In 1998 Greg Graffin, the singer of Bad Religion, wrote an essay on what Punk Rock is. He said
In the first part of Greg Graffin’s quote he says that punk is about uniqueness and the experiences that happen when we grow up. Jesus was sent to earth because of his “uniqueness.” God allowed Jesus to grow up and experience what life as a human was like. Jesus got to see the hypocrisy and judgmental traits of the religious right. He saw how people claim God, but then pass by beggars and orphans. He saw how women were violently disciplined, and stood up for them. I don’t thing that many people know how many times the Bible addresses social justice and the “down trodden.”
Scotty and Jake (from the video above) were a joy to meet and speak with. They clearly value community and the closeness that it brings. I just think it’s great to see how everything positive, which attribute to the punk rock scene, is actually what church SHOULD be doing. So, Christ followers, don’t give up or judge guys like Scotty and Jake. They could be more outspoken for justice and love through Christ, more than you might ever imagine.
I love this interview. I used to be in the punk scene, and I was in a band called The Insolents (from Champaign, IL from 2003-2006). I grew up in the church, but after my parents divorced when I was 13 I started questioning things. I stopped going to church, I just was turned off from it by family. I discovered punk rock gradually with my best friend, he and I were the only punks in our high school. We eventually found friends in the area who were punks and skinheads, we started our band, went to and played shows, made lots of friends in Peoria, the Quad Cities, Chicago, Indianapolis.. I LOVED the scene, and I have to completely agree with the kid in the interview who is saying that if you fall in the pit, everybody stops and picks you up. I loved that too, I thought that it was so cool that most punks could put aside differences of bands they liked, how they dressed, etc. and just come together, stand up for eachother, hang out and have community together. I absolutely loved the scene for those reasons. It was awesome being a punk rocker. In 06′ I met my husband through a mutual friend, and had heard stories about him because he had also been in the scene and was in a band called The Arrested. When I met him, he told everyone he had been saved the year prior. He and I just eventually started dating, I got pregnant very soon after, and through a lot of struggles, I slowly came back to Jesus. (Thank you, Lord!) But anyway long story short, I encountered and was friends with homeless punks, and various times I went out to spange, go to food banks, etc. to have enough money to drive places and eat. My husband and I are hoping we can start a ministry to get involved in the scene and just love on the kids because we have been there. I can relate with the guys in the video, I know what its like to feel like an outcast, to be rejected by society, yet be happy about it! Its a good feeling when you can say to yourself, “I’m not like them” (society). I still feel these ways in my walk now, because I don’t want to go to a church, I hate watered-down, lukewarm Christianity, fake people at churches, greedy pastors and televangelists asking for money, like the kid said in the video, “it seems like there’s a lot of money involved which kind of takes away from real faith”– AGREED! completely. I know this is a long drawn out thing, but THANK YOU for interviewing these kids and taking time to show them that they are loved and cared about and not the scum of the earth like so many people want to make them believe. Thank you for taking time to hear their stories, abd share their opinions. This is needed, and appreciated!! God bless you guys, I’d love to be involved in any way I can! Thanks so much, again.
Good article, bro. I agree, Christians can learn some things from the punk scene. Grit, courage, community, and authenticity, to name a few.
I like your article. In a lot of ways the church and the punk music scene are very similar. A lot of people hate christians and a lot of people hate punks. They are both misunderstood and have gotten a bad name because of a few people who screwed it up for everyone. People dont see the true christians and the true punks because they are to busy focusing on the negatives. I am involved in a great church that I consider my family and I hang out with some great punk kids that help my faith grow. Applying certain punk beliefs have made my walk with jesus so much stronger. But anyways I like this site.
myspace.com/deliverancebiblechurch
good stuff. check out my church if you’d like?
myspace.com/deliverancebiblechurch
nationoftheunderground.com