Do They Know You're A Christian?

As a little girl my mother would faithfully drag me to a little Lutheran church in Waldo, Ohio. We were there every time the door opened, and then sometimes more than that. The interior of that church looks something like I would pretend watching the underneath of Noah’s ark. Its wood paneling left for me to imagine the Bible stories coming to life on Sunday mornings. I used to love the old hymns. The organist would faithfully pound out the music with a special vigor of God and as a little girl my mom and I would pile back into the car after service and sing the songs again in the car. We’d have our own praise and worship session on our way home from church.

I was thinking this morning about some of the old hymns and I found myself singing one in particular:
“They’ll know we are Christians by out love” by Carolyn Arends
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
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 one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will 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
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

As I was thinking about this song I began to think of the lyrics. Will people really know we are Christians by our love?

Matthew 5:38
[ Love Your Enemies ] "Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

Luke 6:27
"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.


So often myself included, we get so caught up with our own lives. We get so caught up in our own ministries that we forget what it’s all about. This life isn’t all about us. It’s about God and the people out there in the world that are dieing and going to Hell. God wants His people saved and in right standing with Him. He wants us His children to show the world by our love that God is love and that He loves them, and He sent His son to save them (John 3:16). If we are constantly focusing on our needs we’ll never see that there is a lost and dieing world out there that is desperate for Jesus.

I’ve often quoted and old friend of mine that used to say, “Christians are supposed to love the Hell out of people.” The statement is true.

The people we see unlovable and unreachable God sees as potential. We must get past our own “stinking thinking” and start asking God to let you see through His eyes.

Let them know you’re a Christian by your love. Let His love shine so brightly through you. Let you walk in unity with your brother and sister on the earth. May you be Jesus to a hurting world. For there is a work to do, and God has put us on this earth to do it.