𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 "𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧" 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐤/𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜
Though Christian-metal bands like Petra, Stryper, and Alter boys were prominent in the 1980's, it wouldn't be until later that Christian punk and hardcore bands would become relevant. One of the first bands to emerge onto the scene and make an impact was Strongarm. Releasing their 1994 demo and performing at the Cornerstone Festival (a prominent Christian music festival), marked the rise of a scene never before seen with youth discovering a new way to engage with faith and music.
Slowly, these demos started to drip into the secular hardcore scene, sharing a message of hope and love that would spread like wildfire. Punk bands like MxPx and Dogwood arrived onto the scene in 1991 and 1993. They would gain notoriety around 1997-2001 when they would perform for Cornerstone Festival and Vans Warped Tour.
With the new rise of hardcore and punk, Christian catering labels such as Mono vs. Stereo, Facedown Records, Solid State Records (an imprint of Tooth & Nail), Strike First Records, and Tooth & Nail began taking hold. The scene would pivot towards hardcore and screamo in the coming 2000s. An era of new sound would come with bands gaining notoriety such as Zao (though they have been around since mid/late 90’s) A Hope for Home, The Chariot, Emery, Haste the Day, and For Today. Unknowingly, these bands would end up establishing what the Christian scene is today.
With the emerging scene of Christian hardcore also emerged a new faith and identity. In the documentary "The Cornerstone Festival: Twenty Years and Counting (2003)" one of the points brought up is that younger people no longer relate to the current church culture. Which is a sentiment I find myself to believe. I believe we fail to realize the individuality we hold in Christ and that it’s okay to be unique.
If there is an American Christian ideal that needs to be thrown out the window, it's the 1950's-esque copy and paste poster-boy/girl Christianity. Christianity isn't a religion, but a relationship. Until recent years, it was as if believers had to prove that they were "Christian enough" or "holy enough" to enter into a church or proclaim the name of Christ.
The article excerpt ("Christian but Not Religious") from 2017 states that "Christian youth in the United States are dropping out of church because they are disillusioned with organized religion, not because they have lost faith in God." What are we doing wrong in the church to push away the crowd we aim to draw? That's where the Christian scene comes in. Where one once felt lost and confused, they were now embraced with a strong community with like-minded indivduals who understood the struggles of feeling out of place.
With punk and hardcore originally dubbed as "devil music" by those who refused to look further than sound, the scene now became a platform for faith and spiritual expression. Today, "newer" bands like Idle Threat, Collective Dust, and Islander, continue to grow, leading on the legacy these bands have left. Who would have thought that "devil music" would revolutionize faith, giving a newfound voice to believers?
The Death and Life of Christian Hardcore by Joseph M. Keegin
Comments
Post a Comment