Latest / Jo Watson: Unfiltered Faith / Freedom to Worship without Judgement
Transcript
- Jo Watson: Welcome back to Unfiltered Faith. I'm Joe Watson, and it's time to breathe. Time to slow down. Time to let your shoulders drop and time to step into the sanctuary. Not the sanctuary we're all so familiar with, but the one that God is building inside you. Today we're talking about worship. Worship is bigger than any language. Because it was never meant to be contained by it. It's the kind of holy reality that words can point toward but never fully hold. And worship doesn't begin with a song. It doesn't begin with a raised hand. It doesn't begin with a shout. Worship begins with the posture of the heart. Worship is the heart turning its full attention toward God. In an act of reverence, love, and surrender, expressed in whatever language your spirit speaks. It isn't divine by volume, it isn't defined by posture or ritual, it is the inward honoring of the one who is holy. And today's conversation is about that very theme. A listener wrote in with a question. That many people carry quietly, especially in churches where worship looks loud, expressive, and outward. Let's listen to this letter with compassion. Dear unfiltered faith, our church leadership has expressed resentment in the way some people don't sing during praise and worship, sparking criticism of those who sit. Doing other things or just sit quietly. I've also heard others criticize those who don't raise their hands in praise while the worship music is playing. Please speak to the different ways people worship and whether these criticisms are legitimate. I look forward to hearing your response. Thank you. Thank you for your honesty. Your letter carries the weight of someone who loves God, loves the church, and loves worship, but is troubled by the pressure to worship in a specific way. Let me say this clearly. Worship is not a performance. Worship is not a personality test. Worship is not measured by volume, posture, or Or expression. Scripture says in John chapter four verse twenty four, those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Spirit and truth, not style and expression. Some people worship loudly, some people worship quietly, some people worship with lifted hands, some people worship with folded hands, some people worship with Tears, and some people worship with silence. And God receives every one of those expressions when the heart is sincere. Criticism of someone's worship posture is not spiritual maturity, it is spiritual misunderstanding. Because worship, and this is important to remember, is not about what people can see. It's about what God can see. To everyone listening, maybe you've felt judged for not worshiping like the people around you. Maybe you've been told you're not engaged because you don't sing, shout, dance, or raise your hands. Maybe you've even been made to feel less spiritual because your worship is quiet. But hear me, worship has many languages. And God is fluent in all of them. Let me say that again. Worship has many languages, and the God that we serve is fluent in all of them. Scripture says in 1 Samuel chapter 16, verse 7: Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. People look at hands, but God looks at the heart. People look at posture, but God looks at surrender. People look at expression, but God looks at intention. And scripture also says in Psalm 46:10, be still and know that I am God. Stillness is worship. And silence is worship. And reflection is worship. And listening is worship. The problem is not that people worship differently. The problem is us when we assume our way is the only way. Worship is not uniform. Worship is intimate, which means it is tailored to the person doing the worship. I want to stop right here with a heart of gratitude. That we live in a country where we are free to worship. And I want to lift up every listener who has ever felt judged, pressured, or misunderstood in worship. Let's pray. Father, today we lift up every listener who has ever felt judged, pressured, or misunderstood in worship. We lift up every heart that loves you but expresses that love quietly. We lift up every soul that worships in ways others cannot see. Give your people freedom in worship. Give your church humility in worship. And give your leaders wisdom in worship. worship. Teach us to honor every expression that comes from a sincere heart and remind us that you alone, you alone define what worship truly is. In Jesus' name. Amen. To everyone listening today, hear me when I say your worship is valid. Your worship is seen. Your worship is received by God, and your worship does not need to look like anyone else's. You will worship without fear, you will worship without pressure, you will worship without comparison, and you will worship in the freedom of the Spirit, because God delights in your worship, because He delights in you. And remember this. Worship is the heart's native language, not the body's choreography. You don't have to sing loud to be sincere. You don't have to raise your hands to be reverent. You don't have to shout to be surrendered. Because God sees you, God hears you, and God receives you. If you are carrying a weight that feels too heavy to hold, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional therapy or pastoral care. Reach out. Get the support you need. You deserve that kind of care. And if you would like to send in a question or share a story with Unfiltered Faith, You can reach us at Joe at Unfiltered Faithpod dot com. We would love to hear from you. Your testimonies and your experiences matter. They help others grow. They encourage weary hearts, and they draw people closer to Jesus. Until next time, we are family. Unfiltered Faith. God is moving. So stay ready and to God be the blessing.