Toyosi Etim-Effiong Encourages Women to Dress Modestly for Church Services
Nigerian actress and media personality Toyosi Etim-Effiong has recently sparked a heated discussion on social media about appropriate church attire. On August 25, 2024, Toyosi shared her thoughts on Instagram, urging women to dress modestly when attending church services, distinguishing their church attire from what they might wear to a nightclub or party.
In her Instagram post, Toyosi emphasized the importance of recognizing the sanctity of the church, describing it as a place where individuals come to connect with God. She wrote, “My gender, please, nau, let’s dress differently to church. The cloth for Zaza is not the cloth for the church. Church is supposed to be a holy ground. A place where you’re (supposed to be) GUARANTEED to meet with GOD – your creator, the King that earthly kings bow to, the One your bosses acknowledge as the ALMIGHTY!” Toyosi questioned why some people seem to show more respect in their attire when attending social gatherings than when going to church, asking, “Is church about GOD or about something else? and if is about both Him and something else, what is priority?”
The post quickly gained attention and sparked a range of reactions from social media users. While some supported Toyosi’s call for modesty, others criticized her remarks as being overly judgmental. One Instagram user responded negatively, saying, “Hush!🤐Who made you fashion police of churchgoers?! I too know😏. If that’s all I got to wear that’s what I’m wearing. The most important is that I went to church & not to be judged. I’m pretty sure God will not judge me based on that. He only sees the inward appearance not my outward appearance (that’s human problem). No, thanks for nothing.”
On the other hand, some users agreed with Toyosi’s perspective, arguing that modesty should be a universal principle for all believers, regardless of the setting. One commenter wrote, “I don’t think believers should dress indecently at all. The Holy Spirit you claim to have in you should speak to you when you dress indecently. Church or not, practice modestly. You’re a priceless jewel bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Stop exposing your bodies, please.”
The debate extended beyond the initial post, with other social media users chiming in with their opinions. Another commenter expressed support for the idea of modesty in church, stating, “ALWAYS MY GENDER!!!! Trying to form ‘woke’ with indecent dressing even inside church! Awon omo Eran!!!! I love being a Catholic sha, you will not enter lailai!!!!”
Toyosi’s comments have clearly struck a chord, highlighting ongoing discussions within the religious community about the balance between personal expression and reverence in places of worship.
