The Christian Dress Code

Enjoy this message from Pastor Tyler Schoenberger called "The Christian Dress Code" on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at Reach Church in Bear, Delaware!

There is a spiritual dress code every believer must understand, and it has nothing to do with what you wear on Sunday morning. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a parable about a king who throws a wedding feast for his son. The invited guests refuse to come, some out of indifference and others with outright hostility. Their response mirrors how people throughout history have reacted to God's invitation through Jesus Christ. When people do not truly see Jesus for who He is, they either treat His invitation as an afterthought or reject it altogether.

After the original guests refuse, the king opens the doors to everyone. The poor, the broken, sinners, and outsiders are all welcomed in. This was a radical declaration that God's kingdom is not an exclusive club for the elite but a personal invitation extended to every kind of person from every background. However, the parable takes a surprising turn when the king notices one guest not wearing a wedding garment. In that culture, the king provided the garments for every guest, so refusing to wear one was not a matter of poverty but of pride. The man trusted what he had fashioned for himself more than what the king had generously provided.

This garment represents the righteousness of Christ. Just as God clothed Adam and Eve after their sin in Genesis, He has always been the one who clothes His people. Through what theologians call the wondrous exchange, Jesus took on our sin and shame and covered us in His own righteousness. Paul makes this clear in Galatians, saying that those who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ Himself. When God looks at a believer, He does not see their performance or failures. He sees what Christ has accomplished on their behalf. The invitation is open, the garment is freely given, and the only question is whether you will receive