With an album title inspired by Flannery O’Connor’s haunting words “Grace must wound before it heals,” Justin McRoberts uses his musical platform to usher listeners into the far reaches of grace. He draws a needed distinction between our ways and the identity of Christ, since Christianity in itself fails to exhibit pure grace. Nothing makes this theme more clear than his cover of Pedro the Lion’s “Secret of an Easy Yoke,” a critique of the Church who reduces God to a distant figure accessed through feel-good rituals.

If there is going to be change in the world, McRoberts knows there must be “Change” that brings each individual life and then offers it to the broken. Such surrounding brokenness is illustrated powerfully in “When They Bring You Down,” a song from God’s perspective to those who have done injustice. Christ fights for a healing justice on behalf of the oppressed, enslaved and demeaned individuals described in this song, and it is because of God’s special interest in justice that we can join McRoberts in asking Him to “Be Not Far Off (Psalm 22).”

Grace Must Wound is a collection of honest songs that showcases McRobert’s unique acoustic-driven sound. His picture of grace paves the way for his upcoming work Deconstruction, scheduled to release this spring. This album will focus more specifically on issues of justice and mercy, as well as the God-given capacity for humans to respond.

-Tesni Searles

Listen to Justin McRoberts on Myspace

Share This

“What are you living for? What is the deep secret purpose that controls and fashions your existence? What do you eat and drink for? What is your marriage — your money-making and toilings and plannings? Have you the assurance that the ruling passion of your life is the same as that which brought Christ to the manger, led Him to fight the foul fiend of Hell in the wilderness … nailed Him to the Cross of Calvary … If not, you may be religious … but I don’t see how you can be a Christian.”

These are the words of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. In a book that shattered my life, Trevor Yaxley outlines the lives of two people who did the unthinkable with Christ. William & Catherine: the Life and Legacy of the Booths is an account that will take you to the heart of our warrior God.

Yaxley’s book provides black and white examples of how to take action, especially significant during Justice Week. The converts of the Salvation Army took on staggering injustices including the infiltration and abolition of child prostitution, revolution of factories that had taken countless lives, the fall of brothels and revival in the most unthinkable place and lives of their time. You will see the mighty works of God in the past and be faced with the question of what against hell are you doing now?

This same Salvation Army is still fighting for the lives of the innocent in this very city of Beaver Falls. On Sunday afternoons from four to six, come with us to serve along-side these weary soldiers. Go to the Facebook group “God Lead” for details. Last Sunday I spoke with one of the officers as she prepared the evening meal. She shared past victories and her sadness that not many were brave enough anymore to proclaim Salvation in the streets. Then she looked at us.
“You must do it. You must go down amongst the perishing crowds. Your happiness now consists in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in bearing their cross and your Heaven in going to the very jaws of hell to rescue them. Will you answer His call? Will you go?” — William Booth.

-Amanda Griffith

Share This