The musical Ragtime is set at the turn of the 20th century. It is a story about racial inequality, racial injustice, and the plight of the marginalized and the cast-offs of society. At the end of the musical, one of the main characters sings a song called “Make Them Hear You.” The haunting lyrics go like this, “Go out and tell the story, let it echo far and wide, make them hear you, make them hear you.”
For people of faith, if we are truly following Jesus and growing in our relationship with him, the world needs to hear us…the world needs to hear about what God is doing in our lives now more than ever. With all our doubts, our faults, and our failings…with our unique perspectives and different gifts…we are witnesses to Jesus Christ in our own one-of-a-kind way. We are witnesses to the fact that in Christ, death does not have the last word; hearts are changed, the broken are made whole, and people from every corner of creation become one.
Church, why do we exist if not to carry on the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ in this world? The grace and love of Jesus transcend race, ethnicity, gender, societal norms, and prejudices. It is good news for everyone…sinners and saints, rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, outcasts and insiders. God loves you no matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been. This is our witness as God’s beloved community, so go out and make them hear you!