Pastoral Slobs

Many pastors today dress like slobs when they’re in the pulpit on Sunday.

Pastors should not contribute to the ongoing slobification of America and the juvenilization of the church.

I’m not saying you need to wear an alb+stole like I do (though I think there good arguments for it).

I’m not even saying you need a clergy collar, though I think some kind of pastoral uniform is useful.

I am saying that pastoral work is man’s work, mature man’s work, so dress accordingly. Dress like a mature man — even if it’s a bit less comfortable for you. I see lots of preaching clips on social media where the content of the teaching is great but it’s hard to take it seriously because the pastor is dressed like a teenager getting ready to watch Netflix on Friday night.

Worship is a serious, reverent event, and dress is part of that.

There are reverent and irreverent ways of dressing. If what we are doing as pastors on Sunday is important, our demeanor, tone, and dress should reflect that. If the pastor gets far more dressed up when he officiates a wedding or gives a commencement address or does a funeral, what does that say about how we value our pastoral role in the worship service?

Pastors, you are representing Christ when you lead a service and preach. You are doing the most serious business that can be done this side of eternity.

Dress the part.