Social Justice

Social justice is the greatest evangelistic opportunity of the 21st century. Men and women of all ages desire to make a difference in the world and to respond to the gross injustice that they see around them from the prison system in the United States to sex trafficking in Thailand. When given the opportunity, as people engage in acts of justice, they will have the opportunity to encounter Christ. It is not surprising that worship and justice go hand in hand. Music has the potential to capture one’s heart and soul and to propel people toward action, sustaining them in times of hardship and suffering and motivating them to take steps forward to provoke positive change. I appreciate the articles that you printed recently about musicians such as Jars of Clay, Sara Groves, and Steven Curtis Chapman and the way their music is raising awareness about the need for social justice as a way that one lives out their faith. However, I am more compelled by the untold stories of local musicians and others who do not have the same magnitude of platform. There are many men and women who are faithfully using their gifts in worship to raise awareness and propel people to action because of their faith and belief in the Gospel. For example, Justin McRoberts is a singer songwriter from the East Bay, California. He has decided to use his voice to provoke change by becoming an advocate through Compassion International. At concerts and shows, Justin features children who can be sponsored through Compassion. He and his wife carry boxes of unsponsored children in the trunk of their car and they tell people about them whenever they have the opportunity. The McRoberts are faithfully using their gifts to encourage the church to get involved and to make a difference. Justin says, “If the Church is serious about its role, we must earn the right to be heard by caring for the poor and the oppressed.” Local churches and pastors must be committed to seeking out and encouraging local artists to further the cause of compassion and justice. My hope is that readers will know you don’t have to be a big-name musician to be able to make a difference. However small the step, whenever people are compelled to respond to the call of Jesus to meet the needs of the ‘least of these’ (Matthew 25:40), it is a true act of worship.