What distinguishes Christians from non-Christians? Asked another way, how can one tell that a group of people are disciples of Jesus?

A lot of thought has been given to questions in this vein throughout the history of the church. St. Augustine famously wrote a massive tome articulating the differences between citizenship in the "City of Man" and the "City of God" that's still inspiring and puzzling readers to this day. More recently, Stanley Hauerwas thought about this question and came up with the answer, “I’d say, in 100 years, if Christians are people identified as those who do not kill their children or their elderly, we would have been doing something right.” Many good answers can be given to the question.

In our gospel lesson on Sunday, Jesus gives a straight answer to the question. How will the City of Man recognize our citizenship in the City of God? "By this all people will know that you are my disciples," says the soon to be ascended Savior, "if you have love for one another.”

This is a striking answer, and one that challenges the sophisticated, educated assumptions of Westerners like ourselves. Deep down, we have bought into the lie that discipleship is complicated to understand and simple to do. If you can pass a theology test, you have your ticket to heaven and can kick back and theologize with friends and do little other.

The reality is quite the opposite. The way of Jesus is easy to understand but difficult to do. Showing up in love for people like ourselves--fallen, broken, prickly--is the way of the cross. It's as painful as it is time consuming. And yet, it's the simple yet difficult call of Christ. How can we, as a community, practice this countercultural love? That's what we will consider on Sunday.

Dallas is desperately looking for something success and wealth can't offer. Dallas is looking for something different. Dallas is looking for love. My prayer for All Saints is that we would become a community that offers our city what she craves: love. I hope you can join us Sunday as we live in, and live out, God's love!