When God told Solomon exactly how to build the temple, he told them exactly what the preists should wear. They were the only people who could go into the holiest of holies, which was where God was, in his presence. He was so serious about it, they would fall dead if they didnt get it right. Every bit of it, from the sacrifice, to the clothes, to the condition of their heart. God was so serious about it that they would tie a rope to the priest so they could drag him out if he fell dead. That way those who went in after him wouldnt also die. Then the vail was rent when Jesus died. In comes the new testament. In the new testament. It does say how men and women should dress, every day. One argument was that was every day dress, has nothing to do with church. According to that arguement we should be more concerned with our every day dress than when we go to worship God. I dont agree with that. Now, if theres anything to the church service you attend each sunday, we all get to be in the presence of God, if we meet the conditions. Thats a gift from Jesus. So, did God decide he wasnt worried about how we present ourself when were in his presence? Like Johnnyloco said, theres scripture that would back up both sides. Just look at the way people dress these days.are we really headed in the right direction? If God said to dress this way every day, do we really believe he meant every day except when we go to chirch? Thats just silly. I believe God still cares about everything he always has. Just like the bible says, he hasnt changed. We humand have changed. 100yrs ago a persons best set of clothes were their "sunday best". So, somewhere down the line, someone read the same bible we read and decided they should wear their best to church, and that went on for a pretty long time. Matter of fact, i know it was that way when i was a kid and still is that way alot of places. Then there was a movement that told people the bible really says something different, its not really the way it had ben taught for thousands of years. God has not changed. We humans have changed and almost 100% of the time or changes are not for the better. Now we have men dressing like women and vise versa, even preachers. Doing exactly the opposite of what God said to do. But its ok, God will accept you just the way you are. Their is some truth to that statement but if God does accept you just as you are and you dont experience a change in your life for the better, i dont think you really got anything. Being touched by God will change a man. Itll change everything about him, the way he walks, the way he talks, the way he dresses, what he keeps in his refrigerator. God will make him a new man. And that new man will respect God.
The way the High Priests in the Old Testament dressed has nothing to do with believers today. They were under the covenant of the law, not the covenant of grace. You won't find anything in the New Testament concerning dress, other than forbidding people to dress provocatively. And yes, this is all the time, not just at church. I understand your concern for the way that people have watered down God's standard, but in this case, it's not a standard. How much of the law do we want to go back under ? I for one have been delivered from that by God's grace. I'm not tryin to sound argumentative at all. It's just not something that's addressed in the N.T. ( other than what I mentioned about dressing modestly ). In the old days people had work clothes and "their Sunday best", But even then, those that had their field overalls on might have had a white button down shirt under them. As stated earlier, if you are convicted of it, then that's something you need to do. Roman 14 vs, 13-23 speaks of not causing another weaker brother to stumble over food. You could apply this teaching to clothing as well. You are right that God is unchanging. But His relationship to us has changed through the New Covenant. This isn't a license to sin but it's a new covenant that keeps us from no longer being yoked to a set of laws that we could never keep. Laws that existed to reveal our need for a Savior. See pretty much the whole book of Galatians for reference. The foundation of the law consists of 2 things. Love the Lord with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself, see Mathew 22 vs 34-40.
