Can we wear hats to church?

from the old testament

• God required His people in ancient Israel to revere Him (Deuteronomy 10:12), and one way that was manifested was in the clothing God's priests wore (Exodus 28:2-3, 28:40-43; Leviticus 16:4). That principle of revering God is timeless (Proverbs 9:10; Psalm 33:8). Whether hats should be worn in church falls under the larger question, "Does this communicate reverence to God?" Everything we do should be filtered through that question.
• What we wear should also communicate who we are: God's children, those who love and honor Him. The Mosaic Law addressed clothing, warning about wearing clothes that contradict God's design for men and women (Deuteronomy 22:5).
• God knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). The right clothing with the wrong heart condition means nothing. We can fool others, but not God. Our clothing should reflect our identity as God's people.

from the new testament

• In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul explains how head coverings communicate either reverence for or dishonor of God's created order. Paul writes, "Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, . . .  For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God" (vv. 4, 7). For a man to cover his head in that culture was to present himself in a feminine way and, thus, dishonor God's created order. The bigger principle is not wearing anything that communicates disrespect for God's design. Western cultures have generally regarded men wearing hats during worship as disrespectful.
• By contrast, head coverings on women indicated submission to their husbands and to God's created order: "But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven" (1 Corinthians 11:5). A woman's long hair was also considered a head covering (1 Corinthians 11:6). Paul calls head coverings (whether a piece of clothing or hair) as "a symbol of authority on her head" (1 Corinthians 11:10). In other words, the covering showed respect for God's authority, which includes his design for male and female roles.
• Cultural norms differ by time and place, and Christians should abide by the ones that communicate respect for God. As Paul wrote, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• If a believer is in a culture that regards wearing hats to worship services as disrespectful, the Christian should adjust to that cultural convention. As long as it's God-honoring, we should respect others' cultural traditions during worship to avoid causing anyone to "stumble" (Romans 14:20).

implications for today

Looking someone in the eye is respectful in the U.S., but the opposite in some Asian cultures.

Leaving food on your plate compliments a Middle Eastern host ("I fed him too well!") but could insult an American one.

Sitting in the back seat of a taxi seems elitist to an Aussie but the norm to an American.

The same actions can be interpreted in vastly different ways, depending on the context. In Western cultures, a man may be considered disrespectful if he wears a hat during a church service.

Thankfully, unlike people, God knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). He can detect the attitude behind the action. Jesus said to "let your light shine," but He also said, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them" (Matthew 5:16, 6:1). The difference is the heart: A heart that reverences God and seeks to glorify Him will reflect that outwardly—whether that means wearing a hat or going bare-headed to church.