You’ve Got To Stand For Something
There’s a long-standing quote with many variants that has been attributed to many different folks. One version of that quote is “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”. Undoubtedly, there have been earlier renditions of this saying, but the first recorded occurrence I found was from a denominational church announcement in Iowa paper in 1926. The following year, a very similar saying was printed in a “Sermonogram” in an Athens Ohio Newspaper. This quote (or something like it) has been credited to Alexander Hamilton, Peter Marshall, and several others, and even was used in a 1945 radio program entitled “Town Meeting of the Air” by actress Irene Dunne.
But there’s likely not a quote that has any merit that is not also taught in the Word of God. You might say “that’s a good quote” and might ask, “Where does it say that in the Bible?” And my answer will be, 1), Jas 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above”- (from God). Any “good” idea (or good thought or saying) originated from God and His Word. 2), turn to Eccl 1:9-10 where the Spirit had Solomon pen, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. That which we think to be “new” has already been. Perhaps man has failed to pass this down to the next generation, and it was forgotten for a time.
This is likely why God’s Word, both Old and New Testaments (written to His people under each dispensation) contains constant reminders to ‘stand’ or ‘be strong’. In Jer. 6:16, part of Judah was told, Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. The latter part of the verse shows their refusal. But they said, We will not walk therein. This part of the people of God, in rejecting the Word of God, set themselves up to fall. By not “STANDING FOR” God and His Word, they FELL into sin and many were eternally lost.
The same is true in the New Testament times. One New Testament verse that teaches this is 1Cor 16:13, where the Spirit had Paul admonish the church there to, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” There are many other passages containing this concept, but this will suffice. Notice that the directive was to “stand fast in the faith”. This is because it is important to “stand” for the right thing. “The faith” used in this way is the Word of God, which is where faith originates - (Rom 10:17). Also, know that God has provided the means whereby His children can stand fast in the faith. In Eph 6:10-18, we find the instruction to “be strong” and the armor God issued to His Children who are soldiers of the cross. All of these things are so the child of God can “stand against the wiles of the devil” (vs 11).
Interestingly, this saying also has application in all areas of life. In 1989 or so, a singer song-writer named Aaron Tippin co-wrote a song entitled “You’ve Got to Stand for Something”. This song exemplified the life lessons taught to him by His father, and stressed standing up for his moral convictions. The words of the song are included below.
[Verse 1]
Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right; he'd say...
[Verse 2]
Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house
If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down
But we always had plenty just living his advice
Whatever you do today, you'll have to sleep with tonight; he'd say...
[Bridge]
Now I know that things are different than they were in Daddy's days
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed
[Chorus]
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
Now, there’s nothing more moral or more right than following the Word of God. In 1Cor 15:1-2, Paul was directed to write, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” We also have the reminder of 1Thess 3:8, which says “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”
Why not learn God’s soul saving gospel today? Then, obey it, follow it, and stand in it so you don’t fall. Only you can decide if you’ll stand or fall. We are reminded of this in Psa 119:109 - My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. Obey the gospel. Find eternal rest for your soul.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
