Platform Modesty and Dress Codes
How modest is modest enough? The most common internal answer is “the same as me or more modest than me.”
And look at how that sets us up to have all sorts of fights, judgments, offenses, and struggles! You may be asking this question about serving up front, but how is this different from how you generally dress? The real issue is a discipleship issue.
The approach
Rather than slapping a bunch of rules in place about skirt length and skinny jean tightness, let’s open a conversation that asks helpful questions and gives us values to embody.
How you dress: what you’re really revealing
What does what you wear say about you?
What are you trying to say?
How does the same gender respond to what you wear? (Does he/she feel shamed, ugly, or rejected?)
How does the opposite gender respond to what you wear? (Does he/she feel turned on, distracted, or allured?)
You should know the answer to these questions.
Separate the issues
And before you assume that modesty is the issue, check to see if it’s just a style issue. Some people don’t appreciate “dressing up.” Some don’t enjoy “dressing down.” For going to church, anyway. Make sure that the standards your church chooses address both modesty AND formality.
Here are some values to live out
Honor. One definition of honor is “withholding strength in the presence of weakness.” Who is the weakest person in the room? Let me dress so my choices do not inhibit them. I choose to honor others by my choice of what I wear.
Simplicity. The last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself since we are a team of people creating spaces where people can meet with God. It undermines the only reason I am on a platform, so I dress simply.
Awareness. I’m usually on a raised platform, so the angle people are looking at me is “from below.” I look at what I do from the perspective of those I lead.
Freedom. I wear things so I can be the freest in worship – never having to worry about accidentally revealing myself or drawing attention to myself when I raise my hands, wave flags, bounce, dance, or jump.
Wholesome Beauty. Images of sexuality and sensuality surround us. We can see things on a screen we would never look at if we were standing in the same room with the same people. Whether or not I’m being projected on a screen, I choose to express wholesome beauty that isn’t sexy in what I wear.
Unity. Not rivalry. You’re more important than I am. As we follow Christ together, I encourage and unite my team and congregation by how I choose to dress.
Sensitivity. When in doubt, leave it out. I choose something else if I ever have a tiny “check” about wearing something. I listen to the Holy Spirit since He’s the primary worship leader.
Submission. There’s nothing like being in the safety of walking under authority. Ultimately, if my leaders suggest I wear different clothing, I do. Simple as that. I make it easy for them to lead me.
Is there one thing you’re compelled to change about how you dress when serving in worship?
-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)
Platform Modesty and Dress Codes (Nº 39)
