# Why does Rick Warren wear jeans and t-shirts in church? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198 "2015-03-17T14:01:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/1 "2015-03-17T14:01:38Z")
Why does [Rick Warren](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Warren) dress so casually while performing his functions as a clergyman? It always struck me as kind of odd that a man of the cloth would dress exactly the same way that I do almost every day, i. e. wearing jeans and black t-shirts. As I understand it, Warren is usually considered a conservative which makes it even more surprising that he doesn’t dress conservatively, even on Sundays. (Note that this is meant to be a factual question, not to discuss his religious or political views). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/2 "2015-03-17T14:12:49Z")
I imagine it’s because he wants to look like just an ordinary guy. As for dressing “conservatively”, different sects have different standards and traditions about how one ought to dress in church. I don’t know the details of Warren’s sect, but I imagine that it considers such garb in church unremarkable. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/3 "2015-03-17T14:14:33Z")
This is just my observation but - Jesus was a man of the people, God in human form sent to live amongst the people and be just like the people. And wear what the people wore, so he could be on their level, man. Just like Rick Warren. They’re just humble shepherds of men. I’m no Bible scholar but I don’t recall anything directing us to dress up for church. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” but what does that mean according to dress? Are khaki pants any more holy than jeans? Fancy garments and robes don’t seem to fit with my perception of “conservatism.” Sounds like something born-again churches would reject as being too _Catholic_. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/4 "2015-03-17T14:15:31Z")
As I understand it Warren wants the members of his church to wear casual clothes so the visitors who are not used to going to church do not feel out of place and are therefore more likely to stick around. He wears casual clothes himself to model what he wants his congregation to do. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/5 "2015-03-17T14:49:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I imagine it’s because he wants to look like just an ordinary guy. As for dressing “conservatively”, different sects have different standards and traditions about how one ought to dress in church. I don’t know the details of Warren’s sect, but I imagine that it considers such garb in church unremarkable. This is the correct answer. There are giant entire denominations, and huger swaths of non-denominational churches, where dressing up for church just isn’t a thing. (Or anyway, dressing up in a suit.) ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/6 "2015-03-17T15:14:40Z")
Yes, for most protestant nondenominational churches, casual dress is the norm. Since the 60’s and 70’s many of these, like Calvary Chapel, are somewhat based on the idea of “throw away tradition, stick to the Bible.” They have eschewed things like traditional hymns, traditional instruments, traditional dress, traditional church sanctuary construction, etc. They may be “conservative” on certain things that they interpret as unchanging truths of the Bible (homosexuality is a sin, etc), but are much more willing to reflect the rest of normal life. This is seen as Jesus-like. He was willing to throw out the traditions and overly complex rules of the Pharisees about how to dress and how to wash, but was very keen on following the Word of God. This also seen as a way to bring in the unchurched. You need to be welcoming to anybody. Salvation is not only handed out to those that can attend in a suit. A verse that is applicable “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16 NIV) ---
**Author:** ![chaika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chaika/32/405_2.png) [@chaika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaika)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/7 "2015-03-17T15:29:02Z")
No idea about Rick Warren. But I read somewhere that in churches with largely working-class congregations, it is typical for people to dress up for Sunday services. In contrast, in churches with more affluent congregations, members are likely to wear relatively formal clothing to work all week, so they are more likely to dress casually for church. I don’t know whether this theory actually holds true and if so, whether it can explain Rick Warren’s attire. But I found it an interesting idea. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/8 "2015-03-17T15:59:39Z")
I believe I am one of the few remaining people in the Western Hemisphere who wears a suit to church, but I also wear a suit to work where the standard is “business casual” and most people wear jeans. My pastor wears an [alb](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alb) when leading worship, so as far as the congregation can tell he could be wearing a pink tu-tu underneath. Although he generally wears boots, which are visible. When other people lead worship it is generally business casual. God doesn’t care what you wear. ELCA Lutheran. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/9 "2015-03-17T17:54:18Z")
I have a few pairs of ragged old Levi’s that are very holy indeed. There are churches so casual that they gather to worship in the nude. [Here’s one. (No NSFW pics.)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/10/nude-church-white-tail-virginia_n_4763199.html) (ISTM I’ve read about others too.) ---
**Author:** ![Weeping\_Wyvern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/10 "2015-03-17T18:06:00Z")
I believe clergymen ought to wear vestments, so I don’t really have a dog in the fight about casual civilian garb vs. formal civilian garb. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/11 "2015-03-17T18:52:06Z")
> [@Weeping\_Wyvern](#): > > I believe clergymen ought to wear vestments, so I don’t really have a dog in the fight about casual civilian garb vs. formal civilian garb. I do agree it’s useful to have some sort of visual clue as to who is supposed to be leading this gathering, and vestments are a nice nod to tradition. We can often tell by who’s facing in one direction while 300 others are facing him/her, but still sometimes one wants a bit of style. The more casual approach as mentioned helps make the church experience less intimidating and more welcoming to the person who may otherwise feel s/he’s walking into a place where they may be judged. And it’s really more of a situational thing, you don’t expect to show up to High Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in flipflops and a mesh top just as you don’t show up like that for an interview with Mitch McConnell, but it’s not as if it’s evil to do so. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/12 "2015-03-17T19:33:00Z")
Nowadays, people dress casually for all sorts of functions they used to wear jackets and ties for. Church is no different. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/13 "2015-03-17T19:39:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I imagine it’s because he wants to look like just an ordinary guy. As for dressing “conservatively”, different sects have different standards and traditions about how one ought to dress in church. I don’t know the details of Warren’s sect, but I imagine that it considers such garb in church unremarkable. Before I came out to myself as an atheist, I attended a church where such casual garb was unremarkable. It was a “God looks on the inward man” thing. I know a guy who wore shorts every (warm) Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/14 "2015-03-17T19:56:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m no Bible scholar but I don’t recall anything directing us to dress up for church. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” but what does that mean according to dress? Are khaki pants any more holy than jeans? The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt 22:2-14; Lk 14:16-24): > [@](#): > > The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ For many are called, but few chosen." ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/15 "2015-03-17T20:39:02Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt 22:2-14; Lk 14:16-24): > > > [@](#): > > > > The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ For many are called, but few chosen." Thanks. I don’t interpret that as being the answer to the question “why do people dress up for church?” and [this random explanation doesn’t seem to either](http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-wedding-feast.html). Is this parable cited as a reason for why one should dress up for church? Or why priests and pastors wear vestments? I am not trying to argue at all, I am seriously answered in the answer. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/16 "2015-03-17T21:56:26Z")
I always wear a suit to a wedding or funeral (never in church otherwise). Sometimes I’m the only one. Doesn’t feel right going casual. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/17 "2015-03-18T09:43:07Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Thanks. I don’t interpret that as being the answer to the question “why do people dress up for church?” and [this random explanation doesn’t seem to either](http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-wedding-feast.html). > > Is this parable cited as a reason for why one should dress up for church? Or why priests and pastors wear vestments? I am not trying to argue at all, I am seriously answered in the answer. No, I’ve never heard anyone say that is a reason to dress up for church. It just came to mind as something an extreme Biblical literalist might cite, but again I’ve never heard anyone actually do it. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-rick-warren-wear-jeans-and-t-shirts-in-church/715198/18 "2015-03-19T05:16:52Z")
Our pastor did an experiment. He asked everyone to dress up for church for a month, wear their best closes. Then the next month he asked that no one wear a suit. to come to church wearing “T” shirts and jeans. And he and the staff observed how everyone acted and reacted. After the experiment be brought his observations to the church. He and the staff observed that we were more friendly when we did not dress up. We stayed longer in the lobby after service talking with each other. That was the last Sunday he wore a 3 piece suit on Sunday.