Exile Dial Tone

We're part of a culture
That really loves to hate us
Every chance they get
They attempt to isolate and debate us

It's not that they don't like us
It's just they don't like God in us

It's common knowledge and oddly enough
It makes a lot of sense to a lot of us
We completely understand
Because we used to occupy the same space
And lived in a similar type state
Until we tasted of God's grace

So we continue loving this world
That so easily rejects us
And passionately press past
The lack of their cultural acceptance

And as if there weren't enough problems
For us gaining influence
We keep fighting over the issue
Of what's too worldly of a Christian to make a difference

So no matter how you paint it
Or politically campaign it
Whether you water it down and drain it
It's really all the same, ain't it?

It's the same frustration
Same constant segregation
Christians living like aliens
Trying to relate with citizens of a different nation

What always makes for a better presentation
Than bark and bite
Is a proper understanding
Of living life filled with salt and light

So we walk this fine line
Of walking in light of God's kindness
And live with a sense of worldliness
Without the fear of compromising

Loving God and neighbor
Until Christ comes to split the sky
Or die in this society
Hailing Jesus as Messiah, yup!

We are in this world, not of it
Not to be scared and run from it

We shine light in the darkness
That's why He left us here

Calling out to all the exiles
The Lord will not forsake you

His kingdom can't be shaken
Hold strong, the end is near

We are the light of the world
So, shine on

Hey, I thought we won the battle
But it really looks like we losing it

What we do seems insignificant
So limited in our influence

They don't listen to our message
We scream and yell it
They say it's irrelevant

It's the greatest story ever told
But a television ain't telling it

So often they just mock our faith
And it makes me wanna hide my face

Why we sitting on our hands with no plans
Like we got time to waste?

The culture could change
If someone stepped up for the cause

To rep us and our God
But who will accept the job?

If only we had better rappers
To gain us more respect

To validate what we believe
And keep our name up in the press

But God does not use the same methods as the world

He chose the foolish and the weak
To bring His message to the world

We were rescued from the world
He left us here to be His servants

We don't need more superstars
We need more Gospel-centered churches

Working as the body
To bring the Gospel to the nations

Even when we face rejection
Jesus is our validation

And we will be vindicated
Yeah, we know His path is narrow

To follow Him requires more
Than bumper stickers and apparel

They will know us by our love
Not by our celebrities

So we pray for those who persecute us
And show love to our enemies, ah!