Historically, to find anything about the Goths, one must go back to the 14th Century. You will then see the Germanic people that overran the Roman Empire in the early centuries of the Christian era. The word "Gothic" therefore means in the historical sense, anything relating to, or resembling the Goths, their civilization, their art, architecture, or their language of that era in history. This is not the culture I am referring to however.
The Gothic Movement that I'm referring to typically embraces this period of the medieval era, but even more embraces, a style of rock music marked by dark and morbid lyrics. From my own generation (coming of age in the 80s), there were bands like The Cure, The Cult, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and more that are categorically in the Goth genre of music. Musically speaking, The Doors would qualify, as Jim Morrison was very prolific, bleak, and dark in his songwriting. Being his short musical career ended with his tragic death, he is nearly elevated by some Goths as that of a prophet.
In it's fashion sense, today's Gothic style evolved greatly in the 80's thanks to many musical groups like the Cure, and it is consistent of a person who wears mostly black clothing, uses dark dramatic makeup, and often has dyed black hair. There is Gothic style jewelry that looks reminiscent of the medieval era.
So what is the purpose in writing about the Gothic Movement? It is not to pick at them or offend them I assure you. If anyone who has embraced this as a lifestyle becomes offended by what I've written, then I am sorry they had this reaction, for it wasn't my intent. Up to this point I've laid out a descriptive picture of the Gothic Movement based on factual findings, but from this point on I will share a little more on my own observations and from my own experiences and relationships with those in the Gothic subculture.
I've noted that most people who are Goths tend to embrace a nonconformist attitude, and seem to be very cynical toward the rest of society. The Goth would likely become defensive when someone outside of their culture (like me), mentions something like shopping at Hot Topic. This is because shopping at a retail outlet in a mall is a very "conformist" activity and it goes against the grain. Although they would be quick to tell you that the "Goth Wannabees" are the reason Hot Topic is so successful, the truth is though, nobody is really born a Goth, for it is a style - not a race. So to become a Goth, really all you have to do is "want to be" one, then get into the music, the fashion style, and have the attitude.
At face value I know it sounds like I'm being insensitive, but truthfully, I've known people who have become Gothic, and I've known people who have left it behind. This tells me that it is nothing more than a style, or a trend. I do know too that there are people who take it way more seriously. It is these people that I've most likely offend in this article. To them I would only urge that they read on.
Being this is a Christian Blog site, I'm sure you knew this question was coming. What does the Bible say that could shed light on the Gothic movement? Of course, the Bible precedes both the Gothic movement of present-day, and the Gothic culture of the medieval age. What is awesome about the Bible though is that it still has an application not to the group itself, but to the many individuals within the group.
On a personal note, the Gothic movement's affinity for darkness is also something I find troubling. There is a fascination for death and all things morbid found within the lyrics of many Goth styled rock bands. The constant blackness in their apparel, and their cynical, dark, attitude of the this world, coupled with a senselessness of life, a feeling of despair, and just a dash of being a jaded, misunderstood, youth - and I think you've got the recipe. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic toward their movement of pessimism. I don't know, so this is why I turn to the bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (ESV) says,
The danger I see for someone to enter into the Gothic Style is that it can broaden out to introduce them to meeting others who have walked even further into the darkness, and into things such as vampirism, witchcraft, Wiccan, and satanism. The Gothic Style, though harmless at face value, can become a kind of a gateway into deeper darkness. While wearing black clothes, listening to the music, and befriending others into this same culture is where many people are, there is the chance that through the wrong influences one can go further down the rabbit hole (so to speak) and get involved with a reality orchestrated by satan himself. Some of the Gothic symbols and imagery are actual satanic symbols too, and many times it is not an uncommon thing to see them on display in Gothic jewelry or tattoos.
1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) says,
Goth Randy at an Outreach Event, Halloween 2007:
In it's fashion sense, today's Gothic style evolved greatly in the 80's thanks to many musical groups like the Cure, and it is consistent of a person who wears mostly black clothing, uses dark dramatic makeup, and often has dyed black hair. There is Gothic style jewelry that looks reminiscent of the medieval era.
Although there are some groups that will incorporate the Goth fashion into their own style and make it their own like some within the skateboarder, punk, metal, alternative, and emo groups, the groups still don't usually share the same musical taste. This has been my own observation.
Courtesy of Wikipedia:
I'm doubtful that anyone reading at this point would ask what I'm talking about, for it is very likely that you know people who have embraced this Gothic subculture. Just in case there is someone who still doesn't know what I'm talking about I'll just tell them go to virtually any High School or college campus. Go to any Mall and you will also see them. They will be just as I described them thus far. Many times you will see them gather around one particular store called Hot Topic, or any other store that sells their music, fashions, and other interests.
If anyone is in doubt that the Gothic culture (movement) actually exists then they should ask Orv Madden, who in 1988 started the store, Hot Topic...
"Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000."Since Madden's retirement, this company has went from it's humble beginnings, and through a couple more CEO's, to grow and go public in 1996 to begin trading on NASDAQ. In 2006, Hot Topic was placed 53rd on Fortune 500's "Top Companies to Work For" list. In 2013, Hot Topic announced its sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $600 million. No doubt the secret to their success is not a secret at all, it is just taking a good look at cultural trends, and marketing to them, and the Gothic market is apparently alive and well.
So what is the purpose in writing about the Gothic Movement? It is not to pick at them or offend them I assure you. If anyone who has embraced this as a lifestyle becomes offended by what I've written, then I am sorry they had this reaction, for it wasn't my intent. Up to this point I've laid out a descriptive picture of the Gothic Movement based on factual findings, but from this point on I will share a little more on my own observations and from my own experiences and relationships with those in the Gothic subculture.
I've noted that most people who are Goths tend to embrace a nonconformist attitude, and seem to be very cynical toward the rest of society. The Goth would likely become defensive when someone outside of their culture (like me), mentions something like shopping at Hot Topic. This is because shopping at a retail outlet in a mall is a very "conformist" activity and it goes against the grain. Although they would be quick to tell you that the "Goth Wannabees" are the reason Hot Topic is so successful, the truth is though, nobody is really born a Goth, for it is a style - not a race. So to become a Goth, really all you have to do is "want to be" one, then get into the music, the fashion style, and have the attitude.
At face value I know it sounds like I'm being insensitive, but truthfully, I've known people who have become Gothic, and I've known people who have left it behind. This tells me that it is nothing more than a style, or a trend. I do know too that there are people who take it way more seriously. It is these people that I've most likely offend in this article. To them I would only urge that they read on.
Being this is a Christian Blog site, I'm sure you knew this question was coming. What does the Bible say that could shed light on the Gothic movement? Of course, the Bible precedes both the Gothic movement of present-day, and the Gothic culture of the medieval age. What is awesome about the Bible though is that it still has an application not to the group itself, but to the many individuals within the group.
On a personal note, the Gothic movement's affinity for darkness is also something I find troubling. There is a fascination for death and all things morbid found within the lyrics of many Goth styled rock bands. The constant blackness in their apparel, and their cynical, dark, attitude of the this world, coupled with a senselessness of life, a feeling of despair, and just a dash of being a jaded, misunderstood, youth - and I think you've got the recipe. Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic toward their movement of pessimism. I don't know, so this is why I turn to the bible.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 (ESV) says,
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.Apparently, the Goth's are not too out of the ballpark as they contemplate about death. For there is wisdom to be sought after during these times, but true wisdom comes from the Lord, and not from My Chemical Romance, or any other Goth Rock band. I would stress to them that the latter part of the verse says, "the living will lay it to heart." It is possible that if one becomes so in tuned with the topic of death that they may actually become dead them self, and walk around dead to the world around them, and not experiencing what joy there is in life. Also, I don't see how such an attitude of pessimism, despair, hopelessness, and apathy can lead to anything else but depression, which could eventually lead to suicide. The phrase "the living will lay it to heart" also makes us ask the question - lay what to heart? I believe it means that in times of mourning, we will think about the dead person's eternal destination, and this will cause us to think of our own - and hopefully do something about it by turning to Jesus if we haven't already.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (ESV) says,
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.This isn't speaking of the clothes we wear or style of music we listen to, with the possible exception being the lyrical content. Paul is writing to the Church at Thessalonica a letter of encouragement, and describing the Christians (and us too as it applies) as being the "children of the light." The word "light" being symbolic of life and of goodness. So the "children of the light" would be those who have found life in Jesus Christ. Because of this they do good works and not bad works unto others. So we are children of the light and of the day, not of the night or of the darkness.
The danger I see for someone to enter into the Gothic Style is that it can broaden out to introduce them to meeting others who have walked even further into the darkness, and into things such as vampirism, witchcraft, Wiccan, and satanism. The Gothic Style, though harmless at face value, can become a kind of a gateway into deeper darkness. While wearing black clothes, listening to the music, and befriending others into this same culture is where many people are, there is the chance that through the wrong influences one can go further down the rabbit hole (so to speak) and get involved with a reality orchestrated by satan himself. Some of the Gothic symbols and imagery are actual satanic symbols too, and many times it is not an uncommon thing to see them on display in Gothic jewelry or tattoos.
1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) says,
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
I will stress again that this isn't about clothing or a music style, but about the underlying attitude that is often found within the Gothic community. I know some who embrace the style at it's Hot Topic level, but not it's underlying darkness. They then minister to the young people who feel like society has rejected them, and tell them about a Savior who loves them. There are Christian Goth groups as well like that try to reach out to the lost within the Gothic subculture. One only needs to google the words "Christian Goth" and hundreds of sites will pop up.
One such site I visited had a page entitled, "Who you are" so I went to it. On it you many bible verses explaining as a Christian you are the temple of God, you are justified, and so much more awesome truths from God's word. At the very top of the list was the words, "I am Accepted" with the following verse,
John 1:12 (ESV) says,
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
I'm sure this may not apply to everyone, but in my own observations, and this is from being the pastor of a youth ministry that had many Goths coming and going, and from having both family and friends who have embraced the Goth movement, and from even dressing the part once for a Halloween event just for laughs. I see many young people just wanting to be accepted. Accepted by their parents, accepted by their peers, they just want to be accepted, but many times they are not. I know being young is hard, and it was for me as well. i wanted to have this same acceptance, but was often rejected. In my own experience I found acceptance with the rest of the outcasts, but even they had their requirements before I'd be accepted, so I started smoking marijuana, and drinking alcoholic beverages to fit in.
Though the times have changed and styles come and go, the one constant that will always be there is that feeling for belonging and acceptance. Jesus tells us to come just as we are and accept Him, then that is all we need to be accepted. This is in a stark contrast to what the world expects of us. Jesus then helps us to over come the things in life that would seek to destroy us - that is sin. although you are struggling to find your identity, Jesus already sees who you are, what you've been, and who you can be! He gives us an identity with Him, that nobody can take away from you. Come to Him today and become a child not of the darkness, but a child of light in Him.
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