By Our Love
This Sunday, we're singing another, old/new Song. In 2015, For King and Country release their version of the hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love." The hymn was written by Peter Scholtes in 1966. Scholtes was a Catholic priest, serving the south side of Chicago. He wanted a song that would express unity among Christians and couldn't find one he liked, so he wrote one. The song became very popular during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1970s.
In 1989, the United Methodist Church created a supplemental hymnal called, The Faith We Sing. Included in these 284 hymns was Scholtes piece. Here's some of the scriptural connections to this powerful song:
In 1989, the United Methodist Church created a supplemental hymnal called, The Faith We Sing. Included in these 284 hymns was Scholtes piece. Here's some of the scriptural connections to this powerful song:
John 13:34-35 (NLT)
- "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
- The chorus of “By Our Love” emphasizes that love is how people will recognize followers of Jesus. This directly reflects Jesus’ teaching in John 13:34-35, where He tells His disciples that love for one another is the mark of a true believer.
1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)
- “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
- The song highlights the importance of loving others as a reflection of knowing God. This parallels John’s teaching in 1 John 4:7-8, emphasizing that love is not just a feeling but an essential part of knowing and being in a relationship with God.
Matthew 5:16 (NLT)
- “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
- The song encourages believers to show their love through actions, which aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:16 about letting our good deeds be seen by others. The idea is that these acts of love point others toward God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
- “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
- The characteristics of love described in this well-known passage from 1 Corinthians closely match the way the song describes how love should be demonstrated by believers—patient, kind, and enduring.
James 2:14-17 (NLT)
- “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
- The song’s message about love being shown through actions ties closely with James’ teaching that faith without works is dead. Love isn’t just about words; it’s about living it out in tangible ways that help others.
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