What I've Seen at the Scene

Have you ever been to a hardcore show? Most of you probably haven't. I went to a hardcore show last night, and I have some thoughts.

The bands were fantastic. I LOVE War of Ages, and I like Seventh Star a lot, too, so it was a great bill for me. They're fun, energetic, and have great sounds -- plus War of Ages has a shredder guitarist who's just flat-out cash money. Love 'em.

The hanging out between bands was a lot of fun this time too, because there were several people there that I knew. That's completely strange for me -- I'm half used to going to shows alone, and maybe with one buddy at the most. With loving the bands AND hanging out with some cool cats (no "Catts" though) I think I may have come as close as I ever have to experiencing what "the scene" is supposed to be like. There's the rub right there, though. Here's what I mean.

My buddy Kyle found the venue a few minutes before I did, and called me to say I'd better hurry up because everybody was looking at him like he was a grandpa. We didn't really talk about it, but here's what he would have been experiencing:

He didn't look like everybody else. His clothes were a little different, his tattoos were few and covered by his sleeve, he had no piercings, and his hair was the same length all the way around.

He didn't know everybody else. In fact, he knew nobody.

He didn't talk like everybody else. He wasn't ready to make instantaneous conversation about the latest Zao line-up change or how Avenged Sevenfold has sold-out or the last August Burns Red album as compared to their earlier works.

He didn't dance like everybody else. If fact, he couldn't even SEE the invisible monsters that everybody else seemed determined to kill (if you've never been to a hardcore show, click here and laugh yourself silly)!

He didn't live the lifestyle of everybody else. He does crazy things like eat burgers and drink milk. Yep, he's a real radical.

Now how do I know what he was going through? Because I've been there a hundred times myself. It's pretty uncomfortable (and I'm NOT typically uncomfortable!) and can make you really feel like an outsider. You feel awkward, ignorant, unwanted, and generally out of place. Not the kind of experience that you really want to pay for again (unless you REALLY like the bands!).

You know what it makes me think of, though? I wonder if it's like that for people when they go to a church for the first time. Everybody else knows how to dress, how to talk, where to go, what to do when the music starts, and a lot of the other people. What if nobody greets them at the door? What if they're made to feel like they really don't belong? What if they were driven to church as a last resort because they were desperate for something, and it was just all they could think of . . . and then they experience something like that. The band may be great, the message might be really legitimately helpful, and the printed materials might be first-rate, but the entire experience is uncomfortable and awkward. They're not coming back. Neither would I.

Two thoughts, then, in conclusion.

1) If you're reading this and considering -- even a little bit -- coming to Life Pointe, please do so. Every single week we make every effort that we can to make everybody -- but especially first-time guests -- feel like they are important, valuable, wanted, and welcome. Because you are. One of my greatest personal passions is making sure that you know you're wanted and made to feel as comfortable as possible.

2) If you're a part of a church -- Life Pointe or otherwise -- consider what it's like to be a visitor with new eyes. What would it be like for somebody coming by themselves for the first time? You're an "insider" and probably don't really remember anymore. I assume you're there because you think something worthwhile's going on, and that people would benefit from it. I've heard WAY too many stories about people visiting churches and being completely ignored, and if nobody else will do something about it, maybe it's time that YOU did. Look outside of yourself and find somebody who doesn't know what's going on -- it takes a LOT of guts to step into a situation like that, and they're there for a reason. Help them to know that it was the right decision and not walk away just that much more jaded about a church culture that has forgotten to open itself up to those who have been on the outside.