Be Careful What You Think of What Others Wear to Worship
James gave us a warning.
It is a temptation to think highly of someone wearing very nice clothing to worship and to think less of someone not so dressed up.
Consider how James put it.
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)
James says if we treat people differently because of what they wear in the worship assembly, we have shown partiality and “become judges with evil thoughts.”
God does not show partiality based on appearances (Acts 10:34-35). Do we want to be guilty of treating people in a way God does not?
Everyone has an opinion about what should be worn to worship God. I’ve heard some good thoughts shared before and some rather foolish arguments made as well.
What often gets lost in the discussion is the point made here by James. Do you allow how dressed up someone is (or isn’t) for worship to affect your thinking and treatment of that person?
While our clothing should be modest (1 Timothy 2:9-10), we shouldn’t be overly concerned about whether brother so-and-so is wearing a suit and tie or whether sister so-and-so is wearing a dress or jeans.
Remember the warning of James.
Don’t show partiality.
Don’t become judges with evil thoughts.
To put what James said positively:
Treat all people as important and valuable.
Think the best of people (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).