t-shirts (what we should be known for)
(words and music by derek webb)

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare

they’ll know us by our picket lines and signs
they’ll know us by the pride we hide behind
like anyone on earth is living right
and isn’t that why Jesus died
not to make us think we’re right

chorus
when love, love, love
is what we should be known for
love, love, love
it’s the how and it’s the why
we live and breathe and we die

they’ll know us by reasons we divide
and how we can’t seem to unify
because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
or we’ll walk right down that aisle
and just leave ‘em all behind

they’ll know us by the billboards that we make
just turning God’s words to cheap clichés
says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
but we hate our fellow man
and point a finger at his grave

chorus
they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
thinking we can hide our scars
beneath these t-shirts that we wear

This tune by Derek Webb captures an issue I often find myself wrestling with. Not "wrestling" as if I'm trying to stand on a soapbox and make sure everyone hears the Truth. And not "wrestling" as if I'm taking on anyone and everyone who disagrees with me. The "wrestling" that occurs is completely and utterly Me vs. Myself.

At the heart of the matter, I suppose, is the whole phenomenon that is pop culture Christianity. Just in case I've mislabeled these words, what I'm talking about is the pervading force that has being a Christian as part of an elite group complete with its own advertising and products, entertainment and media, stores and restaurants, etc.

Perhaps this has helped the spread of Christianity as we know it...but if this is Christianity, then part of me would rather have nothing of it.

(This is where the wrestling match begins.)

The other part of me is guilty unfortunately. Guilty of those "t-shirts" that so easily label the wearer as Christian. I've worn those shirts. I go to those coffeehouses. I shop at the Chrisitan superstores. I'm familiar with the hottest new music. I use the lingo.

So I have this struggle within, not all that different from Paul's. There's a sense of the wicked when Christianity is identified by a piece of clothing, a tax code, lyrics of a song, or where you drink your coffee. Or as Derek Webb sings, "by the t-shirts that we wear...the way we point and stare...by the billboards that we make...just turning God’s words to cheap clichés." For not only will the world know us by "the reasons we divide", but for the lack of a Love that that was defined by sacrifice, selflessness, and humility. So as I say to myself, as Paul, "what a wretched man I am!", I long for the "rescue" that Paul clings to and proclaims.

What this 'rescue' actually is evades me. But as I seek, I start with asking myself, "Well, what was it that made being a Christ-follower dangerous?" Early Christians were definitely set apart in some way, and surely it wasn't due to what they wore or where they dined...right?

So as we trip and stumble over ourselves, the best remedy at times may be to laugh.
Here's some help.

And some more.