Rest assured that the Lord is much more interested in what is going on in your heart than He is about what you wear when attending the church meetings.  Personally, I think it is fitting to dress respectfully when attending a church meeting, but I would never judge or criticize another for what they are wearing.  I’m just glad to see them there!

We are warned against judging others by what they wear to the meetings.  We read in James 2:1-4, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”  How easy it is to prefer the rich and well-dressed over the poorly dressed ones.  The Lord does not want us to be partial and play favorites with some while treating others with contempt.  We should treat all people with love and be welcoming to them, no matter how they dress.

We have an exhortation for women to dress in “modest apparel”.  I think we can apply that principle to men as well.  1 Timothy 2:9-10 tells us, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in MODEST APPAREL with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”  Do we gather with fellow believers to show off or attract attention to ourselves?  May our hearts guide us to dress modestly so that we do not stand out.  We should want all the attention to go to the Lord, not to ourselves.

We need to keep in mind that going to a church meeting is not a social event.  We are not there to impress others with our material goods.  We are not there to show off a new suit or a new dress.  We read of the early church in Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  This should be our purpose, too.  We come together to worship, to fellowship together in the truth, to teach and be taught, to share the Good News of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  As long as our clothes are modest and as clean as possible, it doesn’t matter what we wear.  1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that “the LORD looketh on the heart.”  He looks beyond what we are wearing and looks at the inner man.  So, let’s not dress to impress and let’s not be impressed by what others are wearing.  While gathered together, let us stay focused on the One who loved us and gave Himself for us…the Lord Jesus Christ.  (353.4)