I grew up in Ville Platte and have lived here most of my life. I graduated from Sacred Heart. I was in the choir, and I remember singing “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” I’m sure most of my classmates will remember that one. We sang it in elementary school.
Having lived here most of my life, I think it’s fair to describe Ville Platte as a mostly Christian town. However, it puzzles me to hear people (who I know define themselves as Christian) use racist epithets or spout racist dialogue. I can barely go a week without hearing a racial slur uttered in passing. Growing up here, I heard the name-calling, the jokes, and the hate. Not everyone was like that, but we had our fair share of racists. One would expect this of a small, Southern town.
But I have to wonder about the people who say these things. Some of them I know define themselves as Christians and some even send their children to Christian schools, but their dialogue betrays their religious ideology. I know athiests who are more Christ-like than some Christians I’ve come across.
If you define yourself as a Christian and use these words and teach your children these words, ask yourself if this is truly living by Christ’s example. Are you only a Christian in church, or in your actions as well?
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 our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll 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 man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Would He know you by your love? Would He also know you by your actions? By your words?
“They Will Know They Are Christians by Our Love”
Lyrics by Peter Scholtes