I saw an adult woman with many piercings and tattoos in church, and I felt uncomfortable. Am I wrong to think there are standards?

Last Sunday, I faced a moment of personal reflection as I entered the sanctuary. I noticed a woman in her 40s, covered in tattoos and with multiple piercings.

Growing up, I was always taught that church was a place of reverence and humility, where modest clothing reflected respect for the sacred space. Her bold appearance challenged my deeply ingrained assumptions about what is considered “appropriate” attire in church.

I began to ask myself: are my views on church clothing still relevant today? Should we even have expectations about how people dress in places of worship?

Challenging Traditional Ideas of Church Attire

Seeing this woman’s unconventional style made me reconsider the traditional views I held about church clothing. After the service, I politely suggested to her that her look seemed a little too bold for church, and that perhaps a more subdued appearance would be fitting. Her response was straightforward: “How I look has nothing to do with you.” Her words left me thinking—was my discomfort rooted in outdated beliefs about church attire, rather than any real issue with her appearance?