What Should I Wear? When Conviction Meets Culture

I remember a Bible study taught by my hometown pastor on pulpit etiquette—one that stayed with me because of how it was handled. He grew up in a church culture where women were required to wear dresses to church, and for years, that standard was treated as biblical. Over time, however, he came to an important realization: what his church taught was not a biblical requirement—it was a tradition.

Scripture does call women to be modest and “shamefaced,” but when we slow down and read those passages in their proper biblical and cultural contexts, an honest question emerges: What does modesty actually look like in today’s church? The Bible gives us principles, not clothing lists—and applying those principles requires wisdom, discernment, and cultural awareness. As a result, interpretation and application will naturally vary, and different churches will execute these principles in different ways.

During that teaching, my pastor explained that he did not want women wearing tight jeans while ministering on the platform. But what stood out to me most was how he said it. He did not claim divine command. He did not spiritualize personal preference. Instead, he stated plainly—paraphrased—“This is pastoral preference,” and then explained why he believed tight jeans were not ideal in a public ministry setting.

That distinction mattered.

There is a real, often-ignored difference between what the Bible explicitly says and how churches apply biblical principles in practice. Confusing the two is where legalism, shame, and spiritual control often begin. I respected my pastor because he acknowledged that difference with clarity and humility.

So the question is not whether tight jeans are sinful. The real question is this: Why might they be considered not ideal on the platform when singing or ministering—and how do we navigate this conversation without turning biblical principles into man-made rules?

Honestly, I prefer the first image—the woman wearing the white suit. That preference reflects my own sense of reverence, appropriateness, and how I personally understand modesty on the platform. But I cannot—and should not—elevate my preference to the level of Scripture. While there are sound biblical principles and supporting passages that align more closely with what image one represents—such as modesty, humility, and minimizing distraction—the Bible itself does not prescribe a specific outfit. What it gives us are principles, not uniforms.

That distinction matters.

When personal preference is clearly identified as preference, it allows room for grace, discernment, and honest conversation. When preference is misrepresented as a biblical mandate, it crosses into tradition—and sometimes control. Wisdom requires us to hold our convictions firmly while holding others with humility.