Derek Webb - T-shirts (What We Should Be Known For)

I really like Derek Webb! He writes about what he believes, and he is not afraid to say things that may offend. He is honest about himself and the Church as well. His songs are biblically sound even though some of them are not what we are used to hearing in church. There are a lot of writers who have influenced me greatly - C.S. Lewis, Rob Bell, Louie Giglio, Michael Yaconelli to name a few, but they all wrote books. No other songwriter has helped me shape my faith as much as Derek Webb.

Some of his songs are theologically deep and filled with biblical references. Some are almost like a mini bible study when you listen to them and give time and thought to what he is singing about. I  will definitely be adding many of his songs in the future. 

The song I am adding today is not as complex or deep. It is a call to the Church to change the way we treat others and they way people perceive us based on the t shirts, bumper stickers, billboards, etc. that we display. For years I have been frustrated by the same things he writes about in this song. We deserve the criticism we receive from people outside our faith, because we don't use the correct method for sharing our faith. We try to take the easy way by just wearing a "christian" t shirt or putting a "christian" bumper sticker on our car. But that doesn't work. We can't let our shirt do our talking for us. People see these things and assume that we are judging them for not being like us - and we don't get a chance to prove otherwise as we pass by them on the interstate. Or worse, they see us with this "christian" apparel and then they see or hear us doing some awful stuff. And we all do awful stuff. We get, usually correctly, labeled as a hypocrite. This nullifies our message in their opinion. And since there is no direct communication between us, we don't get the opportunity to explain that we do not claim to be better than them. Instead we should act as an extension of God's love toward them. We need to do this on a personal level, not in passing.

Ok, if you are still with me after that sermon, here is the song.

see also this unofficial video on youtube. I don't know who made it, but it is pretty good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53mhPoTO-xk

I couldn't get it to copy and paste, so I had to type it. Hopefully you can copy and paste it and it will work.

T-shirts (What We Should Be Known For) - written by Derek Webb from the album I See Things Upside Down (2004)

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