THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

            "They'll Know We Are Christians", also known as "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" or "We Are One in the Spirit" is a song by Catholic priest Peter Raymond Scholtes (1938-2009).  The title of the song originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christian believers of the early church: "Behold, how they love one another."
          The song is based on the scripture John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another."

          Now salvation can not be earned or purchased.  It is a gift of the Father who is the only One who really knows who belongs to Him. However, this scripture from the book of John, gives us one of the characteristics that can be observed  in Christians – love for one another.

             Peter Scholtes, a Catholic priest serving at St. Brendan's parish on the South Side of Chicago in 1966, penned this song when he could not find a suitable song to accompany a series of ecumenical and interracial events for which the youth choir he led was to sing. Like many songs coming out of the popular folk music of the 1960s, it connected to the societal upheaval of the decade. Scholtes's text connected the faith story of young people disillusioned with the landscape of American culture.
          Scholtes later left the priesthood, married, and had an active life in the public sector, where he was an author and international consultant with a focus on helping "businesses engage employees' talents more fully, humanely, and effectively".  The song's popularity later earned it the title "anthem of the Jesus Movement". In retrospect, Scholtes's song, along with other selections associated with the music of the Jesus People, helped establish guitar as the primary instrument for worship in the growing contemporary worship model. 
          Now the question for us this week should be, if we claim to be a Christian, does our life model a real love for others, despite their color, or culture, or attitudes, habits or treatment of us.  And does our life model praise for the Father, to Christ Jesus, His only Son, and to the Spirit who makes us one.
          And are we known as a Christian 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. 

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

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.

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.

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.

You can listen to it here.    LOVE