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
 

LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS

  This is a feature where once each month I share one of my personal favorite hymns.

 

        It is difficult to choose my very favorite hymn, but "Like A River Glorious" certainly ranks as one of my top favorites.  I especially love to hear it sung by a congregation or an ensemble without any instruments.  

          It does have great harmony, but more importantly, the words always speak to my heart.  In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah.  Now, I admit that I struggle with the words of the second verse ... not a surge of worry ... for I am a worrier.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest.  

          One of my best memories is the congregation singing this at my mother's memorial service, following her death in an automobile accident.  It was a time when our family received the peace that only God could give. And singing these words helped us understand what God was doing for us.

          In the midst of challenging, difficult and frustrating life circumstances, Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 18790) experienced peace that only God can give, that peace that passeth all understanding.  The English poet and hymn writer was vacationing in the south of Wales in 1876 and caught a severe cold.  It was accompanied by inflammation of the lungs. Hearing how ill she was, and that she might die, she replied, "If I am really going, it is too good to be true." Her friends were amazed at how peacefully she received this information. She did survive that illness, and later that year she wrote this beautiful hymn. And the words that she penned have encouraged believers ever since.  Frances was very frail in health and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 42. Her dying words were "Come, Lord Jesus, come and fetch me." She had that peace that truly "passeth all understanding". 

           In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope and peace is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah. And if you are in Christ, you are safe. "Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand." There are foes; there are traitors, but they cannot stand up against His grace and His power.  And we are protected in the hollow of His hand. Now, that doesn't mean they won't ever make our life challenging, but Christ is always with us and His Spirit guides us.  

            Now, I admit that at times I do struggle with the words "not a surge of worry", for sadly I often struggle with worry and anxiety.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest. That celebrates the sovereignty of God who is the blessed controller of all things. Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you"  …  "Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest  Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest."

          Are you facing difficult trials?  Do you have heavy burdens?  Then rest upon Jehovah and experience His rest and peace.

 

(1)   Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

 

(2)   Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.    Refrain

 

(3)   Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

Listen to it here.      LISTEN