There's an old Christian camp song recently made popular by Jars of Clay that has the refrain, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love." I wonder who "they" are. Is it my neighbor who watches me from his deck as I drive to church on Sundays? Is it the mechanic who fixes my car or the teachers who help my kids learn in school or their coaches on the playing field? The driver in the next car who expects me to react to their rude gestures? It certainly could be.

Maybe "they" takes in a broader scope. Could "they" be people in other countries and world religions who see Christians as aggressors or identify them with the 'western' values of greed, gluttony, and unrestrained pleasure? Perhaps "they" have little interest in a religion that they perceive runs counter to the conservative values they possess. It certainly could be.

Maybe "they" refers to those a little closer to home. Are "they" the children we bring with us to church who listen to their parents gossip, criticize, argue and stab others in the back over petty issues and watch personal agendas and distracting activities bring division and discord among God's people? Or could "they" be our seeking friends and relatives who are watching our life to see if our Christianity is more than a Sunday activity and a collection plate of good intentions? Certainly could be.

When pressed to choose which of the many commandments was the most important, Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

The dominant characteristic of Christianity must be love. Not wealth, not social justice, not worship, not preaching, not peace, not missionary activity, or even joy - but love. It was love that moved God to send His Son to die for the sins of the world. It was love that motivated Christ to willingly walk the road leading to the cross and give up His life as a sacrifice paying the penalty for our sins. The slogan WWJD (what would Jesus do) should always be answered in terms of love. Yes in Christ there is also justice, there is mercy, there is hope and joy and peace and more but they all emanate first from the basis of love. Every action, every response, every reply must be grounded in love if God's people are to have the impact in society and around the world He intends for them to have. Otherwise, that neighbour will not see my religion in action and respond to God's love through me. Those countries we send our aid and our medical teams and our emergency supplies to will not respond to God's love. The children in our homes will walk away from the God we claim to serve and not respond to His love for them.

When others give up on people, love perseveres. When society fails to help its own, love reaches out. When justice is elusive, love prevails. When others judge and criticize, love comes to the rescue. Not so that people think Christians are nice people, or so that Christians can feel good about themselves, or to hopefully abate unjust attacks and terrorism, but so that God can use us to soften hard hearts and open closed doors for him to walk through. You see demonstrating love is not an end in itself, but an avenue through which God can redeem lost souls for eternity.

Showing love takes away ammunition for making accusations. Demonstrating true love lowers people defences, builds bridges, calms the agitated, builds up the downtrodden, and gives hope to the distressed. In effect, demonstrating love is our way of introducing people to Christ Himself. "Here is the clear difference between God's children and the Devil's children: those who do not do what is right or do not love others are not God's children" (1 John 3:10)

The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also" (1 John 4:21 - The Message).

"They will know we are Christians by our love" - never easy to do, but aren't "they" worth it?