connect with younger people for a living. Often connecting with men. So why can they wear suits and connect with people, but pastors supposedly cannot?
Maybe it has more to do with content than attire?
Maybe people still see suits as professional and aren’t turned off by them if the person wearing the suit has something meaningful to say? Maybe we should be more concerned with explaining the gospel to younger people in ways that makes sense to them than we are concerned with dressing like them.
Truthfully, I think pastors should wear what is most comfortable for them. And by comfortable I mean what is most natural for them – within reason. I wear a suit and tie every Sunday and feel very natural in that. And if a polo shirt with khakis is what you feel most natural in, go for it. But if you are telling yourself the only way to be relevant is to dress a certain way…I just don’t think that argument holds water.
The way to be relevant is to have something relevant to say.
Meaningful.
Life changing.
Eternity changing.
Now, it is true that people may feel uncomfortable visiting a church if everyone were in suits and fancy dresses. But, in all honesty, I don’t think we have to worry about that scenario.
Do you?
There may very well come a day when wearing a suit is as antiquated as wearing a hat with a buckle on it. (Looking at you puritans.)
Think of it like a late night host
What should a pastor wear to preach?
I know, for some people this just about constitutes fighting words.
But this squirrel isn’t really about what pastors should wear. Not really. I have my own thoughts and I know what I wear every Sunday. However, one of my favorite pastors, David Platt, usually wears a polo shirt. And some pastors who wear suits don’t belong anywhere near a pulpit.
So this isn’t about what pastors should wear.
It is about the justification that some give for what they wear. At least, one reason that I hear all the time.
We can’t reach younger people if we wear suits.
And ties.
And pocket squares.
But that isn’t even remotely true.
And I can prove it to you.
Think of it like this.
Turn on any late-night talk show host. You know, the ones that connect with younger people every night. Guess what they all wear.
Suits and ties.
Or turn on SportsCenter. Or any of the NFL shows. Guess what the commentators and hosts wear.
Suits and ties.
And pocket squares.
And they connect with younger people for a living. Often connecting with men. So why can they wear suits and connect with people, but pastors supposedly cannot?
Maybe it has more to do with content than attire?
Maybe people still see suits as professional and aren’t turned off by them if the person wearing the suit has something meaningful to say? Maybe we should be more concerned with explaining the gospel to younger people in ways that makes sense to them than we are concerned with dressing like them.
Truthfully, I think pastors should wear what is most comfortable for them. And by comfortable I mean what is most natural for them – within reason. I wear a suit and tie every Sunday and feel very natural in that. And if a polo shirt with khakis is what you feel most natural in, go for it. But if you are telling yourself the only way to be relevant is to dress a certain way…I just don’t think that argument holds water.
The way to be relevant is to have something relevant to say.
Meaningful.
Life changing.
Eternity changing.
Now, it is true that people may feel uncomfortable visiting a church if everyone were in suits and fancy dresses. But, in all honesty, I don’t think we have to worry about that scenario.
Do you?
There may very well come a day when wearing a suit is as antiquated as wearing a hat with a buckle on it. (Looking at you puritans.)
But I don’t think that day is today.