They'll know we are Christians by our love

"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."

We sang my absolute favorite hymn this morning, They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love. This hymn was written in 1966 by Peter Scholtes when he was a parish priest on the Southside of Chicago. He needed a hymn that would bridge racial and socioeconomic divides, and one that would help those fleeing the church because of hypocrisy remember why they were Christians. 

"We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."

These words, for today's church, are still such a needed reminder. "The Church" for this writing is the Christian church and all it's denominations. Every denomination is seeing their numbers dwindle while also hearing that people don't need a brick and mortar place to worship. We hear that people are spiritual and that their parent's church is full of hypocrites. We have all witnessed hatred and judgemental proclamations from 'Christians'.

"We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."

If we took a long, hard look at today's church and the teachings of Jesus, one may be hard-pressed to find that love that is spoken of in this song. 
However, this week alone I have been witness to that love though. I saw that love, that true love in the collective grief that our community felt when we found out that our 9 year old champion of life had lost her much too long fight with cancer. If prayers could cure disease, cancer wouldn't have stood a chance against those prayer warriors. 
I've seen love and faith in a young family whose baby was born with health challenges. Challenges that are unfair and unfathomable to witness in anyone, much less a precious newborn. Her prayer chain literally wraps around the world. 
Both of these families have been enveloped in love, in Christian and just plain...love. 

"All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."

I truly believe in the words of this hymn. If we did guard each man's dignity and  work side by side, that they would know we were Christians by our love and not our hatred. That if we all strive to show others that love instead of telling them what they're doing wrong, then they will know we are Christians by our love. 

Seriously, what have we got to lose?



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