Apostolic Friends Forum - We Will Stand

We Will Stand is a song written by Gospel singer Russ Taff some time ago. It speaks of division among God's people --division based on race and also based on denomination/organization. In the 13 through the 18th chapters of the Gospel of John it tells of Jesus' last night with His disciples. He served the Passover meal and He washed their feet (chapter 13). He told them about how He would leave but that He would not leave them as orphans because they would soon come to know Him in a different way --as the Comforter, the One called alongside to help, the Holy Spirit (chapter 14). Then Hewalked with them past the Temple, described His relationship with them as the Vine and branches (chapter 15), and gave them more instruction on the person and work of the Holy Spirit (chapters 15 and 16). Somewhere along the way He prayed the prayer which is recorded in chapter 17 in which He prayed for His people down through the ages. He prayed not just for His disciples that were with Him but also for all who would later believe in Him through their word (verses 9, 13-20). He mentioned the revelation of the Father's name that He had given them, the name by which they would be called (verses 6, 11, 12, 26). One thing He mentioned in His prayer was His desire for unity among His people ( verses 11, 21, 23). Then they went into the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed and wrestled with His fleshly will and finally submitted it to the will of His Father.

Division among God's people based on race or on religious organization or denomination has always bothered me. 1 Corinthians chapter 12 presents a picture of God's church being one body of diverse people and tells us that we were all placed into this one body by one Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:12-14). God's church is compared in the Scriptures to a single house, a single family, a single body, and a single bride. Galatians 3:26-29 speaks against division in this church. Here the Apostle Paul says, "you are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ for as many of you as have been baptized into the name of Christ have put on Christ." And, the aged Apostle John toward the end of his life wrote: "If you believe that Jesus is the Christ --that he is God's Son and your Savior-- then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love his children too" 1 John 5:1.

Today I was watching one of the Gaither videos and heard this song that I don't remember hearing before. It has been sung in some of their concerts and emphasizes the unity among God's people. I looked up the words and found the story behind the song and thought I would pass it on.

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Story Behind the Song: We Will Stand

By Shari MacDonald

In the early ’80s, Russ Taff was enjoying a new solo career, having recently left The Imperials. But he found himself troubled by evidence of racism in the church. He was particularly influenced by a story he had heard several years earlier, shared by black gospel singer Archie Dennis, Jr. As Taff remembers the story, Archie had been invited to sing at a church in Alabama, but the church leaders did not realize he was black. On the agreed-upon Sunday, Archie went to the church to set up, where he was met by a very surprised pastor.

Taff recalls, "The pastor came to him and very apologetically said, ‘This is not gonna work here.’" He then explained to Archie that a black gospel singer would not be welcomed at his all-white church and asked him to leave.

"Archie said that as he was walking out, he was crying and he said, ‘You know, Jesus, You saved me. You’ve brought me to You. Why won’t a lot of the churches in America let me in?’ And the Lord spoke to him and said, ‘Archie, they won’t let Me in, either.’"

Late one night, still haunted by this story, Taff found himself sitting at his kitchen table, unable to sleep.

"At about two o’clock I just started writing; at four o’clock I pretty much had the first verse and chorus together. I ran in and woke my wife Tori up and said, ‘Honey, look at this!’ And she looked at it and said, ‘That’s really good,’ and rolled over and went back to sleep! I think the next day we got together and finished it, and James Hollihan, my guitar player, put some music to it."

"You’re my brother, you’re my sister/So take me by the hand/Together we will work until He comes/There’s no foe that can defeat us/When we’re walking side by side/And as long as there is love/We will stand."

Today "We Will Stand" is a classic, and its message is as vital as it was two decades ago.

"The song accomplished in a degree what I wanted‚" Taff says, "and that is bringing people together and letting go of labels. There’s still this huge line, I feel, between blacks and whites and Hispanics, and every once in awhile you come across a church that has really reached out to the community at large. All I know is, the song had an effect on me, and after all these years it’s still singable and still sung, and the message is still relevant."

"We can change the world forever," Taff says confidently, "if we’ll all stand together."

Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand
why we pull away from each other so easily
even though were all walkin’ the same road
Yet we build dividing walls between our
brothers and ourselves, but I, I don’t care
What label you may wear, if you believe in Jesus
You belong with me, the bond we share
And all I care to see it will change the world forever
if you will join with me, join and sing, sing...

Chorus:
You’re my brother you’re my sister
so take me by the hand
Together we will work until He comes
There’s no foe that can defeat us
if we’re walkin’ side by side
As long as there is Love
We will stand

The day will come that we will be as one
and with a mighty voice together
We will all proclaim that Jesus, Jesus is King
It will echo through the earth
it will shake the nations
And the world will see
And they will see

Chorus

Take me by the hand
Join with me
Join let us sing