Over the years we have seen a steady decline in the preparation that people make for worship. This decline seems to have accelerated in our assemblies in recent months. Grown women in faded jeans. Men in the most casual of attire are common occurrences anymore.Many of us have seen the change and have been saddened by it. Yet we have been hesitant to say anything since it is always pictured as a matter of personal preference in the area of Christian liberty.
At the slightest suggestion that greater care should be taken, some immediately have the attitude of "It's my business what I want to wear" or "Nobody is going to tell me what to do." This attitude is self-condemning.
The truth of the matter is that it is not a matter of personal preference at all. Many of us like to wear jeans and T-shirts. They may be extremely appropriate for certain activities; but here is the message: Lack of preparation for worship is an offense against God! He has always demanded the first and the best. Nothing less in worship has ever been acceptable to Him. Anything less today is like offering Him a sick lamb or a crippled goat.
We are not suggesting a dress code for Christians. We are not in the enforcing business, but we are concerned about acceptable worship and these matters have been ignored too long just because they are not popular. So the bottom line is this: 1. Lack of preparation for worship is an offense against God and not against any one of us; and 2. What you wear on the outside does reflect your attitude on the inside.
How then can we approach God dressing in a way that we wouldn't want to meet the mayor of our city or even interview for a job? Christians, Think!
