Ties, Formality, and Other Sundry Items

Why wear ties?

The thought struck me as I stood in front of the mirror, experimenting to see what would go best with my new grey shirt, planning my Sunday wardrobe.

Why, for that matter, should I wear the new grey shirt? Why not a polo, or a T-shirt? Being raised mostly in independent churches, I was used to a more relaxed style of dress. People sometimes come to our church in jean shorts and those kitschy “God’s Gym” shirts. Why was I even thinking of wearing these dressy clothes?

Gene Edwards says that dressing up for church was invented by Constantine, but Gene Edwards says a lot of things. Not to mention the fact that Constantine is a personal hero of mine.

Recently, I wandered across an article in Patriarch Magazine by Dan Trotter, “The Advantages of a House Church”. I hadn’t been particularly impressed by the article, at least not in a good way, but it was certainly memorable:

“…I refuse to be measured, rational, and moderate when one tries to defend neckties. Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to grab hold of a piece of wisdom that will bless you for the rest of your life, please listen to this truth: neckties are of the devil!”

One doesn’t quite know what to do when one comes across such words. I coughed politely and quickly read on:

“…I know a brother who calls a necktie a “choking spirit.” He’s right. The problem is not merely that the thing is so utterly useless; rather, a necktie is a positive evil. It’s very purpose is to choke off intimacy, and establish formality…. How many people do you know that insist on wearing a tie to church, then go home and wear one? They don’t. Why? Because they are with their family, and they don’t need to be formal with their family. Why do Christians need to be formal with their brothers and sisters?”

Well, I suppose that takes care of that. If, that is, formality is bad.

Is formality bad? Should we dress for our comfort, as if it was a simple gathering with family, or dress to respect God, as if it was a grand ceremony of worship and wonderful song? A T-shirt is certainly comfortable to wear, but would I be disrespectful wearing it in the presence of my Creator?

I’ve always liked Doug Wilson’s view on respect and formality:

“Whether we are flipping burgers in the back yard or approaching the throne of the Almighty, we want to wear shorts and flipflops. The problem is nearly universal; the only thing that varies from church to church is the extent of the damage…. The one thing needful, as C. S. Lewis once argued, is represented by a Middle English word solempne, which expresses something which is desperately needed in our worship. On either side of this solempne, we have this error … or that one. Either we are right out there on the cutting edge with worship teams, a thumpin’ band and all the rest of it, or we are content with our lazy afternoon orthodusty.”

Oooh, ‘orthodusty’. I like that one. I’ll add it to my list of theological name-calling words, right alongside ‘evanjellyfish’. Anyway:

“Like our word solemn, solempne represents the opposite of casual, but unlike solemn, it carries no connotations of austerity, moroseness, or gloom. We moderns have come to associate spontaneity with innocence and virtue, fresh and unsullied. Our adoption of unbiblical criteria means that we frequently overlook those things which the Bible associates with a healthy church, dismissing them as dead simply because they have more formality in the liturgy than we like.”

Wilson goes on to remind us of Christ’s worship in the synagogue, and how that followed Old Testament formality. He quotes Paul’s words: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor 14:40)

Well, when you put it that way… what right have I to sit slouching in my wide-leg jeans during communion or worship? Why should I ignore the tradition of the apostles and the church through the ages (Gene Edward’s view notwithstanding) in order to have a few hours of comfort? Not that jeans are more comfortable than chinos.

But, the whole question is moot. The powers that be in my home have declared that I must wear a tie, whether personal convictions are for or against it.

The red one looks nice.

Related Links:
  ”Necktie Redux”