Latest / Jo Watson: Unfiltered Faith / That's My Seat
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. This is the space where we talk about real experiences, real pain, and real grace. Today's letter comes from someone who walked into a church hoping to find peace and instead found rejection. Let's look at what our listener wrote. Hey Pastor Joe, I went to a church on Sunday, sat down, and someone asked me to move because that was where someone else usually sits. I thought I'm sorry, what? I'm a visitor and I finally worked up the nerve to walk into a church and my first message was basically you're in somebody else's spot. The spot was not marked reserved, and the woman that came in did not appear to be some sort of dignitary or special person on program. So I felt crushed. Am I wrong? Because if protecting a seat matters more than making a stranger feel welcome, what are they really protecting? And what should my response have been? And maybe the uncomfortable question is this are we trying to bring people to church or just trying to keep the church comfortable for the people who are already there? Signed. upset and not sure I will return to that church. Wow. Dear upset and not sure I will return to that church. Thank you for your letter and thank you for sharing it in this space. I am so sorry about the rejection you experienced. Let's talk about what happens when the place meant to heal ends up hurting and how God still meets us there. First, church should never be about protecting seats. It should be about protecting souls. When someone walks through the doors of the church, they're not just looking for a sermon, they're looking for sanctuary. And sometimes God sends us into uncomfortable spaces Not to expose our weakness, but to reveal his strength. So if you've ever felt unseen, unwelcome, or unworthy, hear me clearly. You are not forgotten by God. God saw you walk into that church. He saw the courage it took for you to show up. And God is saying to you, Come. To me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew chapter eleven, verse twenty eight. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he didn't say you're sitting in someone else's seat. He said if you knew the gift of God, and he invited her into relationship, not regulation, John chapter four, verse ten. So to you. And to anyone listening today who's been wounded by church people who made you feel like you didn't belong. God is not like the people who hurt you. God is the God who saves seats for the prodigals. He is the God who makes room for the broken. And he is the God who welcomes you home. And let me stop. And hear and say something to my brothers or sisters who have asked someone to move because someone else is used to sitting in that spot. Every person who walks through our doors is someone Jesus died for. When we protect a seat more than we protect a soul, we've missed the purpose of the sanctuary. The church is not a place of ownership, it is a place of welcome. Romans chapter fifteen, verse seven says, Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. That means our first response should always be hospitality and not hierarchy. God is sending people into his church. Who are searching for hope, searching for healing and belonging. If they encounter rejection instead of love, we've failed our assignment. The Spirit of God is calling us to make room, not just in our pews, but in our hearts. Isaiah chapter 56, verse 7 declares, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. That includes every race, every story, every background, and every seat. I want to stop right here. And pray for every heart that has felt rejection when they have visited a church. Let's pray. Father, we come before you for every heart that's been turned away by rejection. Heal the wounds caused by religion without relationship. Remind us that your house is a house of mercy, not exclusion. Teach us to see people the way that you see them, not by their past, but by your promise. In Jesus' name. Amen. Let me say to someone listening today the Spirit of the Lord is saying, I am restoring the meaning of my house. I am raising up voices that will not guard seats, but guard souls. I am calling my people to open doors wide for the weary, the searching, and the forgotten. My presence will fill the places where rejection once sat. So if this episode speaks to you, hold on. Because the same God who allowed you to be turned away is the God who will turn your pain into purpose. He will use your story to heal someone else's pain. If you've ever felt like church wasn't for you, remember this. Jesus is for you. He's not waiting for you to be perfect. He's waiting for you to come home. Romans chapter 8, verse 1 reminds us there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That means your seat at Christ. His table is secure. And if you've never accepted Jesus as your Savior, this is your moment. You don't need a reserved seat. You just need an open heart. And you just need to say, Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Come into my heart and make me new. If you've prayed that prayer, welcome home. And then find a Bible-based church that teaches the Word of God, that loves people deeply, and that gives you and helps you grow in grace. And if you're still searching, know this: unfiltered faith is your family until you find one. And 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 UnfilteredFaithPod.com. We would love to hear from you. Your testimonies and your experiences matter because they help others grow. They encourage weary hearts and they draw people closer to Jesus. Until next time, family unfiltered faith, God is moving, so stay ready and to God be the glory.