They’ll know we are Christians

by our glad-hands and bling,

by our pearly-gate smiles

and sermons on tithing;

by the size of our church

and the rules that we keep

(though a suit is a suit,

and a goat’s not a sheep).

They’ll know we are Christians

by the power we bear,

by the HOLY GHOST-ah

that’ll roast-ah yo’ hair;

by our political strength

and party-line ticket;

by our reddened faces

wherever we picket.

But now let me tell you 

a strange little thing:

the Jews were expecting 

a conquering king.

Some Christians now seek

a life paved with gold,

and the way of the cross

they never are told:

To live is Christ

but to die is gain,

it is those who suffer

that also will reign.

So until we live dead

and our life is the dove

they’ll know we are Christians

but not by our love.