The week of July 11th the Jeopardy quiz show had a category in which the contestants had to name something concerning the weekend. One of the clues yielded the answer, “Your Sunday Best.” According to Wikipedia, the definition “traditionally refers to fine clothes reserved for church attendance.” If the current trend continues, this expression will soon be added to the scrap pile of archaic expressions, like, “Far out,” and, “You’re the ginchiest.”
The current trend is that of “Casual Sunday.” More and more congregations that one visits finds the “Sunday Best” concept to be passe. Obviously, many no longer believe, “Clothes make the man,” a phrase that has its origin centuries ago. More recently Mark Twain wrote: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Of course, this quip is more humorous than logical. Clothing is still influential for many. Why else do people believe what evolutionists say, if not because of the white lab coat that makes them look “official”?
Some may say that the idea of wearing your “Sunday Best” is not in the New Testament. Probably, it’s somewhere in 3 Timothy near where Paul admonished the young evangelist not to enter the assembly without a tie. The point, however, is that different cultures have different expectations. The Bible doesn’t forbid wearing an AC/DC T-shirt and shorts while serving on the Lord’s Table, either, but hopefully brethren have enough sense to know better. The Bible does teach that Christians abide by a certain decorum. In Corinth, the women needed to wear veils in public so as not to be confused with temple prostitutes. While no one would make that association today in this country, it was necessary for ladies to include that as proper attire in that city.
God is not going to speak the Ten Commandments to us personally when we come together for worship on the Lord’s day, but on the occasion when He did give the commands to Israel, He told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes” (Ex. 19:10), which they did (v. 14). They made themselves ready for the Lord (Ex. 19:11, 15). Is there some reason why we should not be equally prepared for worship today—in mind, body, and dress? We are to give Him the best we have, are we not?