[Instead], let justice be the prevailing thing that is going down. When all these people come together, in Jesus’ name, what is the action point? Every chance I get to help mobilize and activate the church to action and to justice, I’m doing it.

CCM:  What practical advice would you give to listeners who want to take their social justice commitment a step further?

Israel:  A lot of times when we think justice, we think of big, sweeping, change-the-world-in-one-fell-swoop kind of moments. I’m convinced sometimes the power of one—and being active and pursuing justice—doesn’t always require money. It doesn’t always require a passport. Sometimes it just requires crossing the uncomfortable line that we have interpersonally and showing somebody love.

In order to get a passport, you have to drive past a lot of hurting people. In order to get to the airport, you have to drive past a lot of hurting people. In order to get in your seat in your row at church, you have to step over a lot of hurting people. In your row at church.

We have the ability every morning to decide, “I’m going to do something for somebody else. I’m going to live a life today for others.”

CCM:  I’ve heard you say you were a “black kid who grew up in a white family in a Hispanic neighborhood.” Sounds like you lived diversity. How do you incorporate your own cross-cultural influences into your music and message?

Israel:  It’s almost subconscious now. Even though my parents were the pastors of the church, and it was a bit of a strict environment, when it came to music, my dad was very loose. I was influenced by Andrae Crouch and The Beatles, by Keith Green and The Eagles, Motown, Stevie Wonder, classic rock. So musically, it was this multiple-stream thing coming into my conscious all the time.

I remember this pastor said, “I really like it when you do your black sound.”  With a smile, I answered, “Pastor, when we’re all around the throne singing to God, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!’ are you gonna’ be in the more black section of that? Or the white or the easy listening section?” He laughed. He realized this is ridiculous when you think about it.

I believe I am existing in this generation to help the church worldwide see that we don’t have to wall ourselves off and say, “This is how we do it, so we’re just going to do it like this.” Worship is not for us. It’s not about, “What can I get out of this moment?” It’s about offering. It’s about sacrifice.

CCM:  You are involved as a worship leader at Houston’s Lakewood Church. What is your response to the criticism your senior pastor, Joel Osteen, has been receiving from Christians–those in the body of Christ?