Written by Isaiah Doll
Photo by Rob Speed
Earlier this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine met with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to discuss a certain deal.
As we all know, the conversation went south and ended with Zelenskyy being kicked out of the White House. There were many critiques over how this situation was handled, and one popular comment I heard was about how Trump and Vance shouldn’t have “bullied” Zelenskyy over his choice to not wear a suit.
I took a different stance, one that stood apart from the emotion of the moment: This was a presidential meeting, one whose outcome could decide the fate of an entire nation. That said, it was an incredibly formal occasion, with the need for honor being sky high. In my opinion, Zelensky didn’t have a choice whether or not to wear a suit. It was a respect issue; he was going before the one country in the world who could offer him the help he needed. The very least he could have done was dress nicely to show his reverence for the ones offering the aid. But he didn’t.
That whole conversation isn’t my focus, though. I chose the selection I did because it translates so well to our faith. A while ago, I was watching one of Hillsong’s old music videos, specifically “Shout to the Lord.” I saw men and women dressed in suits and dresses as they sang on stage, praising the Father even though it had to have been pretty hot up there. They were likely not at their most comfortable. They were probably wishing they could have been wearing a T-shirt and shorts! But they dressed nicely out of respect for the King of the Universe.
I’d like to compare that to a newer song by Elevation Worship, “Jehovah.” The song is great – the voices, the instruments, everything! But when I watched the video, I saw a lead singer in ripped jeans, and other band members in T-shirts and trendy jackets.
Now, to be clear, what this is not is a criticism of these people or the band. I think Hillsong and Elevation both make wonderful music, and the clothing seen in both videos is not inappropriate. The issue I took with the latter group was that their clothing didn’t necessarily denote massive respect for the Father.
I’m not saying that the respect wasn’t there. I believe those people love the Lord. But I am saying that if anyone – ourselves included – is going to be standing before the Father, particularly if it’s in a position to set an example, they should be dressing nicely to show their reverence for Him. That isn’t to say we need full suits and elaborate dresses, but c’mon- you guys know exactly what I mean when I say “nice.”
So there’s a thought for you to ruminate on. No, I wouldn’t say clothing is a salvation issue. But we’re supposed to be the salt of the Earth, no? A city set on a hill? I believe we should be doing our absolute best to represent our Savior, and that includes in the way we dress. A little less reflecting the world, and a whole lot more reflecting its Maker.
In a question, this whole concept becomes simple: how nice will you dress for Christ?
