Do You Judge?

"But you -- who are you to judge your neighbor?" -- James 4:12b

One of the things I love most about the church I attend now is that no one seems to care what anyone else wears. I look around and see everything from jeans to suits to fancy dresses and everything in between. What I don't see is anyone looking down a snobby nose or casting a judging glare from the pulpit.

I once had a pastor who preached every spring on how to dress, singling out women. Apparently, how females dressed caused young men to sin. I would look around the conservative, dressed in their Sunday best congregation, and wonder what he could possibly be thinking. Still, I agonized every Sunday over what I would wear. It was ridiculous. My clothes are all fairly conservative. I tried to joke about it. Many older women were furious and determined. Pantsuits were their norm and they weren't about to change. Young girls stopped coming to church in droves.

We were judged by what we did or did not wear. Does God expect us to wear dresses, pantyhose and high heels to church every Sunday? Does Jesus love us less if we dress in jeans when we worship Him? Nope. He doesn't care.

It's not about how we dress. It's about our heart. It's about how we feel about Jesus when we gather together with others. We aren't supposed to judge. That includes pastors judging how people dress. God wants all His children to come to Him, no matter how they are dressed or where they are in their lives. We are all welcome at His altar. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you.