Wearing a Hat In Church: Is It Disrespectful? Does It Matter?

Introduction

Discussing whether to wear a hat in Christian churches may not be a matter of eternal consequence, but it’s an interesting topic worth exploring. I’m quite sure that no one is going to be standing in front of heaven’s gates and having to answer the question, “Did you, or did you not wear a hat in church?”

Nevertheless, it’s worth discussing since the tradition of wearing hats, particularly among worship leaders, has gained attention in contemporary church settings in recent years. Anyway, let’s explore the topic, especially in terms of wearing hats or baseball caps when leading worship.

For a large number of churches, it’s seen as unacceptable for a man to wear a hat in church. However, in some church cultures, it is deemed acceptable. In many of the very modern and contemporary churches, it is acceptable to wear ball caps, sock caps (beanies), even for those leading music on stage.

I do want to interject that I’m not addressing the topic in terms of the dress code for those whom we are trying to reach to come to church. When I ask the question, “Should I wear a hat in church?” I’m not talking about new people to whom we are reaching out.

We need to recognize that it is infinitely more important to get folks into church than what to wear to church. So, in that respect, let’s make sure we should major on the majors.

I am basically asking if it’s the best thing to do for church leaders and long-time Christians.

Here’s to the Men

I am specifically addressing men here. Religious traditions have allowed both young women and older women to wear a hat in our places of worship in our Sunday Services for a long time.

Understanding the Tradition

In Western culture, there was once a strong custom that pushed against men wearing hats indoors, period. My dad, who is 87 years old at the time of this writing still has a thing about hats indoors. It was once such a cultural tradition to take your hat off inside that it was seen as a sign of respect to do so.

When I was a child living under my dad’s roof, he didn’t like it if another kid came into our house and kept his hat on. He normally wouldn’t say anything to the guests but I found out later that he didn’t like it.

Not that he was some kind of hat ogre, it’s just that when he was raised a whole lot of people believed that it wasn’t good etiquette and was disrespectful for a man to wear his hat indoors.

Quite frequently I will have on a ball cap around my house (indoors or out) and wear it for hours without thinking about it. However, my dad does. Until this very day, when I FaceTime with Dad, and he sees that I have a hat on… in my own house, he will say, “Is it raining at your house? Why do you have your hat on?”

For his generation, and my grandmother and grandfather, it just wasn’t an acceptable practice for men.  My grandmother would have asked my dad to remove his hat if he had chosen to wear it inside. And you can bet that he complied with the request!

On the other hand, it was quite acceptable and fashionable for a lady to wear a nice hat indoors with her outfit. Wearing a hat was a sign of sophistication and femininity. It has been accepted for a woman to wear a hat indoors, although not practiced the way it was decades ago. So, what about in church?

Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I am a big fan of Christian hats and caps that display something about our faith. I wear them a lot. There are some great ones here. That is a different question than whether or not it’s appropriate or inappropriate for a guy to wear a hat in church.

Hats in Church: A Changing Landscape

Traditionally, many churches upheld the practice of men removing their hats upon entering a church building as a sign of respect. However, in contemporary and modern church environments, it seems that this practice is undergoing a transformation. It’s becoming increasingly acceptable for worship team members, including men, to wear hats while leading worship on stage. 

In the past few years, quite a few of the modern, contemporary church leaders have allowed their worship team members (speaking mostly about the men) to wear hats onstage.

Those rascally music guys… always troublemakers, huh?

Okay, I was a church musician for a lot of years and we earned a bit of that reputation in the early days of contemporary worship, especially in the very traditional churches.

Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I am a big fan of Christian hats and caps that display something about our faith. I wear them a lot. There are some great ones here.

But, that is a different question than whether or not it’s appropriate or inappropriate for a guy to wear a hat in church.

Navigating the Small Controversy

The debate surrounding wearing hats in church often centers on whether it’s disrespectful or inappropriate for a man to wear them in a place of worship. However, it’s essential to remember that this debate typically revolves around personal preferences and cultural differences.

The apostle Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 11 address head coverings in a different context, referring to specific religious leaders wearing distinctive headgear, not the modern-day hats in church.

The Heart of the Matter

Ultimately, the choice to wear a hat in church should consider the cultural context of your congregation and the preferences of its members. It’s vital to weigh whether your actions might inadvertently offend or distract others. In this regard, the principles of love and kindness should guide our decisions.

In today’s diverse church landscape, practices regarding wearing hats in church can vary greatly. I know that it’s a multifaceted discussion with a range of factors, including religious context, cultural tradition, and individual expression. What is most important is that our actions reflect our love for God and our respect for fellow worshipers. For me, I certainly didn’t want my personal expression in apparel to be offensive to people,

Illustration From Personal Experience

Personally, I was a part of music leadership in various ways for churches for several decades and I didn’t allow my worship team members to wear hats on stage. That wasn’t because I thought the earth would open up and swallow us if we did.

Although I was very contemporary in the style of music I was leading, I was still traditional and a bit old-school in terms of what the worship leaders/singers would wear.

Here’s a quick illustration of how this can play out. This was almost two decades ago. We were already live-streaming our Sunday worship services. On one particular Sunday, I noticed that one of the male singers came into the early morning rehearsal donning a very fashionable cap. It was actually much nicer than a standard baseball cap.

I didn’t say anything about it at the time since this was a great guy, a talented musician, and a person of great character who would never want to offend anyone. The cap was nice, and I certainly didn’t want to embarrass him by asking him to take it off. So, I didn’t say anything and he wore it through two or three services that Sunday.

However, that week I got a call from someone in another state who had watched the Livestream for that Sunday. It was a gentleman in his 70s and he, very politely complained to me that our singers shouldn’t have hats on in the church. So, after thinking about it, and talking to the Senior Pastor, we decided to err on the side of caution.

We decided that from that point on, the guys would not wear hats onstage in the worship center of the church.

Do I think the young singer was being sinful by wearing the hat? Absolutely not.

However, the issue for me was this. Was there a good reason to wear a hat, baseball cap, etc., in church, especially on stage? And- if I knew that some people were offended by wearing hats in the church, then why do it?

At that point, it was simply a decision to err on the side of caution if we were in error at all.

I know. I know….

Certainly, we can’t live by making our decisions about life according to who is going to be offended. I’ve been through all of the worship wars and know the drill. I have had so many people irritated at me because of the modern style of music.

However, the contemporary praise and worship style of music was an overarching strategic decision of our church leaders. Wearing hats or not wearing hats didn’t affect the ministerial decision to pursue modern praise and worship music. 

Respecting Cultural Norms– If Biblical

Certainly, I think much of it is about age and the culture in which you came from. For some individuals, the wearing of hats in church remains a violation of cultural norms. Even though such customs might seem dated, they are rooted in a sense of respect for the sacred space of a church building.

Plus, we need to at least acknowledge that you can have pushback from some churchgoers, especially those of older generations. For me, if I could keep from offending even a relatively small group of people by simply not wearing a hat or cap in the church setting, then why would I want to put one on? 

If you can keep someone from being distracted or offended by simply not wearing a hat then why would you wear one?

I do understand that in many of the larger contemporary churches including the one I attend, this is not even an issue and probably never will be. But, for more traditional churches, what if it is an issue?

What Does the Bible Say About Wearing Hats In Church?

I guess this would be the most important question. What does the Bible say about wearing hats in church?

The question of whether wearing hats in church aligns with biblical teachings has been a topic of debate and discussion among Christians. To address this question, we turn to the New Testament, particularly the writings of the apostle Paul.

Paul’s Words on Head Coverings

“Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.”

1 Corinthians 11:4-5

In 1 Corinthians 11, The Apostle, Paul goes into a discussion about head coverings, a topic relevant to the broader conversation of wearing hats in church. He writes, “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” These words can be interpreted in various ways, and their application today differs from the cultural context in which Paul wrote them.

Interpreting Paul’s Teachings

Okay, so Paul’s emphasis on head coverings may not directly relate to the modern practice of wearing hats in church. During his time, the headgear signified religious authority, and removing it in prayer or prophecy demonstrated humility and respect for God. However, the intent behind these actions may be more important than the physical act itself. 

Paul identifies an activity carried out by men: praying and prophesying. Paul is referring to preaching God’s word when he says that the man who prays and preaches in public with his head covered disgraces his head.

At that time a hood-like covering was draped over the back of the head, not the face, with a piece of gown extending over the head.

He was speaking about wearing a hat as an item of clothing identified as something worn by religious leaders – such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, or Jewish teachers of the law.

So, although, personally, I’m not comfortable with men wearing hats in church, I can’t outright say that this passage is to be interpreted for today’s church and today’s hats.

Cultural Significance

​Understanding the cultural significance of head coverings in the biblical era is crucial. Paul was addressing specific customs of his time, and the teachings were rooted in those cultural norms. It’s important to recognize that interpretations of these passages can vary among different Christian denominations and cultures.

Many pastors and theologians do not interpret this passage to be about modern-day Christians, today’s hats, or long hair, which for various reasons were also addressed in this chapter of Corinthians.

Personal Expression and Respect:

​Today, the debate over wearing hats in church is often centered on personal expression and respect for the place of worship. While some view it as a matter of tradition and etiquette, others see it as a non-issue in the context of contemporary church services.

Respecting Worship Traditions:

In many African-American churches, wearing hats, often very stylish, is a cherished tradition. These hats symbolize both cultural identity and reverence for the religious setting. I think those cases are quite different than a youngster throwing on a ball cap and taking the stage. Certainly, that is my personal opinion as I will mention more later. 

Similarly, in some traditional Catholic churches, women may head coverings as a sign of respect and humility during religious services. So, once again, we see that the culture can dictate where men wearing hats in church is offensive to others.

​Modern church settings reflect a diverse range of practices and cultural backgrounds. Some churches emphasize adherence to traditional customs, while others prioritize personal style and comfort. The glory of God remains central in all worship, regardless of outward appearance or head coverings.

What Matters in Worship?

Ultimately, whether one chooses to wear a hat in church or not, the heart of worship is what truly matters. The act of worship should be guided by a deep reverence for God and a spirit of love and kindness toward fellow worshipers.

Various cultures and traditions enrich the tapestry of Christianity as long as they are uplifting, in good order, and don’t violate God’s word given to us in the Bible. We want Jesus Christ to take first place in our focus. We share the common goal of honoring the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hats In Church… Simply Disrespectful?

Once again, it depends on your church’s situation. Talk with most of the Baby Busters and Boomers- really most churchgoers over 40. Even if they don’t think it’s sinful, many of them at least think it’s a bit disrespectful according to the culture in which they came up.

But, hey, I thought we were loving and serving a God of grace. 

Yes, we are! However, many of us will note the passage in 1st Corinthians chapter 8 concerning the meat of the idols. Meats were being sold after being used as a part of rituals to false gods. There were people, apparently, a substantial number, who were offended if people bought those meats.

¹³ Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”

1 Corinthians 8:13

Some of you might be jumping up and down saying that we can misuse the “meat of the idols” passage for many issues. And that’s true. However, for me, it applied in my decision-making about this fairly small topic.

The apostle, Paul, basically explains that although meat is just meat, why eat the meat of the idols if it was going to offend or “be a stumbling block” to other Christians?

So, if I go to one of the churches that I most love next Sunday there will probably be one or more guys on the music team who will be playing or singing with a hat on. Am I going to be upset or offended because of that? No. 

Do my cultural proclivities occasionally jump in and make me more comfortable if the guys don’t wear hats on stage? A bit. As a Baby Boomer, that’s the tradition with which I grew up, and it still affects my thoughts on this. I admit it.

Am I going to let it affect my worship or be frustrated with guys in my church for doing it? No. If I thought there were massive numbers of people in the church who were offended by it, I might comment to one of the pastors. But, that’s about it.

Summing it Up

I would ask some questions at this point. Will more people be encouraged in their faith by you wearing a hat? Probably not. Will it make a huge impact in your church if a man wears a hat? Probably not.

From the time I was young in the ministry, I was taught to “pick my battles.” When you take hardline stances on issues, make sure those are the issues on which you definitely need to stand. 

So, for men, wearing hats in church is not my preference. However, can I call them sinful for doing so? No, I can’t and won’t. I know that my opinion is shaped by the culture in which I grew up.

I came up where that would have the height of rudeness and careless thinking. However, those who are younger haven’t experienced the same type of prohibitions about hats in general as Baby Boomers did. 

Ultimately, as Christians, when we gather for religious services, we do so to glorify God, and this shared purpose unites us, regardless of our outward appearance or personal style.

What my generation was taught as being very disrespectful hasn’t necessarily been passed down to a large number of modern churches. For me personally, if I were to wear a hat in church, inside a church building, my programmed emotions say that I would consider it disrespectful to God and His church, even if it is actually just tradition.

On the other hand, our pastor is as Biblically centered as anyone I’ve ever met. It’s a church with a majority of people who are much younger than I am. So, I will refer to my pastor’s judgment on this and worship the Lord even if there are hats all around! 

Or, on with the debate! Just do it with love and kindness.

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