Where in any religious text is the verse "COME AS YOU ARE"?

Perhaps: Matthew 6:25. So I say to you, Take no thought for your life, about food or drink, or about clothing for your body. Is not life more than food, and the body more than its clothing?

Possibly 1 Samuel 16:7 7. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Then there is 1 Peter 3:3–4 3. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

I think that’s Nirvana’s Nevermind 1:1.

I denno. Isn’t that some lyrics from a Nirvana song?

I know that the phrase crops up in a church song, but I can’t find a specific verse. I think that this is more likely a case of the Bible being completely silent on the matter, beyond preferring you be dressed. The Sunday Best phenomenon seems to be a human addendum, mere tradition and excess religiosity.
Though it is nice if you dress up; one comment on the matter is, “You’d dress up for a date, wouldn’t you?” to which I’d add that you dress up for parties and certain other social events.

Calvary Chapel made quite a stir back in the day when they set the dress code standards to “key areas clothed, plz” and left it, and complaints about barefooted hippies were met with, “They’re not gonna hurt the carpet”. They’re still pretty laid back about what you wear; shorts and t-shirts are not uncommon, where the climate permits. Pastor Chuck Smith, founder, has been known to preach in Hawaiian shirts.

Yeah I think this refers to the chapter on Jesus’ infamous bachelor party. And lo did Mary maketh a fine pie of apples.Behold the nazarine & his bretherin did perform soddamy on said feast. And so it came to pass,that the holy penis did become blistered & charred.Mary said unto him “You shall be grounded my son for desicrating the fruits of thy father.“And lo this lesson Jesus did learn well.Aaaaaameeeeen!!

@ucme Blasphemy never helped anyone. :\

Infamy infamy they’ve all got it in for me.Didn’t do the Python team any harm.

@ucme I think that there might have been something funny in your dinner.

@Nullo ..& what may I ask is even the remotest bit amusing about fish & bread?If it’s good enough for the five thousand, then it’s good enough for me.

@ucme There were no clown-bits amidst the loaves and fish.

@EgaoNoGenki: they mean it metaphorically, rather than literally. it means that you don’t have to put on airs or try to act “better” than you do already.

@Nullo Each to his own.

It’s…Kirk 8:12; in the book of Nevermind…
Come as you are
as you were
as I want you to be
as you are
as a friend, as an old enemy
take your time

I agree with Nullo about the reference being in an old hymn ~
‘Just As I Am’, written in 1835:

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

It’s a concept that’s seen throughout the bible, but the specific phrase is never used (as far as I am aware). See Romans 5:8, Isaiah 55:7, Matthew 11:28. There are far too many examples to list since it is a concept that is seen throughout scripture. As a few people have mentioned, the phrase is seen in many songs (the first one that comes to mind for me is Hookers and Robbers by Charlie Hall).

The concept goes way beyond dress code. And some (those who think it best to dress up for church) would argue that it does not apply to dress. The way people are expected to dress tends to be culturally determined.

i think sunday best is a western phenonmenon , who cares what you look like, i believe the bible speaks of modest dress but that is it….1 Timothy 2:9–10 and read it in the KJV: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

I believe it refers to the verse where Jesus says: Come all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Billy Graham describes it best when he says, “You don’t have to try and fix all your problems and then come to God, rather, come just as you are. With all your problems, all your cares, and all your concerns, and lay them at the feet of Jesus.” When God looks at a man or a woman, He looks at the heart. I believe we encourage people to come to church regardless of their attire. God will begin to change the inside which will eventually effect how we dress on the outside.

@usaloveorleaveit I marked your answer as great right before reading the last half of your final sentence. I instantly regretted it. I completely disagree with the idea that a changing heart will lead to dressier clothes.

AIDJE: Sorry I wasn’t more clear about the “change of attire”. Please forgive me for any confusion. Many people come to church dressed in extremely skimpy clothes that are not proper for church. We ALWAYS except people just as they are, however, when Jesus comes into our heart, eventually we begin to have convictions, not only about how we dress, but, how we speak, where we hang out, what we look at, etc.. Hope this clears up the earlier comment. Thanks.

@usaloveorleaveit Okay; that makes a lot more sense. I thought you were talking about casual clothes, but you were talking about skimpy clothes. Thanks for clarifying.