Christian Brotherhood Anthem

I would choose:

Stand Up, Stand Up, for Jesus.

or

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

or

The Church's One Foundation

However, these are strictly western hymns, and there is no shortage of Christians worldwide that use music that is not western in nature. Most of these hymns might be alien to a church in Swaziland, for example.

I don't think there is any one hymn tune or song that can even become a "Christian Brotherhood Anthem". Maybe a North American or Western Anthem, but that's about it.

 

How about Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here!

 

I'll share a story. My short term team went to China this past summer and you can't visit China without visiting the Great Wall. At the end of our climb, we rested in one of the larger watchtowers where the path no longer continued (the wall had deteriorated beyond that point and it was closed to tourists). We had a devotional about walls and the function of physical, cultural and spiritual walls & gates with Matthew 16:18 being a key verse of study.

Then we started singing praise songs in the watchtower which had the most excellent acoustics. We were blessed with a very musical team and broke into multiple part harmony praising God. Many passing tourists thought we were part of the Great Wall attraction and took pictures.

But the most touching part was when an American woman heard us sing Amazing Grace and requested that we sing it again. We don't know if she was a Christian or not but just singing that song with her gave us a special bond that would be as close as I would have experienced in my life to a "Christian brotherhood anthem".

It was July 4th that day so we also sang The Star Spangled Banner with her and since most of our team was Canadian which celebrates Canada Day on July 1st, we sang O'Canada. It was like singing three different anthems that we associate with and Amazing Grace was the most powerful one of all because of the spiritual connection and powerful words of the song.

 

Onward, Christian Soldiers.

 

For a song to be considered a "brotherhood" song among all Christians, it would need to cross denominational, ethnic and regional differences at the very least. At best, it would also cross national barriers.

The only song in the list that stands out in the list provided in Amazing Grace.

 

When our Director or Missions died, he had preplaned his funeral. The closing song was "Onward Christian Soldiers".
His final message to us was that he had retired, but we are still in the battle.

 

But do you really think that this would be a song for Christian brotherhood??

 

Why not?

 

How about "Holy, Holy, Holy", it may be the only thing coming off our lips when we stand before God, so why not practice now.

 

Onward, Christian Soldiers

Militant, yet a great anthem for us!

 

A Christian Brotherhood song...

How about "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"


Gib

 

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemers praise!

 

Assuming we want an international Christian anthem that can cross denominational boundaries, most of the ones listed in the poll and suggested on this thread won't do.
'A Mighty Fortress is Our God', 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' and 'Amazing Grace' seem to have the most international appeal of the lot but not truly enough to qualify.
I'd go for a version of Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Ofcourse which version is a debate all by itself.

 

"Amazing Grace" is hard to vote against. "Blessed Be The Tie ..." is a good choice.

I submit "We Are One in the Spirit".

 

"We Are One in the Spirit"??? I don't think so.

The problem is all that "they'll know we are Christians by our love" stuff. If the words were only "they'll know we are Christians by our judgmental condemnations," then we could have a good song.

And... we are going to pray for "unity" and "work side by side??" I don't think so. You probably use a different Bible translation, sing different songs and dress weird for church. And you might not even be a Republican.

 

Well, my kids say I dress weird. OK, my wife says I do, too. And I haven't really settled on just one Bible translation. No sense in even bringing up my singing or voting tendencies.

What was I thinking!

 

Sarcasm aside, I really do like "We are one in the Spirit." Another song in the same vein is "The Servant Song."