I lost count of the number of times I have heard people say that God says “we can come as we are” when it comes to the way people dress at church service. Some are dressed so sexually provocatively that the church message is lost in lust or indignation from others. I hear people say that “it may be all they have in their wardrobe”. My response is, I just smile, and prefer to save the truth for another time. Most of those dressed in that manner are color coordinated and adorned with complementing accessories.

Actually, that phase “come as you are” is not found in the bible. The Bible does have a variety of verses that imply the same message, but they are about God’s amazing grace not church attire. In Isa 1:18 God offers the invitation to come even though your sins are as scarlet, and He will make them white as snow. In Rev 22:17 there is another invitation: He says “Come! Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”. God desires us to come to him as we are so that He can cleanse us; we are not to wait until we feel acceptable. Does this include an illicit relationship or sinful lifestyle? Yes, it does, but being cleansed means change.

Some churches teach that it makes no difference how you live or dress, as long as you believe. This is contrary to the Word of God. Scripture clearly says that the things from our past lives should be left behind and that our former friends will think us strange for doing so (1 Peter 4:3–4). And Rom 13:13 commands us not to walk in, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, strife or jealously.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But when we come to the Lord house regularly, we should anticipate change and if we dress in humility, that will always be acceptable.