Jesus does say, "'Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.'" (John 7:24) So, I understand that Jesus does not have us judging preachers by their outward clothing.
About "the impression" something gives. Hopefully, each person can pray and think for oneself, so that your outward whatever can not decide and control what that person thinks of you. Ones can tend to want to suppose that people all will think alike so their "impression" can be controlled all in the same way! But this is what oppression tries to do > not interested in personally getting to know each individual with each one's unique interests, perspectives, ways, needs, problems, faults, and abilities.
Well, Peter does say,
"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)
So, it is wrong for a minister to try to lord oneself over others. And, yes, ones can use fancy and expensive clothing in order to make themselves look superior to others. This would be wrong, if this is what someone is trying to do.
And our Apostle Paul does say >
"For we dare not to class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)
We need to be concerned with how we are in comparison with Jesus, not how we can make ourselves look in comparison to other people and groups. And if we measure by ourselves, this can mean judging by how we can make ourselves look. And any psychopath can put on that act!! and even fool people into making him or her an ordained minister. "Jesus makes us able to tell the difference, deeper than outward appearance."
Paul says he became "all things to all men", in 1 Corinthians 9:19-24. I consider Paul means that he would become like the ones he was reaching to. So, I understand that he would not try to make himself look very different. This could show how Jesus came in human flesh and blood, in order to reach us "at our level". God wants to be with us as we are, not distant like certain ministers can be distant and using various behaviors and clothing to make themselves distant.
But if someone has religious garbs, I understand Jesus does not want me to judge only by outward standards. But in case someone justifies and promotes what is vain and outward, the spirit of this can keep the person in emotional degradation so the person is incapable of personally and deeply relating in love with various people; and so . . . with the distant dress code can come deep distantness which is of stress and not the tenderness of Jesus love >
"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
So, yes we all are commanded to forgive, "even as God". So - - limiting confession and forgiveness to only certain specially exalted people also can be distancing from the real God. Jesus in all of us (Galatians 4:19, 1 John 4:17) is forgiving, and in us Jesus shares with each of us, making each of us more and more tenderly forgiving the way He is . . . as much as we grow in Christ > therefore, instead of being concerned mainly or only with the clothes we put on >
"put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (in Romans 13:14)
"and be clothed with humility" (in 1 Peter 5:8)
We need example leaders > 1 Timothy 3:1-10. This description does not say anything about outward dress. The attention is to character and how a man has been proven at home with his own family first, before he may be trusted to "take care of the church of God" in our Heavenly Father's family caring and sharing way. At home, by the way, how does he dress while in loving sharing and caring with his family ? ? ? Does our leader's dress show that we are family, in Jesus?
Well, there are church culture people who evaluate one another by outward things like what clothes they are wearing. And, because they evaluate by such superficial standards, any psychopath can put on the acting and talking and show that they are looking for, and even become accepted as an ordained minister! So, no we do not have to go along with this, plus it can be very dangerous to evaluate people only by the show they put on.
Jesus' "sheep", even . . . not only His trusted leaders . . . can tell the difference between a good shepherd and a wolf in fancy religious clothing "or expensive outfits". Because sheep have the sense of smell; we in God's love have "senses" (Hebrews 5:14) so we can smell the difference
So, if we have fooled ourselves into trusting the wrong person, this is our own fault, I consider, since we can make sure with God.
Therefore, we need to make sure we do not help to tempt church members to judge by outward things; and minister for them to become able to discern deeper in God's love which has His own light > Philippians 1:9.
