As has been mentioned by multiple writers at Identity Dixie, we now live in an ultra-casual society. Gym clothes are considered appropriate for most events. And, even white collar folks no longer wear a white collar. Unsurprisingly few people (besides some Fundamentalist Baptist Churches as well as Latin Mass Catholics) dress up for church. You might see a few gray hairs wearing a suit and tie, but for the most part it seems people don’t wear anything more than a polo.
In fact, many people don’t even wear a polo, they simply wear gym clothes and flip flops to church. Now, you may say God doesn’t care about the outside and only cares about the heart. While this is true, what we wear on the outside reflects the inside. What does it say about modern society when we will get dressed up to go to a wedding or to see a President, but not to worship the King of the Universe? Some traditions are worth keeping, and Sunday’s best is one that should be brought back.
Oddly enough, this ultra-casual church trend still seems to be relatively new. Its origins really lie in the Jesus movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Jesus movement was started in the West Coast among hippies who thought “conventional” Christianity was too stuffy and judgmental – as well as being incompatible with their hippie values. Many thus felt they were restoring apostolic Christianity. They tended also to be highly millenarian and charismatic in their theology. The Jesus movement mostly subsided by the 1980s, but its influence only continued to grow. The Jesus movement was largely responsible for the growth of contemporary Christian music and worship. The movement was also key in the rising popularity of the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard churches.
By the 1990s and the early 2000s, contemporary Christian music and worship began to be mainstream among much of American Evangelical Protestantism. This is due in large part to the Baby Boomer generation taking on the mantle of leadership within the Church. As a result, the Church began to adapt a more casual and contemporary style of worship. This was thought to be a winning strategy in attracting younger Generation Xers and millennials by trying to make the Church more appealing and “cool.” Although the Fundamentalist wing of Evangelicalism was not pleased with this trend, most of Evangelicalism began to accept the new style of worship.
This strategy was, as we see today in overall attendance trends, unsuccessful. Many millennials are now abandoning their rock band churches. Ironically, many are reverting to liturgical Protestant denominations like the Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed Churches. Many are even becoming Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox! The Baby Boomer generation seems to think that it’s the millennials who want this style of worship, but often times it’s more popular among the Boomers themselves. So, obviously the ultra-casual contemporary services hasn’t been as successful as was hoped for. I think this is due to a lack of sacredness.
There is something to be said about treating the little things in life as special occasions. This would include sitting at the dinner table and eating a meal together on ceramic plates and silverware, versus eating supper in your pajamas while watching Netflix. It may be the same food in either situation, but the quality of experience is totally different in the first situation. This same principle applies to our worship services. When we wake up Sunday morning and put on our nice clothes, that we may not wear the rest of the week, it conveys the idea that worship of God is no ordinary event. If you simply wear cargo shorts, flip flops, and a t-shirt to your church, the sense of sacredness is gone. It feels like you might as well be going to the beach or Walmart.
At Identity Dixie, the plan is to “Retake Everything.” Advocating for the return of Sunday’s best is certainly one of those things. Some of you might say, “but no one does these things anymore.” I know it’s hard to be the lone wolf, but you must be the one to lead the pack. And, if you aren’t comfortable wearing a full suit and tie to your church, just try to dress one notch above the average modern church goer. If you’re a man, maybe start wearing khakis and a button-up to church. If you’re a woman, begin wearing a casual dress to church. If we can just take baby steps in the right direction, it’s a start.
I hope this inspires you all to help lead our people in reclaiming our lost traditions. Remember that when two or three are gathered together, we are in the presence of the Heavenly King. Yes, God ultimately cares more about what’s in the heart, but let’s not forget the sacredness of our worship. Hopefully, we can all do our part in restoring the reverence lost in our modern services.
-By Dixie Anon
O I’m a good old rebel, now that’s just what I am. For this “fair land of freedom” I do not care at all. I’m glad I fit against it, I only wish we’d won, And I don’t want no pardon for anything I done.
