Generally the line for anything is "If I have to ask myself whether this is appropriate then it probably isn't."
I don't think it will keep you out of heaven for wearing jeans, but i do think that you should show some respect and at least put forth a little effort to look decent. That effort may be slacks and a tie based or it may be jeans and some type of nice shirt depending on you economic situations. I don't think t-shirts and/or sandals is putting forth a whole lot of effort
Much of it has to do with poor people a hundred years ago didn't have quite the wardrobe we have now, so it was a matter of respect wearing your "sundays best". Times are quite a bit different when nearly everyone can get a presentable outfit, and church has turned into a fashion show.
My church dresses up for the most part, lots of suits, etc. I usually dress down. But, I'm an unusual case being an atheist church-goer; respecting God isn't an issue. If it's a heart issue, I don't do it out of disrespect; I do it because I'm tired of dressing up for work. If I had to dress up on Sunday, I probably wouldn't go. And, I know they like it having an atheist coming to church. One could look at as a disrespect to my fellow congregant. I see it as an opportunity for them to exercise their religion. Jesus wouldn't have batted an eye at how I dress and neither should they. I feel that if a Christian were to reproach me for my dress, they'd be the ones causing others to stumble, not me.
Before this gets to out of hand and ends up in the D&D... If you go to church, any church or place or worship, any religion or divinity of your choice... The divinity would know the intentions of the visit. Be it to show off, pick up chicks, mock or judge others, attend secret meetings to decide the course of world events or to actually show respect / worship / communicate with the divinity. Unless a certain type of dress is required by the divinity or congregation one is only dressing in a certain way or style as to not be ostracized. One would hope the congregation you have chosen would either be accepting of your preferred dress or dress in a similar manor.
I was always of the belief of dressing up, or at least business casual...however, when I was in Albuquerque, NM, a lot of folks wore shorts and it took me a while to get use to the concept...then I moved to Dallas and well, some people did that as well... Not sure if it's acceptable, but it is tolerated and in the summer, I'll go in a polo and shorts...IMHO, god just wants you to be there, no matter what you wear... Also, it's hard to not notice the hot chicks while in church, but that's for another thread...
Since I inspired this thread, I guess I need to respond... I think it was justtxyank that said this but it all depends on who is running the church (the elders, deacons, pastors, etc.). I am probably one of the few men at my church (and we have close to 1000 members which is big considering the size of the town I live in) that wears a tie on a consistent basis. My wife is pretty adamant that I wear one every Sunday but every once in a while, I won't wear one. The funny thing is that one of my old bosses always wears a tie to work every day but always dresses down at church whereas I am the exact opposite - I rarely wear a tie to work but will wear one every Sunday. I mean it is how you feel and what you feel comfortable with that should dictate it. But at the same time, you don't want to dress in a way that is a distraction to others. And to me, wearing flip flops near the end of October with it being 44 degrees outside is distracting. But as I established in my flip flops thread, I really have more of a problem with flip flops in general than someone wearing them to church. Because like someone else said, I highly doubt that God is stressing out what Joe Blow is wearing to church - He has more important issues to deal with. But, yea it really is more of a respect thing, I believe.
The church that I go to makes a point of letting everyone know that they can dress however they want. Lots and lots of flip-flops. But my wife wants me to dress nice. I meet her halfway and wear jeans and polo.
In our congregation, some people wear suits, some wear T-shirts. Noone seems to care either way. Once a year, the week after Easter, we have "Western Service" outside. Everybody wears jeans & boots (even the Pastor) and we sing old country gospel songs with a make-shift country band. A bit different for a Lutheran Church...but Hey, we're Lutheran and at this weekends Fall festival at church, they sold beer.
No thanks, I'm fine with society the way it is now. Women dress skimpier and skimpier, while men are still fully clothed.
