“Straight edge refers to a lifestyle that started within the hardcore punk subculture whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs. Some adherents may also abstain from caffeine and casual sex. The term was coined by the 1980s hardcore punk band Minor Threat in the song “Straight Edge”. There is considerable debate over what constitutes a straight edge lifestyle. Adherents’ main objective is to not poison the body in any way. Some people in the straight edge movement embrace a vegetarian lifestyle and others abstain from all animal products, a philosophy known as veganism. These two choices are not essential aspects of the movement.” – Wikipedia
Being in the hardcore scene for about 6 to 7 years now, i’ve seen straight edge blow up. It has become huge in the past 4 years. Around 2004, hardcore music took a step back from the stylish “emo-core” that has so dominated the “hardcore” scene. But in the past 4 years hardcore has somewhat gone back to that 80’s style mentality. The music is more aggressive but that old school spirit has resurfaced. Straight edge has become more popular than ever. In my opinion it has become somewhat of an underground religion culture that is recruiting thousands of members everyday.
Your two sides of sXe is:
1. Positive or Posi
Posi sXe is a choice a person makes to be drug, alcohol, tobacco and promiscuous sex free. They do not force anyone to believe their way and they don’t care if others don’t agree. It’s their thing.
2. Militant
Militant sXe is your FSU (friends stand united) style guys who will beat you down if they see you smoking. More gang like than anything else, it’s just a bunch of meat heads who have taken somewhat of a cool concept and have turned it into criminal and gang activity . Violence just for the sake of violence. Douche bags.
Now the most important stuff… What does the bible say?
Straight Edge beliefs seem good on the surface, but what does the bible say about straight edge?
From what i have seen, straight edge has become just another self-righteous cultural religion. I’m not knocking Positive sXe. If you want to make that choice, cool. I have friends that are sXe. I’m asking what is the motive behind that choice. Is it to be better than others? Does it make you feel you have an advantage on people?
9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better[a]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
13“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16ruin and misery mark their ways,
17and the way of peace they do not know.”
18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:9-18
It has become so steeped in religion.
Religion defined: a set of rules to live by that you work towards to make you worthy or better.
That’s my definition.
Just like in the Christian realm. People, pastors and churches make up ALL these rules to live by: don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t get tattoos, don’t cuss, don’t, don’t, don’t… If you don’t do all these things your a good person. This leads to one of two things, pride or despair. Pride being: I did everything. I kept all these rules. I’m better than that dude. I’ve made it. I’m good enough.
Despair being: I don’t know if I was good enough. I don’t think I kept these rules like I could or should have.
No hope.
Why?
None of this is grounded in Jesus. SXE is cool and stuff, but if it’s not grounded in Jesus, it’s crap.
Isa. 64:6 says “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;“
Rags in the the real translation is Menstrual rags.
It’s as good as nasty, bloody tampons in the sight of God.
Religion is gross and offensive to the gospel. It’s an enemy. Jesus fought so hard against it to the point of down right anger.
John 2:15 “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.”
Jesus got pissed. He hates religion cause it spits on the sacrifice He made.
Religion and Straight edge are a lot alike. They have set up rules to live by to make themselves ‘holy’ and ‘righteous’ and it doesn’t bring anything but Pride (which is the worst sin of all) and Despair with no hope.
BUT. Jesus is the answer. He became the sacrifice that was required to fulfill the law. So we don’t have to live by religious rules, and most of the laws of the Old Testament. He knew we couldn’t live them out. Thats why He died. He gave us those rules to show how crappy we are and how great His love is. That He would fulfill everything God required.
I say, screw sXe, screw religion, screw anything that takes away the message of Jesus and grace and mercy without which we would all perish. You can’t find hope in sXe. You wont find grace and love in religion.
Only Christ can give salvation, hope and love.
