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.

words and music by Peter Scholtes / © 1966 by F.E.L. Publications, Ltd. 1991 Assigned to The Lorenz Publishing Company (ASCAP).

Behind the Song:
Author Marva Dawn says that if the local church is to reflect the real diversity of the body of Christ, then everybody has to sing songs they don’t like. This track is an apt closing to Redemption Songs as it reminds us the gospel is bigger than what we as Christians choose to sing, and though we may disagree with each other about what to sing in worship, it’s vital to have those discussions with love. “It’s an interesting thought to leave people with on the record,” Steve says. “There is an ethereal quality to it, but at the heart of it, but truly people should know us by our love, not our protests or by our political leanings or whether we should be fighting a war or not, but defined by Christ. It’s love, first and foremost.”

Steve Mason shares a closing thought. “Part of our hope is that through this process of reaching back and listening to the way we as the church over the years have worshiped and approached God, it will help us hear the modern music we’re singing in a different way,” he says. “It reshapes the songs. It gives us a new context in which we hear these songs.” (Jars Of Clay)