Stand Strong
About the Song:
I've been playing music for a shade over 20 years now. Music is art, and to me, the great thing about art is that not everyone has the exact same experience with it. Gravity, for example, is science, and everyone experiences it in pretty much the same way. But the way you hear a song may be completely different than the way someone else hears it. It might strike an emotional chord with you that it doesn't strike with someone else. We have different opinions, and that's why we all don't have identical music collections.
Having said that, there are some opinions that are considered correct and incorrect. I can't tell you how many times I've been scoffed at simply for suggesting that The Beatles might not be the greatest rock band of all time, or that Radiohead might be overrated. Those are opinions about art, though, based on experiences, and believe it or not, I'm allowed to have them.
I once visited a church (and I'm not saying this church represents all of them) whose pastor read a passage of scripture. This passage included a verse that was pretty contrary to progressive American culture. The whole congregation collectively chuckled. The pastor, as if he had read the verse by embarrassing mistake, nervously giggled "obviously that's not true anymore." No one argued.
You are allowed to have a point of view. But it's important to keep in mind that many things inform points of view - culture, trends, experiences, circumstances - are you willing to stake what you believe about eternity on any of those things?
My point is this - we, as Christian families, need to be careful not to adjust what we believe about the Gospel around popular points of view. Especially in front of the kids! We can't let the kids see us change what we believe about the Word of God because of what people are saying. We can't allow ourselves to look at the Gospel through the lens of society and culture, instead of looking at society and culture through the lens of the Gospel. When we do this, all we accomplish is making the good news less good!
Beyond that, adjusting one's Christian doctrine around what other people think, to me, suggests that there is a plan B. That there is something else that you revere more than God, or that what He says isn't quite good enough. You should know, if you're going to let your kids listen to my music, that there is no plan B for me. Jesus was where I got off the train, and I'm not getting back on!
"Stand Strong" is about not being swayed by popular points of view. It's about teaching kids to love the Word more than they love being loved by the world. It's about trusting in the sovereignty and faithfulness of a God who is who He says He is. It's about moving forward in His plan for our lives and never looking back!
Lyrics:
Even before I was born, You knew what I'd be like
and nothing I can ever do will catch You by surprise
I know it's good to live like You say I should
to trust and believe in Your presence and Your peace
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD
The plans You have for me are meant for good and not for harm
And even when I make mistakes I can run back to Your arms
I know it's right to press on toward the prize
and to know that I am everything that You say I am
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD
About the Song:
I've been playing music for a shade over 20 years now. Music is art, and to me, the great thing about art is that not everyone has the exact same experience with it. Gravity, for example, is science, and everyone experiences it in pretty much the same way. But the way you hear a song may be completely different than the way someone else hears it. It might strike an emotional chord with you that it doesn't strike with someone else. We have different opinions, and that's why we all don't have identical music collections.
Having said that, there are some opinions that are considered correct and incorrect. I can't tell you how many times I've been scoffed at simply for suggesting that The Beatles might not be the greatest rock band of all time, or that Radiohead might be overrated. Those are opinions about art, though, based on experiences, and believe it or not, I'm allowed to have them.
I once visited a church (and I'm not saying this church represents all of them) whose pastor read a passage of scripture. This passage included a verse that was pretty contrary to progressive American culture. The whole congregation collectively chuckled. The pastor, as if he had read the verse by embarrassing mistake, nervously giggled "obviously that's not true anymore." No one argued.
You are allowed to have a point of view. But it's important to keep in mind that many things inform points of view - culture, trends, experiences, circumstances - are you willing to stake what you believe about eternity on any of those things?
My point is this - we, as Christian families, need to be careful not to adjust what we believe about the Gospel around popular points of view. Especially in front of the kids! We can't let the kids see us change what we believe about the Word of God because of what people are saying. We can't allow ourselves to look at the Gospel through the lens of society and culture, instead of looking at society and culture through the lens of the Gospel. When we do this, all we accomplish is making the good news less good!
Beyond that, adjusting one's Christian doctrine around what other people think, to me, suggests that there is a plan B. That there is something else that you revere more than God, or that what He says isn't quite good enough. You should know, if you're going to let your kids listen to my music, that there is no plan B for me. Jesus was where I got off the train, and I'm not getting back on!
"Stand Strong" is about not being swayed by popular points of view. It's about teaching kids to love the Word more than they love being loved by the world. It's about trusting in the sovereignty and faithfulness of a God who is who He says He is. It's about moving forward in His plan for our lives and never looking back!
Lyrics:
Even before I was born, You knew what I'd be like
and nothing I can ever do will catch You by surprise
I know it's good to live like You say I should
to trust and believe in Your presence and Your peace
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD
The plans You have for me are meant for good and not for harm
And even when I make mistakes I can run back to Your arms
I know it's right to press on toward the prize
and to know that I am everything that You say I am
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD
I will hold on to You, and I'll never let go of the truth
I will stand strong in You, in your faithful news and Your good news
'cause every promise that You keep is a light unto my feet
I will stand strong in You, 'cause You are the LORD