Monthly Archives: March 2007
Apparently started off as a derogatory term to identify contemporary Christians emerging in the late 60’s. A number of hippies involved in the counter culture joined the then going Jesus movement and resulted in a new movement of poetry, art and music which opened up on God. This movement being the forerunner for other contemporary forms of Christianity including Punk, Reggae, Folk as well as more common worship music around today. Based originally around the US this was amidst a period of relative freedom at the same period as Generation X and Post-Enlightenment exploration which has since generally ceased to be. It paints a rather different picture from the Bush’s which dominant the stereotyping of US Christianity the wider world seems to pick up on.
Non-Christian Hippies first identified these characters as Jesus Freaks, a term which they later turned around in a positive fashion which they embraced as a means of identifying themselves in society. They took passages like “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21-23) to heart and due to this view in comparison to the rest of the church it made them relatively active in approaching and in dealing with the rest of the world.
More contemporary Christianity today continues this approach in the practice of placing Jesus above all else often to the point of death. The movement as a result has become intrinsically linked to the support of the persecuted Church around the world and the martyrs associated with it. Jesus Freaks, by Jesus Freaks isn’t just associated to the post-hippy movement going on today but all the way back to the early church and choices Christians are forced to make when it comes to a relationship with God. The early church often drawing on the witness of such characters from the past who placed Jesus above any need or desire. (“They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another King, Jesus.” – Acts 17: 7)
Jesus Freaks place emphasis on the word martyr in the context of the Greek translation that is “Witness”. According to the last publishing of the Christian World Encyclopedia there were more Christian Martyrs in the last 20th Century than the entire previous 19. Many non-christian punks associate the Straight Edge movement linked with Christianity and although the link isn’t creditable many Jesus Freaks do share a hardliner although non-violent stance of resisting the fallen world. Taken from earlier writings like Leo Tolstoy or Henry Thoreau.
I got recommended a book awhile ago dealing stuff like this, by a American Jesus Freak. Its pretty difficult reading about so many people dying and how the counter culture emerges.. especially when I never really thought about revolution in the past.. but I dunno I can begin to really see something in it. When I was younger I always used to hold onto notions of an Anarchist Cookbook but.. Well the book was completely the opposite but for me it had a greater effect than any cookbook would of had on me. I just.. saw a blog on Jesus Freaks and it all brought it back.. obourneo called me a post-modern hippy which I wasn’t sure how to react to.. but I don’t think its such a bad thing now to be honest.
Heres the blog address.
http://www.readingeagle.com/blog/religion/2006/06/jesus_freaks_1.html
