Hillsong UNITED – The Stand

Australian conglomerate church Hillsong is a household name.  Most (if not all) Christians have heard their music.  This includes hits such as Oceans, Cornerstone, and Who You Say I Am.  It comprises of:

• Two churches in Australia, one in the United Kingdom and one in New York
• Three artist labels: Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, and Hillsong Young and Free
• Ten’s and ten’s of album releases, awards, and accolades
• 100k+ attendants weekly (before COVID-19)
• Loads of controversy regarding their teachings on women pastors and the Word of Faith movement, neither of which are salvation issues

The Stand is my 22nd Hillsong review, including their Christmas song Prince of Heaven and twenty-one other reviews.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Jesus, who created all other things the came into being via voice, is eternal.  He atoned for Hillsong’s sins and brought forth the Holy Spirit, who lives in their hearts.  They can stand before Him because He created and saved them.

In response, Hillsong abandons their lives, fully committed to following Jesus in awestruck worship.

Side note: I’m not sure if other people identify with this, but when I sing things like “I stand with arms high”, I feel like I’m lying if I don’t stand up with outstretched arms; that my body does not express the words that I’m singing.  I’m not saying that others should do the same (Romans 14:1-23 and James 4:17 comes to mind), but I am convicted in this area.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All lines are in agreement with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

You stood before creation

Later verses hint that the word “You” is Jesus, who is God (Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26, John 1:1-3, John 1:14, John 5:17-18, John 8:23-25, John 8:28, John 10:30-33, John 14:9, John 20:28-29, Philippians 2:5-6, Colossians 1:16-19, Colossians 2:8-9, Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14-16, Hebrews 1:10-12, Revelation 1:8, and Revelation 22:13).

Eternity in Your Hand

That is, Jesus, as God, exists forever (John 8:58, Colossians 1:13-17, and Hebrews 13:8).

You spoke the earth into motion

Christ was responsible for the creation of the earth (John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-16).  He did it through speaking (Genesis 1:3-29; look for “and God said”).

My soul now to stand

Hillsong’s souls cannot stand unless they are first created!

[Verse 2]

You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your Shoulders

Jesus paid the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

My soul now to stand

Though this repeats Verse 1, line 4, it has a different meaning in this context.  Through the death, burial, and implied resurrection of Jesus, our souls can stand before God.  We were once dead in sins, but have been made alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Pre-Chorus]

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to You

In response to Jesus’ goodness, Hillsong responds with worship (Matthew 14:28-33, Matthew 28:16-17, and Luke 24:50-53).

[Verse 3]

So I’ll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me

That is, the Holy Spirit whose essence resides inside the hearts of Hillsong (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).

This life to declare Your Promise

What promise is that?  I suppose it doesn’t matter.  Hillsong’s lives should declare all the promises of God in Jesus, which are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

My soul now to stand

Repeats Verse 1, line 4, carrying the same meaning as Verse 2, line 4.

[Chorus]

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You, surrendered
All I am is Yours

This expresses a heart of worship, leaving behind all that is me for the sake of following Jesus (Luke 14:26, John 12:25, Acts 20:24, and Philippians 3:8) and surrender our lives to Him (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You, surrendered
All I am is Yours

Repeats lines 1-6.

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You, surrendered
All I am is Yours

Repeats lines 1-6.

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You, surrendered
All I am is Yours

Repeats lines 1-6.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those outside the camp of Christ will find interpretation easy, finding references to God, the cross, and salvation that point it to Christianity.  Hillsong uses everyday language to communicate that:

• God created the universe
• Sin is failure before God
• God carried our error on His shoulders
• God’s Spirit lives in believers
• Christians worship God

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God, inviting us to worship the God who created us, saved us, and gave us His Spirit to guide us.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong UNITED’s The Stand is a worthy song.  It describes God as Creator and Savior, who bore our transgressions and whose Spirit lives inside us.  These bring God glory.  Unbelievers will easily see that it’s a Christian song where its adherents worship God.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: The Stand (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED

Album: United We Stand (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2006

Duration: 6:51

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

05/07/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Hillsong’s theology.

03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.  I raised my score for section 1, increasing its overall score from 9.5/10 to 10/10.