All Men Will Know

By this all men will know that you are my disciples...

How do people know that you are a disciple of Christ? Do you tell them? Telling people you are a Christian and verbally evangelizing is actually about the least effective thing you can do, aside from doing nothing.

How do people know that you are His disciple? If you speak and act exactly like everyone else, if you are cursing and getting drunk and being spiteful towards your enemies, gossipping about people, obsessed with money and things, then people will know you for what you are - you are a person of the World.

If you don't act like a pilgrim and an alien in this world, then it won't matter whatsoever how well you speak, no one will believe you. They will believe you if they can see for themselves that you have something different.

...if you love one another.

Somehow, somewhere, "church life" became confused on this point. Yes, it is a requirement as a Christian to love other people unconditionally, regardless of their worthiness to be loved. Nothing is less Christian than a group of grim bible thumpers. Love however requires involvement, and too few people make the time for that. Nor will they take the time for that, unless they see other Christians setting the example.

This to me is the most telling phrase in the New Testament, in terms of how far modern Christian practice has fallen from the example Christ gave to the disciples:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-John 13:34-35